Alison O'Connor: Micheál Martin's 10 years of endurance as Fianna Fáil leader

Unlike most taoisigh, the Fianna Fáil leader was not in a particularly popular place when he got the job, writes Alison O'Connor

Micheál Martin has just a year-and-a-half to make a mark for himself — other than as a someone who ploughs along as a solitary slogger.

At the end of January, Micheál Martin, as Taoiseach, will celebrate a decade as leader of the Fianna Fáil party. Ten years is a long time for any political leader to remain in situ. It does says a lot though, doesn’t it, that the word celebrate in this context just does not seem apt.

Endurance seems a more appropriate description — both on his own part and that of his party. When he did finally get to take that top job in Government Buildings in June, it was in the midst of a pandemic and with Brexit looming. There was also the backdrop of a poor general election performance — where there had been high hopes for Fianna Fáil. There was no overcoming the sense then that he and his party were willing to form a coalition at any price in order to enter government.