Limerick academic pens book focusing on rivalary at the top of Irish government

A NEW book focusing on the rivalary between two giants in Ireland’s modern political history, Charlie Haughey and Dr Garret FitzGerald will be launched in Limerick this Thursday night.

The Castletroy Park Hotel will play host to the event, which commences at 7.30pm.

Former Finance Minister Michael Noonan will launch the book.

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It’s been written by Corbally-born academic Eoin O'Malley (pictured below) - the son of another political titan, Progressive Democrats founder, the late Desmond O’Malley.

He has amassed an extraordinary body of research, including in-depth interviews with dozens of the most important public figures of the time, every Taoiseach, cabinet ministers, TDs, civil servants, and advisers.

The rivalry between Haughey and Fitzgerald, who led Fianna Fail and Fine Gael respectively, dominated 1980s politics, their two opposing personalities shaping Irish life during this era.

Asked what gave him the idea to write about the pair, Mr O'Malley, an associate professor at Dublin City University, said: "As an academic, I was always interested in the office of Taoiseach. I was doing work on that. These two men were the ones who were trying to use it the most. As I looked at them more closely, it became clear that not only were they individually interesting, but they were actually interesting in how they interacted with each other".

"You have two political giants at exactly the same time, which doesn't often happen in history," he said.

The book draws on diary entries, press cuttings and interviews which Mr O'Malley carried out with the two men - both Taoisigh - while they were alive.

During the process of writing the book, the academic said he became "more appreciative" and even "fond" of Mr Haughey, who, as Fianna Fail leader was elected Taoiseach on three separate occasions in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Fine Gael leader Mr FitzGerald by contrast, became Taoiseach twice as the pendulim of power swung between the two Civil War parties.

Speaking of Haughey, he said the respect was based on an appreciation of the constraints he was working under, what a hard worker he was, and how much he achieved in office.

"There were a lot of negative sides to Haughey, but I think in the round Ireland is better off from having him in charge," added Mr O'Malley.

All are welcome at the launch.