Will Cowen be the shortest serving Taoiseach in history (so far)?

[conservative green]

The odds are pretty high, surely.

Cowen has to stay in office for another year and 2 months to beat John Bruton's tenure of 2yrs and 6 and a half months.

Whilst Haughey's second tenure as Taoiseach for just nine months in 1982 was shorter than Cowen's to date - as was Fitgerald's first term in 1981/1982 - and Cowen might also just beat the duration of Haughey's first tenure of 1 year 6 and a half months in 1979/1981, there is no way back for Brian - unlike Charlie and Garret, who had a shrewder political brains. And had the energy for the task, notwithstanding their many flaws and mistakes.

[MrFunkyBoogaloo]

regardless of when he goes, his time in office will still be too long!!

[flavirostris]

wasn't Reynolds under 3 years as well

[MrFunkyBoogaloo]

[conservative green]

wasn't Reynolds under 3 years as well

Yes. Reynolds served from Feb 1992 to December 1994. His term in office was a few months longer than Bruton's.

[OceanFrog]

The odds are pretty high, surely.

Well, the odds of the next GE being before the end of 2010 are 9/4 from Paddy Power here

And the odds of Clowen being next Taoiseach are 10/3 here

So you are correct. The odds are indeed pretty high of him being the shortest serving Taoiseach in the history of the state.

[DCon]

Cowen could be the first Taoiseach to take a bullet if he does not sort himself out

**I do not advocate or condone violence but sense a massive hatred for BIFFO growing

[Newsy]

The odds are pretty high, surely.

Cowen has to stay in office for another year and 2 months to beat John Bruton's tenure of 2yrs and 6 and a half months.

Whilst Haughey's second tenure as Taoiseach for just nine months in 1982 was both shorter than Cowen's to date, and Cowen might just beat the duration of Haughey's first tenure of 1 year 6 and a half months in 1979/1981, there is no way back for Brian - unlike Charlie, who had a shrewder political brain.

PLEASE.....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE....I'll do Lough Derg, I'll say the rosary....I'll take back all I've thought bout Donie Cassidy, (fingers x) PLEASE.....

[flavirostris]

It's amazing - he's only been Taoiseach for about 15 months but already people want him adios'ed. When he started out, Fianna Fáil were at 40% + in the polls and the last IT/MRBI poll had them at 17%.
He is a godsend to all of us who never dared hope we see Fianna Fáil imploding like this.
Cowen rocks!

[Staropramen]

Lads, less of the ghastly pictures of the Biffo chap. Some of us like going to bed to dream about winning the world cup for Ireland, with a last minute screamer. Not to have nightmares about.....that yoke.