Haughey was the victim not theinstigator of power struggles

THE current rumblings within Fianna Fáil and Mary Harney’s hand bagging of MichaelMcDowell this week were reminders that prior to the arrival of Charlie Haughey on the political scene, there were no power struggles in the main political parties within Leinster House.

Eamon de Valera was unchallenged in leading Fianna Fáil from 1926 until 1959. When he stood down, he handed over the party leadership to Seán Lemass without any contest.

Lemass did such a wonderful job that some historians have been regretting that de Valera did not step down in 1948. It would undoubtedly have enhanced his place in history, but not the place of Lemass. Seán MacEntee — who would probably have been a disaster — would likely have replaced Dev in 1948.