The leader of Fianna Fáil is the most senior politician within the Fianna Fáil political party in Ireland. Since 26 January 2011, the office has been held by Micheál Martin, following the resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of the party four days earlier.
Background
The post of leader of Fianna Fáil was officially created in 1926 when Éamon de Valera founded the party. De Valera had previously been leader of Sinn Féin and took the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War. The new party essentially absorbed most of Sinn Féin's parliamentary talent; most Sinn Féin TDs who had become disillusioned with the party's abstentionist policy from Dáil Éireann and wanted to republicanise the Irish Free State from within.
Like other Irish political parties, most notably Fine Gael, the leader of Fianna Fáil has the power to dismiss or appoint their deputy and to dismiss or appoint parliamentary party members to front bench positions.
When Fianna Fáil is in opposition the leader usually acts as the Leader of the Opposition, and chairs the opposition front bench. Concordantly, when the party is in government, the leader would usually become Taoiseach, as well as appointing the cabinet.
All eight leaders of Fianna Fáil have served as head of government. Éamon de Valera became the first, when he was elected President of the Executive Council in 1932. He became Taoiseach with the adoption of the current Constitution in 1937. He remained as leader of Fianna Fáil until 1959, when he retired after serving 21 years as head of government over three separate stints and after leading the party to eight general election triumphs. Seán Lemass was the unanimous choice to succeed de Valera as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach that year. He served seven years in both roles before handing over to Jack Lynch in 1966, following the first contested leadership election in the history of the party. Lynch served as party leader for thirteen years until 1979, nine of which were spent as Taoiseach. His resignation sparked another leadership election, which saw Charles Haughey emerge as Taoiseach and leader of a deeply divided party. His thirteen-year period in charge saw many heaves against his leadership from within the party, with the final challenge hastening his resignation in 1992.
That year, three candidates expressed an interest in seeking the leadership; however, Albert Reynolds was the overwhelming favourite in the subsequent leadership election and was elected Taoiseach and party leader. After just over two years in office, Reynolds was forced to resign in 1994. His successor was Bertie Ahern who, after being the unopposed candidate for the position of leader, was forced into opposition. Ahern went on to become the most popular leader of Fianna Fáil in the modern era, guiding the party to three successive election wins and serving almost eleven consecutive years as Taoiseach. His resignation in 2008 saw Brian Cowen take on the dual roles of Taoiseach and party leader, following an unopposed election. Cowen's tenure was characterised by a downturn in the economy, and he was effectively forced to resign as party leader in 2011 while remaining as Taoiseach. Four candidates put their names forward in the subsequent leadership election, with former Foreign Minister Micheál Martin becoming the eighth leader of the party.
Micheál Martin first served as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 until 2020. He led the party into two elections before being elected Taoiseach of a three party coalition government between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party following the 2020 general election where no party won an outright majority. He served as Taoiseach until 17 December 2022, where the positions of Taoiseach and Tánaiste rotated as part of an agreed cabinet reshuffle where he became Tánaiste while Leo Varadkar, leader of Fine Gael, succeeded him as Taoiseach. Martin again became Taoiseach on 23 January 2025 following the 2024 general election, and an agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and several independent TDs.
Leaders No.NamePortraitConstituencyTerm of OfficeTaoiseach1Éamon de ValeraClare23 March 192623 June 1959 W. T. Cosgrave (1922–1932)The office of head of government was the President of the Executive Council from 1922 to 1937. Éamon de Valera (1932–1948) John A. Costello (1948–1951) Éamon de Valera (1951–1954) John A. Costello (1954–1957) Éamon de Valera (1957–1959) 2Seán Lemass Dublin South-Central 23 June 1959(leadership election) 10 November 1966 Seán Lemass (1959–1966)3Jack LynchCork Borough Cork City North-West Cork City 10 November 1966(leadership election)7 December 1979 Jack Lynch (1966–1973) Liam Cosgrave (1973–1977) Jack Lynch (1977–1979)4Charles HaugheyDublin North-East Dublin Artane Dublin North-Central 7 December 1979(leadership election)6 February 1992 Charles Haughey (1979–1981) Garret FitzGerald (1981–1982) Charles Haughey (1982) Garret FitzGerald (1982–1987) Charles Haughey (1987–1992) 5Albert Reynolds Longford–Westmeath 6 February 1992(leadership election) 19 December 1994 Albert Reynolds (1992–1994)6Bertie AhernDublin Central19 December 1994(leadership election)7 May 2008 John Bruton (1994–1997) Bertie Ahern (1997–2008) 7Brian Cowen Laois–Offaly 7 May 2008(leadership election) 22 January 2011Brian Cowen (2008–2011)8Micheál MartinCork South-Central26 January 2011(leadership election)Incumbent Enda Kenny (2011–2017) Leo Varadkar (2017–2020) Micheál Martin (2020–2022) Leo Varadkar (2022–2024) Simon Harris (2024–2025) Micheál Martin (2025–present)
Deputy leaders The deputy leader of Fianna Fáil is usually a senior politician within Fianna Fáil. Like other political party leaders, the leader of Fianna Fáil has the power to appoint or dismiss their deputy. The position is not an elected one and is largely honorific.
The office of Tánaiste has been held by senior politicians in the main governing party. Previous Fianna Fáil deputy leaders, including Brian Cowen and Mary Coughlan, held this post from 2007 to 2011. However, the deputy leader is essentially a party official and there is no constitutional link between the two roles.
Fianna Fáil did not have a deputy leader from the reshuffle in 2012 until the reshuffle in 2018. Following the resignation of Dara Calleary in August 2020, the position of deputy leader remained vacant until Jack Chambers was appointed in June 2024.
NamePortraitConstituencyTerm of OfficeOffice(s) heldJoseph Brennan Donegal–Leitrim 1973 5 July 1977 George Colley Dublin Central 5 July 1977 1982 Ray MacSharry Sligo–Leitrim 1982 1983 Brian Lenihan Snr Dublin West 1983 1990 John Wilson Cavan 1990 1992 Bertie Ahern Dublin Central 1992 1994 Mary O'Rourke Longford–Westmeath 16 January 1995 28 July 2002 Minister for Public EnterpriseBrian Cowen Laois–Offaly 28 July 2002 7 May 2008 Mary Coughlan Donegal South-West 7 May 2008 31 January 2011 Mary Hanafin Dún Laoghaire 31 January 2011 15 March 2011 Brian Lenihan Jnr Dublin West 15 March 2011 10 June 2011 Éamon Ó Cuív Galway West 4 August 2011 29 February 2012Dara Calleary Mayo 29 March 2018 24 August 2020 Jack Chambers Dublin West 19 June 2024 Incumbent
Rank by time in office Rank Leader Time in office 1 Éamon de Valera 2 Micheál Martin 3 Bertie Ahern 4 Jack Lynch 5 Charles Haughey 6 Seán Lemass 7 Albert Reynolds 8 Brian Cowen
See also History of Fianna Fáil Leader of Fine Gael Leader of the Labour Party (Ireland) Leader of Sinn Féin
References