Saving the State: Fine Gael from Collins to Varadkar

Fine Gael entered a coalition government with Fianna Fáil in 2020, which was unthinkable for its forefathers who fought and won a bitter civil war to establish the institutions of an independent Irish state. Saving the State is the fascinating story of the wilderness years and the achievements in government, the defeats and crises, the partnerships and the leadership upheavals that have shaped Fine Gael over the decades. It is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how Fine Gael came to be the party it is today and the role that it played in shaping modern Ireland.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 23 October 2020
\n Publisher: Gill
\n

When Fine Gael entered a coalition government with Fianna Fáil in 2020, the party took a significant step that would have been unthinkable for its forefathers, who had fought and won a bitter civil war to establish the institutions of an independent Irish state nearly a century earlier. This remarkable transformation is explored in detail in the book "Saving the State," which delves into the wilderness years and the remarkable achievements, defeats, crises, partnerships, and leadership upheavals that have shaped Fine Gael over the decades.

The book offers a comprehensive and insightful look at Fine Gael's history, from its special place in the party's pantheon of heroes occupied by Michael Collins to the dark era of the Blueshirts. It explores the party's role as the founders of the state and its claim to be the defenders of the state, examining how members perceive their own history.

Written by David McCullagh, the author of "DeValera: Rise and DeValera: Rule," "Saving the State" is a superb, illuminating, and even-handed account of Fine Gael's turbulent history. At 418 pages, the book flows extremely well and is accessible to readers of all levels, even those who are uninitiated in Irish political history.

The book has received widespread praise from leading figures in Irish politics and journalism. Barry Shep, the editor of "The Irish Story," described it as a "tremendously well written book" that flows extremely well and is very accessible. David Davin-Power, the editor of "Irish Independent Review," praised the authors for making a valuable contribution to the canon of Irish political histories.

Matt Cooper, the political editor of "Sunday Business Post," called the book "fascinating," while Joe Finnegan, the host of the "Joe Finnegan Show" on Northern Sound, described it as a "really, really detailed and wonderful book." Tommy Marren, the host of "Midwest Radio," praised the authors for their "formidable and authoritative" work.

In conclusion, "Saving the State" is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding how Fine Gael came to be the party it is today and the role that it played in shaping modern Ireland. The book offers a comprehensive and insightful look at the party's history, providing a valuable contribution to the canon of Irish political histories.

\n Weight: 758g\n
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 43 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780717189731\n \n