'Your Kind of Country?' The 1977 Irish General Election – Dr. Séan Ó Duibhir

Themed Lecture Series: Impactful Irish Elections Lecture 5 ‘Your Kind of Country’? The 1977 Irish General Election – Dr. Séan Ó Duibhir ‘Can we un-dissolve the Dáil?!’ This was the fatalistic lament of then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, when he finally learned of his government’s disastrous polling numbers – days after the 1977 election campaign had already begun. Despite a promising start in 1973, the ‘National Coalition’ of Fine Gael and Labour soon faced major challenges. An international oil crisis severely impacted Ireland’s economy and necessitated harsh fiscal measures, whilst an upsurge in paramilitary activity within the Republic prompted a robust security response that some regarded as an attack on civil liberties. Though the Government’s actions were sometimes unpopular, there remained a belief amongst political commentators that the Coalition would still be returned to power. By the end of 1976, economic prospects had improved significantly, and the security situation appeared to be stabilising, with many opining that the ‘Cabinet of All the Talents’ were set for another term in office. But Jack Lynch’s Fianna Fáil had a surprise in store: for the Government, for the electorate, and even for Lynch himself! In this lecture, Dr. Séan Ó Duibhir addresses the context, the campaign, and the consequences of the 1977 general election. A sample bibliography is provided at the conclusion of the presentation Established in 1951, An Cumann Staire (The Historical Studies Society) is one of the oldest and most venerable societies within the University of Galway. It aims to foster an appreciation of history among the student population, and the wider public, through the provision of public lectures and the promotion of educational events. Fair Dealing/Use Images, quotations and citations utilised in this video are intended for educational and non-commercial purposes only