Leader of Fine Gael

Leader of Fine Gael
Incumbent Enda Kenny, TD since 5 June 2002
Inaugural holder	Eoin O'Duffy
Formation	8 September 1933
Deputy	Senator James Reilly
Website	Enda Kenny, TD

The Leader of Fine Gael is the most senior politician within the Fine Gael political party in Ireland. Since 5 June 2002, the office has been held by Enda Kenny following the resignation of Michael Noonan as leader of the party.

The Deputy Leader of Fine Gael is Senator James Reilly.

In September 1933, Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party and the National Guard (previously called the Army Comrades Association better known as The Blueshirts) merged to form Fine Gael – the United Ireland party. Eoin O'Duffy, leader of the National Guard, though not a member of the Oireachtas, became the first party leader, with former President of the Executive Council W. T. Cosgrave serving as parliamentary leader. The merger brought together two strands of Irish nationalism namely the pro-treaty wing of revolutionary Sinn Féin and the old Home Rule party represented by James Dillon and the National Centre Party. In reality, the new party was a larger version of Cumann na nGaedheal, the party created in 1923 by the pro-Treaty leaders of the Irish Free State under W. T. Cosgrave.

W. T . Cosgrave retired as leader before the 1944 general election, and he was succeeded by Richard Mulcahy. Mulcahy was then member of the Seanad, so Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader. After the 1948 general election, the First Inter-Party Government was formed, but Clann na Poblachta (under former anti-Treaty IRA Chief of Staff Seán MacBride) were opposed to Mulcahy because of his role as Chief of Staff of the Irish Army in the execution of republicans during the Irish Civil War. Mulcahy stepped aside and former Attorney General John A. Costello became Taoiseach, and Mulcahy serving as Minister for Education instead. Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary party leader. Mulcahy retired as leader in 1959 and was replaced by James Dillon. After defeat in the 1965 general election, Dillon resigned and was replaced by Liam Cosgrave, son of W. T. Cosgrave. Liam Cosgrave served as Taoiseach from 1973–77. Cosgrave resigned after the Fine Gael–Labour Party government lost power at the 1977 general election.