Coalition formation was not always a pre-election done deal

The first coalition government in Ireland happened most unexpectedly in 1948.

Fianna Fail was first past the post in the General Election with 68 seats. Fine Gael had 31, Labour 14, Clann na Poblachta 10, Clann na Talmhan 7, National Labour 5 and Independents 5. The Opposition’s tally of 79 was utterly fragmented.

But after 16 years of continuous rule by Fianna Fail, they were determined to ‘put them out’. Nevertheless, Eamon de Valera was confident of being elected Taoiseach with support from National Labour and Independents.