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Charlie Vs Garret: The rivalry that shaped modern Ireland SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS
SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025
'The best book about Irish politics you can read ... O'Malley has produced one of the finest books ever written about modern Irish politics' - William Stephens, Gript
'A rattling good read' - David McCullagh, RTÉ
'A fantastic read' - Hugh Linehan, Irish Times
The two opposing political figures that shaped Irish life in the 1980s and beyond.
In the 1980s, Irish politics was dominated by a fierce rivalry between Charles J. Haughey and Dr Garret FitzGerald, both leaders of their respective parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Between them they each led all Irish governments in that decade; to say their two opposing personalities shaped Irish life during this era is an understatement.
Eoin O'Malley has amassed an extraordinary body of research, including in-depth interviews with dozens of the most consequential public figures of the time, every Taoiseach, cabinet ministers, TDs, civil servants, and advisers.
As political rivals with different approaches to public life and contrasting visions for Ireland, each enshrined in quite different personalities, the choice between Haughey and FitzGerald came to signify a great deal more than party loyalty or policy it felt like a choice between opposing worldviews. And, as O'Malley's work finally makes clear through an accumulation of extraordinary insights, including interviews with Haughey and FitzGerald themselves, it was fed by a deep reservoir of personal insecurity and paranoia. Each was deeply preoccupied - obsessed even - with the strengths, appeal and threats of the other, to the extent that this rivalry itself became one of the decisive factors in Irish life that shaped Ireland well after they had left power.
'The best book about Irish politics you can read ... O'Malley has produced one of the finest books ever written about modern Irish politics' - William Stephens, Gript
'A rattling good read' - David McCullagh, RTÉ
'A fantastic read' - Hugh Linehan, Irish Times
The two opposing political figures that shaped Irish life in the 1980s and beyond.
In the 1980s, Irish politics was dominated by a fierce rivalry between Charles J. Haughey and Dr Garret FitzGerald, both leaders of their respective parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Between them they each led all Irish governments in that decade; to say their two opposing personalities shaped Irish life during this era is an understatement.
Eoin O'Malley has amassed an extraordinary body of research, including in-depth interviews with dozens of the most consequential public figures of the time, every Taoiseach, cabinet ministers, TDs, civil servants, and advisers.
As political rivals with different approaches to public life and contrasting visions for Ireland, each enshrined in quite different personalities, the choice between Haughey and FitzGerald came to signify a great deal more than party loyalty or policy it felt like a choice between opposing worldviews. And, as O'Malley's work finally makes clear through an accumulation of extraordinary insights, including interviews with Haughey and FitzGerald themselves, it was fed by a deep reservoir of personal insecurity and paranoia. Each was deeply preoccupied - obsessed even - with the strengths, appeal and threats of the other, to the extent that this rivalry itself became one of the decisive factors in Irish life that shaped Ireland well after they had left power.
- GenresIrelandNonfiction
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2025
14 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 13, 2025
A riveting look at two of Ireland's most influential politicians of the 20th century.
O'Malley gives a fascinatingly brutal account of Garret FitzGearld's premiership describing his ironically flawed political pedigree when he achieved power and contrast's it to Haughey's expert precision in decision making and political calculations
The book can feel a little bit biased at times towards Haughey, but one could argue that the bias just an objective account. As Haughey was just more effective at politics than FitzGearld.
O'Malley does a good job of making the distinction between Haughey's personal life and his political life when analyzing his political legacy
O'Malley gives a fascinatingly brutal account of Garret FitzGearld's premiership describing his ironically flawed political pedigree when he achieved power and contrast's it to Haughey's expert precision in decision making and political calculations
The book can feel a little bit biased at times towards Haughey, but one could argue that the bias just an objective account. As Haughey was just more effective at politics than FitzGearld.
O'Malley does a good job of making the distinction between Haughey's personal life and his political life when analyzing his political legacy
December 2, 2025
Not a lot of new info, but enjoyable read about Charlie Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald
January 7, 2026
Super book, really accessible, especially as someone who didn’t know a whole lot about Haughey or Fitzgerald beforehand.
January 23, 2026
A really great story that I knew nothing about, and a phenomenal last line.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews