History

PARTY HISTORY
In taking an interest in Fianna Fáil, many of you for the first time, are looking at this site knowing a certain amount about the party and it's history. Not many of us however know the history in great detail, but it is something that you as a KBC member or potential member should be familiar with, just in case any blueshirt might begin to quiz you! So here is an overview of what has been a past to be very proud of.

On the 23rd of March 1926 a meeting was held to discuss the formation of a new political party following the break up of Sinn Féin over abstention from the Dáil. On 2nd of April the new party adopted the name Fianna Fáil, and at it's first Ard Fheis that November, Eamonn de Valera was elected president.
De Valera was President of the Provisional Government during the War of Independence, but following the Treaty he walked out of the Dáil and led the anti-Treaty side of the Civil War. In 1927 he returned to Dáil Eireann with his new party, who won 44 seats in that years general election. In 1932 the first Fianna Fáil government was formed and de Valera became president of the Executive Council for the next 16 years.

The period 1932-48 were the formative years of this state as we know it. Having been opposed to the Treaty, de Valera and his government set about dismantling it. In 1932 alone, a bill to abolish the Oath of Allegiance was introduced (April), the government withheld the Land Annuities (July), and the Governor General was removed from office (November). In 1937 Bunreacht na hEireann was enacted making the Irish Free State the Republic of Ireland in everything but name. In 1939 de Valera announced Ireland would remain neutral, distinguishing Ireland from other British colonies such as Australia who fought in World War II. By 1948 Ireland was a very different, much more independent state than before.

These first Fianna Fáil years also saw huge achievements domestically. Bord Na Mona was founded, widows and orphans pensions were introduced, the Central Bank Act passed, children's allowance introduced etc. Following re-election to government in 1951 the work continued. 1952 saw the passing of the child adoption and social welfare acts.

While the previous years had been spent establishing the Irish State, Lemass and his successors set about boosting the prosperity of the state. Years of dynamic economic and social development followed. The 2nd Economic Programme was published, the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement was signed, free second level education was introduced and Irish troops joined the UN peacekeeping forces. Jack Lynch succeeded Lemass in 1966. He presided over Irelands official joining of the EEC on 1st of January 1973.

In 1977 Fianna Fáil re-entered government after 4 years in opposition with the highest number of seats ever won by a single party in the Dáil, 84. In 1979 the first direct election to the European Parliament took place and Fianna Fáil won 5 of 15 seats.

Charles J. Haughey succeeded Jack Lynch in 1979. On the 50th anniversary of first taking office, Fianna Fáil entered government with 81 seats. However this government did not last and later in 1982 a Fine Gael led coalition took office for 5 years.
When Fianna Fáil returned to power the Irish economy was in severe distress. But tight management began to redress this and in 1988 inflation fell to 2%. The Celtic Tiger had been conceived. In 1992 Haughey resigned and was succeeded as leader and Taoiseach by Albert Reynolds.

The 1992 General Election saw Fianna Fáil enter its second coalition, this time with the Labour Party. The National Development Plan was launched and a huge increase in structural funds was achieved. One of the main thrusts of government was towards Northern Ireland. In December 1993 the Downing Street Declaration was signed by Albert Reynolds and John Major, which led to the IRA and loyalist cease-fires. Since then Fianna Fáil has played a huge role in the peace process, including the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

In November 1994 Bertie Ahern became leader of the party. A period of renewal was initiated including the 1995 recruitment campaign, which saw membership rise to 50,000. In 1997's General Election Fianna Fáil gained nine Dáil seats and came into government once again in partnership with the Progressive Democrats.

Renowned for our organisation, the Fianna Fáil "machine" is active in every parish in the state, a feat only bettered by the GAA! The Kevin Barry Cumann here in UCD proudly takes its place in this history as the country's largest and most active cumann. With past members continuing their involvement in politics and some taking up seats in the Dáil. "Past pupils" include TDs Mary Coughlan, Conor Lenihan, Brian Cowen, Beverly Cooper-Flynn and MEP Gerard Collins. The cumann is consistently the largest in the party and is in fact the largest branch of any political party in the state.

If you want to be part of this great history, join the Kevin Barry Cumann and get involved, it will be an experience that you will not regret!