THE first indication that Seán Lemass was about to step down as Taoiseach was when Minister for Industry & Commerce George Colley cut short a trip to the United States and returned home unexpectedly on October 31, 1966.

His refusal to be drawn on the reasons for his return, fueled the speculation that the Taoiseach was stepping down. Three other ministers were also out of the country. It was believed that Lemass was waiting for their return before making his formal announcement.

For the past year there had been speculation about who would succeed Lemass. Colley and Agriculture Minister Charles Haughey were widely seen as the frontrunners, but the changeover could hardly have come at a worse time for Haughey. He was involved in a bitter wrangle with both the National Farmers Association and the news media at RTÉ.

In the circumstances Colley’s supporters were jubilant. “George has it in the bag,” one was quoted in the Cork Examiner. “He will be the next Taoiseach.” This was only the second change of leadership in Fianna Fáil’s 40-year history. When Lemass was elected to succeed Éamon de Valera in 1959, he was seen as a natural successor. He was virtually annointed by de Valera and there was no contest.

Some feared a contest between Colley and Haughey would be so divisive as to bring down the minority government. Hence a number of deputies encouraged Finance Minister Jack Lynch to contest the leadership.

In November 1965, the political commentator John Healy had suggested that Lynch would win easily. He advised those “who go in for ante-post betting to take the odds, at this time, on Jack Lynch”.

“He’s the best bet since Arkle,” Healy added. Arkle went on to win Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third time at the shortest odds ever — 10/1 on.

Lynch had remained aloof amid all the speculation over the following months. “My wife and I discussed the prospect and we concluded definitively that I should make it clear from the outset that I would not be a contender for the position,” Lynch explained afterwards. “We both enjoy our own company in the privacy of our home, listening to music, watching television, reading or just chatting,” he explained. “Ministerial life didn’t leave much time for private life and we knew that being Taoiseach would leave even less time.”

Many provincial deputies were uneasy about the choice between the two Dublin politicians — Colley and Haughey. Hence there were calls for Lynch to run, but he remained reluctant.

Then Neil Blaney indicated that he would run. This changed everything. Lemass decided to put pressure on Lynch to stand. The Taoiseach said “that several backbenchers wanted me to run and that the party generally favoured me as his successor,” according to Lynch. “He pointed out that I owed the party a duty to serve, even as leader. I told him I would consider my position and would discuss it with my wife,” Lynch explained.

Mairín Lynch was amenable. “We decided after a long and agonising discussion that I would let my name go before the party,” Lynch noted.

Lemass then called in the other candidates and informed them that he would be backing Lynch. He basically wished them to withdraw. Colley told him that he would first have to consult his wife, Mary.

Haughey immediately agreed to withdraw. He even offered to nominate Lynch.

“I’m glad someone can give me a straight answer around here,” Lemass remarked. “What kind of people have I got when one man has to get his wife’s permission to run and the other has to get his wife’s permission to withdraw?”

The Taoiseach’s wife Kathleen later told the press that she only learned her husband was stepping down when he came home and told her that he had already made the announcement. That was his way of doing things.

When Blaney was asked to withdraw, he asked Lemass: “What are George and Charlie doing?”

“Charlie is no problem,” Lemass replied.

“What about George?” “George is going out to Mary to allow him to withdraw,” the Taoiseach said. With that, Blaney promptly agreed to withdraw.

Colley decided to stand anyway, but all of the newspapers predicted that Lynch’s victory was a foregone conclusion. Lemass formally announced on November 8 he was stepping down.

“There is certainly no question about my general health, which is quite good,” he said. “I am convinced that it is in the interests of the country, the Government, and the Fianna Fáil party that responsibility should now pass to a younger man.”

When the party met next day to select a new leader, the 49-year-old Lynch was proposed by Tom McEllistrim of Kerry, and seconded by Eugene Gilbride of Sligo, while Colley was proposed by Frank Aiken and seconded by Bobby Molloy of Galway. Although there was no animosity between the candidates, Seán MacEntee poisoned the atmosphere at the meeting by launching a blistering attack on Lemass.

The Taoiseach “could not have chosen a worse time” to stand down, as the party was “at its lowest ebb,” and quitting at that time was tantamount to “deserting in the face of the enemy”, MacEntee said.

“It is astonishing and unjustifiable that the Taoiseach, at this precise moment should propose, by resigning, to wash his hands of responsibility for the country’s affairs.

“Only reason of the utmost gravity, on the borderline, so to speak between life and death, justify such a step on the part of a leader,” MacEntee added. “The state was tottering towards anarchy.”

Deputies sat in stunned silence. MacEntee could hardly have chosen a more inappropriate moment for such an absurd attack. After 40 years on the front line of Fianna Fáil, Lemass had every right to retire. MacEntee was accusing the Taoiseach of leading the country towards anarchy.

Lynch duly defeated Colley by 52 votes to 19. Lemass proposed Lynch as Taoiseach in the Dáil on Thursday, November 10. Fine Gael put forward its leader Liam Cosgrave, but Lynch won by 71 to 64. He was then conferred with the seal of office by President de Valera.

The new Taoiseach returned to Cork on Saturday to a massive reception. He was greeted by tens of thousands of people as he drove from Blackpool to St Patrick’s Street behind a succession of bands in an open Cadillac on a route brightened with bonfires.

Next day Lynch was in Croke Park to witness the Under 21 All-Ireland hurling final replay in which Cork defeated Wexford. The Taoiseach had the honour of presenting the trophy to the winning captain, Gerald McCarthy, who had also captained the Cork senior hurling team to its All-Ireland 10 weeks earlier.

“I don’t think I could get a better present for my first visit to Croke Park as Taoiseach than to present this cup to the winning Cork All-Ireland team,” Lynch said. “I hope it is a happy augury for whatever lies ahead.”