Taoiseach
The Taoiseach (pronounced "TEE-shock"; plural: Taoisigh [TEE-shig]) is the official title of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland. The title has its origin in the leaders of clans in medieval Ireland. The Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland is known as the Tánasite. The current Taoiseach is Brian Cowen, leader of the Fianna Fail party.
History
The origin of the office of Taoiseach comes from the establishment of the Irish Free State, the precursor to the current Republic of Ireland, in 1923. The premier of the new free state was known as the President of the Executive Council. When a new Irish Constitution was passed in 1937, this office was replaced with that of the Taoiseach, though its roles and fucntions remained the same. The office of Taoiseach is usually assumed by the leader of whatever party which gains the most votes in a general election. A Taoiseach's term lasts five years, and unlike the American presidential system, there is no term limit. The longest serving Taoiseach so far is Eamon de Valera, who served as Taoiseach (renaming it from President in 1937) from 1932 to 1948, a total of sixteen years. The shortest term for any Taoiseach so far was Charles Haughey's second term, which lasted a little over nine months.
Taoisigh of Ireland
| Taoiseach | Years | County | Party | Tánaiste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William T. Cosgrave | 6 Dec 1922 - 9 Mar 1932 | Dublin | Cumann na nGaedheal | O'Higgins (1922 - 1927); Blythe (1927 - 1932) |
| Eamon de Valera | 9 Mar 1932 - 29 Dec 1937 | Clare | Fíanna Fáil | O'Ceallaigh |
| Eamon de Valera | 29 Dec 1937 - 18 Feb 1948 | Clare | Fíanna Fáil | O'Ceallaigh (1937 - 1945); Lemass (1945 - 1948) |
| John A. Costello | 18 Feb 1948 - 13 June 1951 | Dublin | Fine Gael | Norton |
| Eamon de Valera | 13 June 1951 - 2 June 1954 | Clare | Fíanna Fáil | Lemass |
| John A. Costello | 2 June 1954 - 20 Mar 1957 | Dublin | Fine Gael | Norton |
| Eamon de Valera | 20 Mar 1957 - 23 June 1959 | Clare | Fíanna Fáil | Lemass |
| Sean Lemass | 23 June 1959 - 10 Nov 1966 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | McEntee (1959 - 1965); Aiken (1965 - 1966) |
| Jack Lynch | 10 Nov 1966 - 14 Mar 1973 | Cork | Fíanna Fáil | Aiken (1966 - 1969); Childers (1969 - 1973) |
| Liam Cosgrave | 14 Mar 1973 - 5 July 1977 | Dublin | Fine Gael | Corish |
| Jack Lynch | 5 July 1977 - 11 Dec 1979 | Cork | Fíanna Fáil | Colley |
| Charles Haughey | 11 Dec 1979 - 20 Jun 1981 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | Colley |
| Garret FitzGerald | 20 Jun 1981 - 9 Mar 1982 | Dublin | Fine Gael | O'Leary |
| Charles Haughey | 9 Mar 1982 - 14 Dec 1982 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | McSharry |
| Garret FitzGerald | 14 Dec 1982 - 10 Mar 1987 | Dublin | Fine Gael | Spring (1982 - 1987); Barry (1987) |
| Charles Haughey | 10 Mar 1987 - 11 Feb 1992 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | Lenihan (1987 - 1990); Wilson (1990 - 1992) |
| Albert Reynolds | 11 Feb 1992 - 15 Dec 1994 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | Wilson (1992 - 1993); Spring (1993 - 1994) |
| John Bruton | 15 Dec 1994 - 26 Jun 1997 | Dublin | Fine Gael | Spring |
| Bertie Ahern | 26 Jun 1997 - 7 May 2008 | Dublin | Fíanna Fáil | Harney (1997 - 2006); McDowell (2006 - 2007); Cowen (2007 - 2008) |
| Brian Cowen | 7 May 2008 - 9 Mar 2009 | Offaly | Fíanna Fáil | Coughlan |
| Edda Kenny | 9 Mar 2011 | Mayo | Fine Gael |
