Saving the State: Fine Gael from Collins to Varadkar

by Stephen Collins, Ciara Meehan

When Fine Gael entered a coalition government with Fianna Fáil in 2020 the party did what would have been unthinkable for its forefathers who fought and won a bitter civil war to establish the institutions of an independent Irish state almost a century earlier.

Told through the lens of its leaders and Taoisigh, Saving the State is the fascinating story of the wilderness years and the achievements in government, the defeats and crises, the partnerships and the leadership upheavals that have shaped Fine Gael over the decades.

From the special place in the party’s pantheon of heroes occupied by Michael Collins to the dark era of the Blueshirts, and from its role as the founders of the state to its claim to be the defenders of the state, the ways that members perceive their own history is also explored.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how Fine Gael came to be the party it is today and the role that it played in shaping modern Ireland.

'A superb, illuminating and even-handed look at the highs and lows in Fine Gael's turbulent history,' David McCullagh, author of Rise and Rule .

Genres: Politics, Irish Literature

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Stephen Collins, an Irish journalist and author, is a Political Correspondent with The Irish Times. He was previously political editor at the Irish newspapers The Irish Press, The Sunday Press, the Sunday Tribune, and most recently The Irish Times, which he joined in January 2006. He studied for a B.A. in History and Politics and an M.A. in politics at University College Dublin.

In 1983–84 Collins sat on the New Ireland Forum, a body designed to establish common ground amongst Irish nationalist political parties. His later criticisms of Charles Haughey — who also sat on the Forum — were, it has been said, primarily moulded by the complacency with which he had seen Jack Lynch's handling of the Arms Crisis of 1970.

Collins has published books on the Cosgrave political dynasty and, more recently, on the foundation of the Progressive Democrats political party, called Breaking the Mould.

Reviews

[Edward Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really needed a ‘history of’ Irish political parties to scrub up on what will surely be an interesting future.
Delighted that I chose this book first of all, and I was really fascinated by the sometimes contradictory legacy of Fine Gael between the claims to being founders of the state/ defenders of the state. In particular, with the revelation to me that ‘social democratic’ was nearly added to the name at one stage. I have to say the writers are very fair and attempt to portray a fuller picture of the personalities and philosophies of Fine Gael leaders. Overall, I raced through the book as I found it exciting, and it gave me a greater respect for certain politicians I would still disagree with on policy.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have noticed a difference in books written by journalists, compared to those written by historians. Journalists tend to focus on specific events and people, whereas historians focus on wider trends in society. This is true of this book, which focuses almost exclusively on the leaders and front bench of Fine Gael rather the the party more broadly. Some events are covered in great detail while others are skipped over completely.

The biggest weakness is the lack of analysis, the authors report what Fine Gael did and how politicians viewed the party but don't ask deeper questions on its impact on society. Perhaps the authors wanted to remain neutral by avoiding questions of success and failure, but this denies much insight to the readers.

[Peter Thew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of the Fine Gael party through its leaders from the earliest days of Cumann na nGaedheal in 1922 through to the formation of the current coalition with Fianna Fail and the Green Party in mid 2020. The two authors - one a respected political journalist, the other an academic - have produced a very readable history of the eleven men who've lead their party in and out of power over the past century. Recommended.

[Laura Comiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Very well composed and written. Very easy style of writing for the reader considering it’s a history book. Definitely recommend if you are interested in Irish political history.