History Beckons. L TO R. Sinn Fein President Gerry 

Adams with Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Albert 

Reynolds and SDLP leader John Hume, on the steps of Government Building in Dublin, after their historic 

meeting. This event is generally regarded as the official and public start of the peace process involving the IRA. 6/4/1994. Photo: Eamonn Farrell © RollingNews.ie

In With The New. Taoiseach and Fianna Fail Leader 

Albert Reynolds, receives his seal of office at Aras an 

Uachtarain, after being confirmed as Taoiseach by 

President Mary Robinson. 11/2/1992. 

Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Doing The Business With Confidence.Taoiseach and 

Fianna Fail leader Albert Reynolds with Government 

Press Secretary Sean Duignan (L), about to go into 

talks during the Edinburgh EU Summit, at which he 

managed to bag a substantial amount of extra funding for Ireland. 12/12/1992 Photo: Eamonn Farrell. 

© RollingNews.ie

Back In Business. Chairman of Bula Resources, former Taoiseach, Mr. Albert Reynolds at the company's AGM, in the Radisson Hotel in Dublin. 11/9/2000. 

Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Payback. A shocked former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds (2nd left), leaves a press conference in Buswells Hotel, after being defeated by Professor Mary McAleese, in 

the selection for the nomination as the Fianna Fail 

candidate in the upcoming election for the position of 

President of Ireland. Mr. Reynolds son Philip is on the 

left. 17/9/1997. Photo: Eamonn Farrell. 

© RollingNews.ie

John Bruton (left), Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael,

in his office with Government Press Secretary Shane Kenny, as the go through the Irish Times, with the front 

page news that John Major is still refusing to speak 

officially to Sinn Fein. 13/3/1995. Photo: Eamonn 

Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Breakthrough. John Bruton, the new Fine Gael 

Taoiseach, shakes hands for the first time with Sinn 

Fein President Gerry Adams on his first visit to the 

Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin Castle. 

16/12/1994. Photo: Eamonn Farrell © RollingNews.ie 

Mirror Image. John Bruton, Taoiseach and Fine Gael 

leader, reflected for a moment in a mirror during an 

event in a Dublin Hotel. 1995 Photo: Eamonn Farrell © 

RollingNews.ie

John Bruton, Fine Gael Minister For Finance, has his 

shoes recorded by RTE cameraman Jack Merriman on 

the Dail Plinth before going into the House to announce the imposition of vat on children's shoes as part of the

Budget. As a result of this Jim Kemmy, Democratic 

Socialist TD, withdrew his support and the government fell. 1982. Photo: Eamonn Farrell © RollingNews.ie

Unhappy Couple. John Bruton and leader of Fine Gael Michael Noonan (left), on their election bus as they 

travel around Louth canvassing during the 2002 

General Campaign. Noonan had deposed former 

taoiseach Bruton, in a brutal leadership ambush. 27/4/2002. Photo: Leon Farrell © RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach John Bruton, with his wife Finola, on the 

Fine Gael general election campaign train, during a visit to Cork City. 19/5/1997. Photo: Leon Farrell 

©RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fail leader and Taoiseach Charles Haughey at a press conference responding to Mr Sean Doherty's allegations of the phone tapping of journalists Geraldine Kennedy and Bruce Arnold. The mask slips as Charles Haughey displays the look which chilled grown men in his own cabinet, as he tells a press conference in Government Buildings, that there is no truth whatever in Sean Doherty's claim that he discussed the bugging of journalists phones with him. But not for the first or the last time, Mr. Haughey was lying. (On the 11/2/1992, he resigned and Albert Reynolds became the new leader of Fianna Fail and Taoiseach) 22/1/1992 . Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie


Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Charles Haughey, at a Fianna Fail General Election press conference. He had dissolved his minority government in the Dail on May 25th, in many politicians eyes 'on a whim', and on the 15th of June, on a glorious summer day, with a 75% turnout, he still failed to get his beloved overall majority. The PD's had a disastrous election with left wing parties making huge gains. In the end Mr. Haughey was not only forced to enter a coalition government for the first time, but to do it with the Progressive Democrat Party, which was formed by his leading opponents in Fianna Fail. Two of whom, Des O'Malley and Bobby Molloy, would now sit in Cabinet with him. Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Leader of Fianna Fail Charles J Haughey, in his home in Abbeville in Kinsealy in north County Dublin, after meeting Sinn Fein M.P. Owen Carron to discuss the hunger strikes by republican prisoners in the H-Blocks in Northern Ireland. After the meeting Mr. Haughey held a press conference to a large gathering of national and international media in his house. This photograph is a good example of Charles Haugheys understanding of the importance of responding to a camera in a way which would always portray him as a powerful confident, commanding figure. He took time to do this, despite a room full of print and broadcast media who were grilling him about having a meeting with a person from the Republican Movement at a time when such people could not be interviewed by RTE etc. For Haughey, his image should always represent power and he took care to make sure it did. Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

 Fianna Fail leader Charles Haughey (left), shakes hands with Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, for the first ever Leaders TV General Election Debate on the RTE Today Tonight Show, hosted by presenter Brian Farrell. (It was generally agreed by media commentators that Mr. Haughey had performed better than the Taoiseach. But there was also disappointment at the lack of fire and passion in the debate. Within a few days Mr. Haughey was facing a challenge with-in Fianna Fail, having failed to get the expected overall majority in the General Election. The challenge led by Des O'Malley, fizzled out on the 26th of February, when with some disarray and confusion in the camp, he withdrew his attempt to depose Mr. Haughey. On the 9th of March, Mr. Haughey would become Taoiseach once again with the support of Tony Gregory and his 120m Dublin inner city deal, and the three Sinn Fein the Workers Party deputies. Jim Kemmy of the Democratic Socialist Party, along with the Labour Party supported Dr. Fitzgerald for Taoiseach. Labour had decided not to enter coalition with Fine Gael on the casting vote of party chairman, Michael D. Higgins). 16/2/1982. Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Night of the Long Knives. A jubliant Charles Haughey, Leader of Fianna Fail, is protected by Dail ushers and followed by media, family and supporters as he leaves the Dail, having yet again survived a challenge to his leadership by 40 votes to 33. 7/2/1983. Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie

Hail Our Glorious Leader. Fianna Fail Leader Charles Haughey at their Ard Fheis. 1984. Photo: Eamonn Farrell. © RollingNews.ie