Fine Gael

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Fine Gael (‘kindred of the Irish’), a political party founded on 8 September 1933 through a merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party, and the National Guard (see blueshirts). This realignment was largely a response to the rapid rise of Fianna Fáil and its victories in the elections of 1932 and 1933. However, the new party performed less well in the next election in 1937 (34.8 per cent of the vote and 48 seats) than the combined support of its predecessors. Since then, the party's share of the vote at general elections has normally been between 25 and 35 per cent. It slumped to 19.8 per cent (31 seats) in 1948, but its participation at that time in the first ‘interparty government’ has been credited with rescuing the party from electoral eclipse. Indeed, it then began a steady recovery that lasted until the election of November 1982, when it won its largest ever share of the vote (39.2 per cent, 70 seats).

Although the personality of the first party leader, Eoin O'Duffy, endowed Fine Gael initially with a rather unconventional image, his successors, W. T. Cosgrave (1935–44) and Richard Mulcahy (1944–59), reflected the dominance within the party of the pro‐treaty, Cumann na nGaedheal tradition. The succession of James Dillon (1959–65), son of John Dillon, symbolized the extent to which the party had managed to absorb former supporters of the pre‐1918 Nationalist Party, while his two successors, Liam Cosgrave (1965–77) and Garret FitzGerald (1977–87), were sons of Cumann na nGaedheal ministers. The leadership of Alan Dukes (1987–90) represented a break with the older traditions within the party, but this trend was reversed when John Bruton took over as leader in 1990.

In policy terms, Fine Gael maintained the conservatism of its predecessor, though a centrist wing within the party made its presence felt in the late 1960s and was influential during the leadership of FitzGerald and Dukes. The party described itself in English as the ‘United Ireland Party’, and was more commonly known by this name in the 1930s. This reflected the party's moderate position on the national question, and it was associated with support for Ireland's position within the British Commonwealth. In 1948, however, it was a Fine Gael taoiseach, John A. Costello, who announced the government's decision to leave the Commonwealth.

John Coakley

Fine Gael Ireland's second political party, originally called the United Ireland Party but soon known by its current Irish Gaelic name (translated as ‘Tribe of the Gaels’). It was founded in 1933 in a merger of Cummann na nGaedheal, the National Guard, and the National Centre. Fine Gael is the successor of the ‘pro-treaty’ parties in Irish politics, but found itself out of government for most of its history until 1973. Although the principal opposition to the Fianna Fáil governments, Fine Gael was the main party in the coalition governments of 1948–51 (which saw the establishment of the Irish Republic in 1949) and 1954–7 (which failed to deal adequately with a renewal of IRA violence, and fell). After 1973, Fine Gael saw greater success in government. In the so-called National Coalition Government, it formed an alliance with the Labour Party, 1973–7.

A new generation of leaders, under Garret FitzGerald, returned Fine Gael to power in 1981–2 and 1982–7, emphasizing economic development and cooperation with Britain over Northern Ireland. It formed the Government of Renewal in coalition with Labour and the Democratic Left under Bruton from 1994 to 1997. Fine Gael has traditionally been associated with industry, business, commerce, the professions, and substantial farmers. It has considered itself more constitutionally nationalist and conciliatory than its main rival, Fianna Fáil. The party's support declined dramatically in the 2002 elections, when it gained but 31 seats, mainly to the benefit of smaller parties and the Fianna Fáil which gained 81 seats. Led by Enda Kenny, it attempted to rebuild itself into a major policial challenger.

http://www.finegael.ie

Fine Gael , Irish political party. Formed in 1933, it was the successor of the party founded by William Cosgrave that held power from the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 until ousted by the republican Fianna Fáil in 1932. The Fine Gael party accepted the British plan that partitioned Ireland, and has generally been less anti-British than its major opposition. Under John A. Costello, Fine Gael formed coalition governments with the Labor party from 1948 to 1951 and from 1954 to 1957. After a long period in opposition it regained power, again with the Labor party, in 1973; and William Cosgrave's son Liam Cosgrave became prime minister. Except for a brief interruption in 1982, the party held power again from 1981 to 1987, when it was led by Garret FitzGerald . From 1994 to 1997, Fine Gael once more formed a coalition government with Labor, with party leader John Bruton serving as prime minister. Michael Noonan succeeded Bruton as party leader in 2001. Noonan resigned after electoral losses in 2002 and was succeeded by Enda Kenny. In 2011, amid a financial crisis, Fine Gael and Labor won the election and Kenny became prime minister.

Fine Gael (Gaelic, ‘United Ireland’) Irish political party. Founded in 1922 as Cumann na nGaedheal, it changed its name in 1933. It originated among supporters of the Anglo-Irish Treaty that created the IRISH FREE STATE. William COSGRAVE was its leader (1922–44). Fine Gael was in power as the dominant element in a coalition from 1948 to 1951, with John Costello as its leader. This government in 1949 declared Ireland to be a republic. Since then, Fine Gael has been intermittently in power, but has required coalition support to remain so. It has advocated the concept of a united Ireland achieved by peaceful means.

Fine Gael Irish political party. It was founded in 1933, as a successor to the party under William Cosgrave that had held power since the inception of the Irish Free State. Overshadowed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael has held office only four times, always in coalition with the Labour Party (1948–51, 1954–57, 1973–77, 1994–97).