{"product_id":"saving-the-state-1","title":"Saving the State","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Fine Gael entered a coalition government with Fianna Fáil in 2020 the party did what would have been unthinkable for its forefathers who fought and won a bitter civil war to establish the institutions of an independent Irish state almost a century earlier.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTold through the lens of its leaders and Taoisigh, \u003cem\u003eSaving\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003ethe State \u003c\/em\u003eis the fascinating story of the wilderness years and the achievements in government, the defeats and crises, the partnerships and the leadership upheavals that have shaped Fine Gael over the decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the special place in the party’s pantheon of heroes occupied by Michael Collins to the dark era of the Blueshirts, and from its role as the founders of the state to its claim to be the defenders of the state, the ways that members perceive their own history is also explored.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how Fine Gael came to be the party it is today and the role that it played in shaping modern Ireland. \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e'A superb, illuminating and even-handed look at the highs and lows in Fine Gael's turbulent history,' David McCullagh, author of \u003cem\u003eDeValera: Rise\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDeValera: Rule\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘It is a tremendously well written book. At 418 pages it flows extremely well and is very accessible, even to the uninitiated.’ \u003cstrong\u003eBarry Shep,\u003cem\u003e The Irish Story\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘Collins and Meehan have made a valuable contribution to the canon of Irish political histories’\u003cstrong\u003e David Davin-Power, \u003cem\u003eIrish Independent Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘fascinating’ \u003cstrong\u003eMatt Cooper, \u003cem\u003eSunday Business Post\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘It’s a fascinating insight into the party from day one right up until the present day’ \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Finnegan Show, Northern Sound\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘It’s a really really detailed and wonderful book’ \u003cstrong\u003eTommy Marren, Midwest Radio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e‘Formidable and authoritative’ \u003cstrong\u003eAndrew Lynch, \u003cem\u003eSunday Business Post\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold through the lens of its leaders and Taoisigh, \u003cem\u003eSaving\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003ethe State \u003c\/em\u003eis the fascinating story of Fine Gael, from the wilderness years to the achievements in government, defeats and crises, the partnerships and the leadership. Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how Fine Gael came to be the party it is today. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gill Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":58186776379779,"sku":"9780717189731","price":28.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.gill.ie\/products\/saving-the-state-1","provider":"Gill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}