The Destiny of the Soldiers

The Destiny of the Soldiers: Fianna Fail, Irish Republicianism and the IRA 1926-1973

For most of the 20th century, Fianna Fáil was Ireland’s largest political party and one of the most successful parties in any democracy in the world. With few exceptions, it has been constantly in government since 1932. This book charts Fianna Fáil’s political and ideological evolution from its revolutionary origins through extended periods in office. In particular, the book assesses Fianna Fáil’s changing attitudes towards its parent party, Sinn Féin, and the IRA, and how these changes affected Fianna Fáil’s policies towards Northern Ireland.

The book argues that Fianna Fáil’s goals, foremost among them the reunification of the national territory as a republic, became the means to bind its members together, to gain votes, and to legitimise its role in Irish society. But the official ideological goals concealed what became merely a basic desire to rule. The balance sheet, consequently, became one of votes won or lost rather than goals achieved or postponed. Never forgetting its republican roots, Fianna Fáil has at times been both troubled and conflicted by them. This was especially the case in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the Northern Ireland Troubles posed a challenge for all rhetorical republicans. At that time, Fianna Fáil found itself the governing party of a state whose legitimacy it had originally rejected: the consequent tensions nearly tore it apart. Destiny of the Soldiers is the first survey of the party’s history which focuses on these unresolved tensions.

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Following a presentation of the book in Athlone, 2016. The author, Donnacha Ó Beacháin (centre) with (left) Dr. John Keane (Vice-President, The Old Athlone Society) and (right) Brian Cowen (Minister 1992-1994, 1997-2008, Taoiseach 2008-2011).