Political Parties

Major political parties – Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, the Green Party, Sinn Fein.

Fianna Fail (fi-na-fol) - the Republican Party was founded by Eamon de Valera. When the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 was signed, his party violently opposed the partition of Ireland and its eventual dominion status. So, the party has descended from the losing side in the conflict.

Fianna Fail’s name translates into English as “Soldiers of Destiny”. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war in 1923, Fianna Fail became Ireland’s largest and pre-eminent political party, generally dominating government since the 1930s. The party used to dominate Irish politics for 80 years.

Fine Gael (fi-na-geil) has historically been to the left of Fianna Fail. It has descended from the winning side in the civil war. Its name means “Family/Tribe of the Irish”. The party traditionally represents the more prosperous farmers and businessmen. The policies of Fine Gael have traditionally been far more moderate than those of Fianna Fail. It is known as the party of sharp political pragmatism. Fine Gael has long been out of office (it’s Ireland’s perennial second party, holding gov-t only intermittently), apart from a short period in the mid-1990s.