History of Fianna Fáil History of Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil was founded on 23 March 1926 when a group of Dail deputies led by Éamon de Valera split from Sinn Féin. This happened because de Valera's motion calling for elected members be allowed to take their seats in the Dáil, if and when the controversial Oath of Allegiance was removed, failed to pass at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. The new party adopted its name on 2 April of the same year. From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the 2011 general election, the party was in
Thomas Kelly (Sinn Féin politician) Thomas Kelly (Sinn Féin politician) Thomas Kelly (13 September 1868 – 20 April 1942), sometimes known as Tom Kelly, was an Irish Sinn Féin and later Fianna Fáil politician. He was a book and picture dealer before entering politics. He was a founder member of Sinn Féin and was elected to Dublin City Council. Kelly was arrested after the 1916 Easter Rising and sent to prison in England, and after becoming seriously ill, he was released back to Dublin. He was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for the Dublin St Stephens's Green constituency at the 1918 general election. In