Last weekend Fianna Fáil were ahead in the polls, this is not a strange thing for a political party, but for this party it is a little strange considering they have overseen the biggest financial collapse this country has ever seen. I am going to look at why the electorate always  goes back to vote for this party.




Recent poll showing Fianna Fáil heading the list.
Courtesy of independent.ie

Fianna Faíl was established on 16th of May 1926 after they had left Sinn Fein in favour of  an abstentions policy after the signing of boundary agreement.


First members of Fianna Fáil Dev front centre with glasses, Lemass back row 2nd from left.
Courtsey of fiannafáil.ie

In August of 1927 they dropped this policy and deputies started taking their seats. In March 1932 Fianna Fail formed its first government. This Government would last for 16 years. During this time they abolished the oath to the King of Britain, oversaw the Bunreacht Na hEireann in 1938. Ireland's neutral stance during the Second World War has always been a continuous issue. It was also during this period that they implemented the protectionist policy.



Election poster for Fianna Fáil.
Courtsey of wordpress.com 

De Valera's was also one of the first political leader to offer his condolence to the German people when Hitler died at the end of the war. In 1948 Fianna Faíl lost the General Election and where replaced by a coalition government. They regained power in 1951, they lost the election in 1954 and quickly regained power again  in 1957 and would remain in power for the next 16 years.

Sean Lemass, second leader of Fianna Fáil.
Courtesy of wordpress.com

It was in 1959 Sean Lemass became leader of the party and Taoiseach. During this period Ireland's economy was stagnant, but Lemass changed economics policy and the country prospered. Lemass also made contact with his Northern counter part Terence O Neill. In 1966 Lemass retired from politics and Jack lynch became party leader and Taoiseach.



Jack Lynch, the third leader of Fianna Fáil.
Courtesy of wordpress.com

Fianna Fáil lost the election in 1973 but returned in 1977 with a 20 seat majority, Jack Lynchs government made some bad economic decisions and would be ousted by 1979 and Charles J Haughey became leader. Haughey had been involved with the Arms crisis in 1970 and had lost his seat at cabinet, only for Lynch to give him a seat back on the front benches in 1973.



Charles Haughey, the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil.
Courtesy of adams.ie

It was in the late 1970s  that the country suffered due to the oil crisis that was happening at the time, this was to cause great political upheaval in the early 1980s. The 1980s saw power changing several times in 1981, Fine Gael gained power but nine months later Fianna Fáil won the election only to lose power again in 1982. It would be 1987 before power was to be returned to this party by the electorate.

Albert Reynolds.
Courtesy of quotezuki.com

In 1992 Albert Reynolds became leader, the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats coalition finished and they went into power with a Dick Spring lead Labour party. He would lose the leadership over the Father Brendan Smyth affair. This paved the way for Bertie Ahern to become the next leader on the 19th November 1994.

Bertie Ahern.
Courtesy of blogspot.com

Bertie Ahern won three General Elections, and was one of the main catalyst for the Good Friday Agreement. He was also one of the main people involved with the Mahon Tribunal, and his financial affairs would eventually lead him to step down as leader of Fianna Fáil. In 2008 Brian Cowen would take control of the party.

Brian Cowen, the 7th leader of Fianna Fáil.
Courtesy of globalpost.com

Fianna Fáil would preside over the biggest financial crisis this country has ever seen, the break up of this government was one of the most remarable the country has ever seen. It has also left the country in a very precarious position. Fianna Fáil lost the 2011 election with their worst results ever in an election. Yet with three years to go to the next election will the voters elect what most people thought was the unelectable party. Micheal Martin became the new leader of the party in 2011.

Current leader of the oppistion Michael Martin.
Courtesy of netsco.com

Could the eight leader of Fianna Fáil become the next Taoiseach and leader of the country.