Records of Irish heads of government since 1922
The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) is the head of government (or prime minister) of Ireland. Prior to the enactment of the Constitution of Ireland in 1937, the head of government was referred to as the President of the Executive Council. This office was first held by W. T. Cosgrave from 1922 to 1932, and then by Éamon de Valera from 1932 to 1937. By convention Taoisigh are numbered to include Cosgrave,[1][2][3][4] for example Enda Kenny is considered the 13th Taoiseach not the 12th.
The first list is of all heads of Irish governments since 1922 by electoral history. The second list is by periods in office. The third list gives the total number of days served in office by each and the fourth is a list of individual terms served in order of length. The fifth list is by longevity and the sixth list is by age on entering and leaving office. The seventh is a list of officeholders still living and the eighth list shows a timeline of living/deceased officeholders.
Electoral history
No. | Name | Born | First elected | Party | Constituency | Left Dáil | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 June 1880 | 10 August 1917[nb 1] | style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | Cumann na nGaedheal[nb 2] | Kilkenny City (1917–18), North Kilkenny (1918–21), Carlow–Kilkenny (1921–27), Cork Borough (1927–44) |
30 May 1944 |
2. | Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882 | 10 July 1917[nb 1] | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil[nb 2] | East Clare (1917–22), Clare (1922–59) |
23 June 1959 |
3. | John A. Costello | 20 June 1891 | 24 January 1933 | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael[nb 3] | Dublin County (1933–37), Dublin Townships (1937–43; 1944–48), Dublin South-East (1948–69) |
18 June 1969 |
4. | Seán Lemass | 12 July 1899 | 18 November 1924 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil[nb 2] | Dublin South (1924–48), Dublin South-Central (1948–69) |
18 June 1969 |
5. | Jack Lynch | 15 August 1917 | 29 March 1948 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Cork Borough (1948–69), Cork City North-West (1969–77), Cork City (1977–81) |
11 June 1981 |
6. | Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920 | 29 March 1943 | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Dublin County (1943–48), Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (1948–77), Dún Laoghaire (1977–81) |
11 June 1981 |
7. | Charles Haughey | 16 September 1925 | 29 March 1957 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Dublin North-East (1957–77), Dublin Artane (1977–81), Dublin North-Central (1981–92) |
25 November 1992 |
8. | Garret FitzGerald | 9 February 1926 | 18 June 1969 | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Dublin South-East | 15 June 1989 |
9. | Albert Reynolds | 3 November 1932 | 16 June 1977 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Longford–Westmeath (1977–92), Longford–Roscommon (1992–2002) |
17 May 2002 |
10. | John Bruton | 18 May 1947 | 18 June 1969 | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Meath | 31 October 2004 |
11. | Bertie Ahern | 12 September 1951 | 16 June 1977 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Dublin Finglas (1977–81), Dublin Central (1981–2011) |
1 February 2011 |
12. | Brian Cowen | 10 January 1960 | 14 June 1984 | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | Laois–Offaly | 1 February 2011 |
13. | Enda Kenny | 24 April 1951 | 12 November 1975 | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | Mayo West (1975–97), Mayo (1997–) |
Periods in office
No. | Name | Entered office | Left office | Elected | Period | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 December 1922 | 9 March 1932 | 5 terms | – | style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | Cumann na nGaedheal |
2. | Éamon de Valera | 9 March 1932[nb 4] | 18 February 1948 | 6 terms[nb 5] | 1st time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
3. | John A. Costello | 18 February 1948 | 13 June 1951 | 1 term | 1st time | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael |
Éamon de Valera | 13 June 1951 | 2 June 1954 | 1 term | 2nd time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | |
John A. Costello | 2 June 1954 | 20 March 1957 | 1 term | 2nd time | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | |
Éamon de Valera | 20 March 1957 | 23 June 1959 | 1 term | 3rd time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | |
4. | Seán Lemass | 23 June 1959 | 10 November 1966 | 3 terms | – | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
5. | Jack Lynch | 10 November 1966 | 14 March 1973 | 2 terms | 1st time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
6. | Liam Cosgrave | 14 March 1973 | 5 July 1977 | 1 term | – | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael |
Jack Lynch | 5 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | 1 term | 2nd time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | |
7. | Charles Haughey | 11 December 1979 | 30 June 1981 | 1 term | 1st time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
8. | Garret FitzGerald | 30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | 1 term | 1st time | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael |
Charles Haughey | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | 1 term | 2nd time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | |
Garret FitzGerald | 14 December 1982 | 10 March 1987 | 1 term | 2nd time | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael | |
Charles Haughey | 10 March 1987 | 11 February 1992 | 2 terms | 3rd time | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil | |
9. | Albert Reynolds | 11 February 1992 | 15 December 1994 | 1 term | – | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
10. | John Bruton | 15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | 1 term | – | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael |
11. | Bertie Ahern | 26 June 1997 | 7 May 2008 | 3 terms | – | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
12. | Brian Cowen | 7 May 2008 | 9 March 2011 | 1 term | – | style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Fianna Fáil |
13. | Enda Kenny | 9 March 2011 | Incumbent | 2 terms | – | style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Fine Gael |
Cumulative days served
No. | Name | First entered office | Finally left office | Periods | Cumulative days | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 2. | Éamon de Valera | 9 March 1932[nb 4] | 23 June 1959 | 3 | 7,735 (21 years, 2 months)[nb 6] |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 11. | Bertie Ahern | 26 June 1997 | 7 May 2008 | 1 | 3,968 (10 years, 10 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | 1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 December 1922 | 9 March 1932 | 1 | 3,381 (9 years, 3 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 5. | Jack Lynch | 10 November 1966 | 11 December 1979 | 2 | 3,205 (8 years, 9 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 4. | Seán Lemass | 23 June 1959 | 10 November 1966 | 1 | 2,697 (7 years, 5 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 7. | Charles Haughey | 11 December 1979 | 11 February 1992 | 3 | 2,646 (7 years, 3 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 3. | John A. Costello | 18 February 1948 | 20 March 1957 | 2 | 2,233 (6 years, 1 month) |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 13. | Enda Kenny | 9 March 2011 | Incumbent | 1 | 5010 (13 years, 8 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 8. | Garret FitzGerald | 30 June 1981 | 10 March 1987 | 2 | 1,799 (4 years, 11 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 6. | Liam Cosgrave | 14 March 1973 | 5 July 1977 | 1 | 1,574 (4 years, 4 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 9. | Albert Reynolds | 11 February 1992 | 15 December 1994 | 1 | 1,038 (2 years, 10 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 12. | Brian Cowen | 7 May 2008 | 9 March 2011 | 1 | 1,036 (2 years, 10 months) |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 10. | John Bruton | 15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | 1 | 924 (2 years, 6 months) |
Length of individual periods
No. | Name | Entered office | Left office | Period No. | Period length | Period length in days | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 2. | Éamon de Valera | 9 March 1932[nb 4] | 18 February 1948 | 1 | 15 years, 11 months, 16 days | 5,824 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 11. | Bertie Ahern | 26 June 1997 | 7 May 2008 | 1 | 10 years, 10 months, 11 days | 3,968 |
style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | 1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 December 1922 | 9 March 1932 | 1 | 9 years, 3 months, 4 days | 3,381 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 4. | Seán Lemass | 23 June 1959 | 11 November 1966 | 1 | 7 years, 4 months, 17 days | 2,697 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 5. | Jack Lynch | 11 November 1966 | 14 March 1973 | 1 | 6 years, 4 months, 4 days | 2,316 |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 13. | Enda Kenny | 9 March 2011 | Incumbent | 1 | 13 years, 8 months | 5010 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 7. | Charles Haughey | 10 March 1987 | 11 February 1992 | 3 | 4 years, 11 months, 1 day | 1,799 |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 6. | Liam Cosgrave | 14 March 1973 | 5 July 1977 | 1 | 4 years, 3 months, 22 days | 1,574 |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 8. | Garret FitzGerald | 14 December 1982 | 10 March 1987 | 2 | 4 years, 2 months, 27 days | 1,547 |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 3. | John A. Costello | 18 February 1948 | 13 June 1951 | 1 | 3 years, 3 months, 24 days | 1,211 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Éamon de Valera | 13 June 1951 | 2 June 1954 | 2 | 2 years, 11 months, 19 days | 1,085 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 9. | Albert Reynolds | 11 February 1992 | 15 December 1994 | 1 | 2 years, 10 months, 4 days | 1,038 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 12. | Brian Cowen | 7 May 2008 | 9 March 2011 | 1 | 2 years, 10 months, 2 days | 1,036 |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | John A. Costello | 2 June 1954 | 20 March 1957 | 2 | 2 years, 9 months, 18 days | 1,022 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 10. | John Bruton | 15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | 1 | 2 years, 6 months, 11 days | 924 |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Jack Lynch | 5 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | 2 | 2 years, 5 months, 6 days | 889 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Éamon de Valera | 20 March 1957 | 23 June 1959 | 3 | 2 years, 3 months, 3 days | 825 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Charles Haughey | 11 December 1979 | 30 June 1981 | 1 | 1 year, 6 months, 19 days | 567 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | Charles Haughey | 9 March 1982 | 14 December 1982 | 2 | 9 months, 5 days | 280 | |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | Garret FitzGerald | 30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | 1 | 8 months, 9 days | 252 |
Longevity
No. | Name | Born | Died | Age as of 25 November 2024 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 6. | Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920 | 104 years, 226 days | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 2. | Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882 | 29 August 1975 | 92 years, 319 days |
style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | 1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 June 1880 | 16 November 1965 | 85 years, 163 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 8. | Garret FitzGerald | 9 February 1926 | 19 May 2011 | 85 years, 99 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 3. | John A. Costello | 20 June 1891 | 5 January 1976 | 84 years, 199 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 5. | Jack Lynch | 15 August 1917 | 20 October 1999 | 82 years, 66 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 9. | Albert Reynolds | 3 November 1932 | 21 August 2014 | 81 years, 291 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 7. | Charles Haughey | 16 September 1925 | 13 June 2006 | 80 years, 270 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 4. | Seán Lemass | 12 July 1899 | 11 May 1971 | 71 years, 303 days |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 10. | John Bruton | 18 May 1947 | 77 years, 191 days | |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 13. | Enda Kenny | 24 April 1951 | 73 years, 215 days | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 11. | Bertie Ahern | 12 September 1951 | 73 years, 74 days | |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 12. | Brian Cowen | 10 January 1960 | 64 years, 320 days |
Age on entering/leaving office
No. | Name | Born | Entered office | Age | Left office | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Cumann na nGaedheal/meta/color" | | 1. | W. T. Cosgrave | 6 June 1880 | 6 December 1922 | 42 years, 6 months | 9 March 1932 | 51 years, 9 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 11. | Bertie Ahern | 12 September 1951 | 26 June 1997 | 45 years, 9 months | 7 May 2008 | 56 years, 7 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 10. | John Bruton | 18 May 1947 | 15 December 1994 | 47 years, 6 months | 26 June 1997 | 50 years, 1 month |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 12. | Brian Cowen | 10 January 1960 | 7 May 2008 | 48 years, 3 months | 9 March 2011 | 51 years, 1 month |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 5. | Jack Lynch | 15 August 1917 | 10 November 1966 | 49 years, 2 months | 11 December 1979 | 62 years, 3 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 2. | Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882 | 9 March 1932[nb 4] | 49 years, 4 months | 23 June 1959 | 76 years, 8 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 6. | Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920 | 14 March 1973 | 52 years, 11 months | 5 July 1977 | 57 years, 2 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 7. | Charles Haughey | 16 September 1925 | 11 December 1979 | 54 years, 2 months | 11 February 1992 | 66 years, 4 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 8. | Garret FitzGerald | 9 February 1926 | 30 June 1981 | 55 years, 4 months | 10 March 1987 | 61 years, 1 month |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 3. | John A. Costello | 20 June 1891 | 18 February 1948 | 56 years, 7 months | 20 March 1957 | 65 years, 9 months |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 9. | Albert Reynolds | 3 November 1932 | 11 February 1992 | 59 years, 3 months | 15 December 1994 | 62 years, 1 month |
style="background-color: Template:Fine Gael/meta/color" | | 13. | Enda Kenny | 24 April 1951 | 9 March 2011 | 59 years, 10 months | Incumbent | – |
style="background-color: Template:Fianna Fáil/meta/color" | | 4. | Seán Lemass | 12 July 1899 | 23 June 1959 | 59 years, 11 months | 10 November 1966 | 67 years, 3 months |
Living officeholders
There are currently four living former Taoisigh:
Taoiseach | Term of office | Date of birth |
---|---|---|
Liam Cosgrave | 1973–77 | 13 April 1920 |
John Bruton | 1994–97 | 18 May 1947 |
Bertie Ahern | 1997–2008 | 12 September 1951 |
Brian Cowen | 2008–11 | 10 January 1960 |
Enda Kenny | 2011–present | 24 April 1951 |
Timeline of living/deceased officeholders
Date | Living | Deceased | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
21 August 2014 | 5 | 8 | Reynolds dies |
19 May 2011 | 6 | 7 | FitzGerald dies |
9 March 2011 | 7 | 6 | Enda Kenny accedes |
7 May 2008 | 6 | 6 | Brian Cowen accedes |
13 June 2006 | 5 | 6 | Haughey dies |
20 October 1999 | 6 | 5 | Lynch dies |
26 June 1997 | 7 | 4 | Bertie Ahern accedes |
15 December 1994 | 6 | 4 | John Bruton accedes |
11 February 1992 | 5 | 4 | Albert Reynolds accedes |
30 June 1981 | 4 | 4 | Garret FitzGerald accedes |
11 December 1979 | 3 | 4 | Charles Haughey accedes |
6 January 1976 | 2 | 4 | Costello dies |
29 August 1975 | 3 | 3 | De Valera dies |
14 March 1973 | 4 | 2 | Liam Cosgrave accedes |
16 May 1971 | 3 | 2 | Lemass dies |
10 November 1966 | 4 | 1 | Jack Lynch accedes |
11 May 1965 | 3 | 1 | W. T. Cosgrave dies |
23 June 1959 | 4 | 0 | Seán Lemass accedes |
18 February 1948 | 3 | 0 | John A. Costello accedes |
9 March 1932 | 2 | 0 | Éamon de Valera accedes |
6 December 1922 | 1 | 0 | W. T. Cosgrave accedes |
See also
- History of the Republic of Ireland
- Irish heads of government since 1919
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
- Records of members of the Oireachtas
Notes
- ^ a b First elected to the British House of Commons in 1917 but did not take his seat.
- ^ a b c First elected as member of Sinn Féin.
- ^ First elected as a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála.
- ^ a b c d De Valera became Taoiseach on 29 December 1937 under the Constitution of Ireland.
- ^ De Valera also served 3 terms as President of the Executive Council.
- ^ De Valera served as Taoiseach for 5,613 days (15 years, 4 months).
References
- ^ "Coughlan new Tánaiste in Cowen Cabinet". The Irish Times. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
- ^ "Taoiseach reveals new front bench". RTÉ News. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
- ^ "Cowen confirmed as Taoiseach". BreakingNews.ie. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
- ^ "Former Taoisigh". Department of the Taoiseach. Retrieved 11 May 2011.