Political tide ‘ebbed away’ from former Tánaiste

Former Labour leader Michael O’Leary, who has died in France, became alienated from politics, writes Paul O’Brien.

MICHEAL O’Leary’s political career was effectively over by the age most politicians are just getting started.

When the Labour Party rejected his electoral strategy in October 1982 — prompting him to resign as leader and join Fine Gael — he was 46.