Leader of The Opposition (Ireland) - Leaders of The Opposition

Leaders of The Opposition

The bold print indicates politicians who went on to become Taoiseach.

# Name Picture Entered Office Left Office Party
1. Thomas Johnson 6 December 1922 11 August 1927 Labour Party
2. Éamon de Valera
(1st time)
11 August 1927 9 March 1932 Fianna Fáil
3. W. T. Cosgrave 9 March 1932 January 1944 Cumann na nGaedheal/
Fine Gael
4. Thomas F. O'Higgins January 1944 9 June 1944 Fine Gael
5. Richard Mulcahy 9 June 1944 18 February 1948 Fine Gael
Éamon de Valera
(2nd time)
18 February 1948 13 June 1951 Fianna Fáil
6. John A. Costello
(1st time)
13 June 1951 2 June 1954 Fine Gael
Éamon de Valera
(3rd time)
2 June 1954 20 March 1957 Fianna Fáil
John A. Costello
(2nd time)
20 March 1957 21 October 1959 Fine Gael
7. James Dillon 21 October 1959 21 April 1965 Fine Gael
8. Liam Cosgrave 21 April 1965 14 March 1973 Fine Gael
9. Jack Lynch 14 March 1973 5 July 1977 Fianna Fáil
10. Garret FitzGerald
(1st time)
5 July 1977 30 June 1981 Fine Gael
11. Charles Haughey
(1st time)
30 June 1981 9 March 1982 Fianna Fáil
Garret FitzGerald
(2nd time)
9 March 1982 14 December 1982 Fine Gael
Charles Haughey
(2nd time)
14 December 1982 10 March 1987 Fianna Fáil
12. Alan Dukes 10 March 1987 20 November 1990 Fine Gael
13. John Bruton
(1st time)
20 November 1990 15 December 1994 Fine Gael
14. Bertie Ahern 15 December 1994 26 June 1997 Fianna Fáil
John Bruton
(2nd time)
26 June 1997 9 February 2001 Fine Gael
15. Michael Noonan 9 February 2001 6 June 2002 Fine Gael
16. Enda Kenny 6 June 2002 9 March 2011 Fine Gael
17. Micheál Martin 9 March 2011 Incumbent Fianna Fáil

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