Clann Na Talmhan - in Government and Decline

In Government and Decline

The party became a prominent participant in the first inter-party government (1948–1951), with Blowick serving as Minister for Lands and Donnellan becoming a Parliamentary Secretary. The party also went on to become a component of the second inter-party government, with Blowick and Donnellan reprising their ministerial roles. However, this period saw a retrenchment rather than expansion of the party, which did not expand its support beyond western and southern small farmers. Like their spiritual predecessors, Clann na Talmhan could not unite small and large farmers in one party, and this restricted its electoral appeal.

The party began to lose its position after being in government, as people again began to vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rather than small parties. A lack of improvement in the economy also lead to disillusionment with the party. During the 1950s many activists had departed and the party became little more than a collection of personal electoral machines. By 1961, Donnellan and Blowick were the only party TDs remaining, and the party ceased to exist as an organisation independent of those men. When Donnellan died in 1964, his son was elected, but for Fine Gael rather than his father's party. Blowick decided not to contest the 1965 general election, and the party was formally wound up.