🇮🇪 Ireland
Parliamentary republicLiberal democracy
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach · 585 days in office · 1,185 days remaining
How the political system works in Ireland
Irish voters elect a parliament called the Dail, which then nominates the Taoiseach, Ireland's prime minister, to lead the government. Elections must happen at least every five years. Ireland's president is a separate and mostly ceremonial job.
Next election: 2029 — Next Irish general election must be held by late 2029.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Éamon de Valera
5,613 days · 3 terms
Shortest-serving
Simon Harris
289 days
Average tenure
1,383 days
Micheál Martin: 58% below average
Recent taoisigh by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Ireland?
Across 23 completed terms, the average taoiseach of Ireland has served 1,383 days (about 3.8 years). Terms are getting shorter: the last five completed terms averaged just 1,014 days. The last leader to beat the average was Enda Kenny, who left office in 2017.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All taoisigh of Ireland
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 |  Micheál Martin | Jan 23, 2025 | Incumbent | 585 |
| 23 |  Simon Harris | Apr 9, 2024 | Jan 23, 2025 | 289 |
| 22 |  Leo Varadkar | Dec 17, 2022 | Apr 9, 2024 | 479 |
| 21 | Micheál Martin | Jun 27, 2020 | Dec 17, 2022 | 903 |
| 20 | Leo Varadkar | Jun 14, 2017 | Jun 27, 2020 | 1,109 |
| 19 |  Enda Kenny | Mar 9, 2011 | Jun 14, 2017 | 2,289 |
| 18 |  Brian Cowen | May 7, 2008 | Mar 9, 2011 | 1,036 |
| 17 |  Bertie Ahern | Jun 26, 1997 | May 7, 2008 | 3,968 |
| 16 |  John Bruton | Dec 15, 1994 | Jun 26, 1997 | 924 |
| 15 |  Albert Reynolds | Feb 11, 1992 | Dec 15, 1994 | 1,038 |
| 14 |  Charles Haughey | Mar 10, 1987 | Feb 11, 1992 | 1,799 |
| 13 |  Garret FitzGerald | Dec 14, 1982 | Mar 10, 1987 | 1,547 |
| 12 | Charles Haughey | Mar 9, 1982 | Dec 14, 1982 | 280 |
| 11 | Garret FitzGerald | Jun 30, 1981 | Mar 9, 1982 | 252 |
| 10 | Charles Haughey | Dec 11, 1979 | Jun 30, 1981 | 567 |
| 9 |  Jack Lynch | Jul 5, 1977 | Dec 11, 1979 | 889 |
| 8 |  Liam Cosgrave | Mar 14, 1973 | Jul 5, 1977 | 1,574 |
| 7 | Jack Lynch | Nov 10, 1966 | Mar 14, 1973 | 2,316 |
| 6 |  Seán Lemass | Jun 23, 1959 | Nov 10, 1966 | 2,697 |
| 5 |  Éamon de Valera | Mar 20, 1957 | Jun 23, 1959 | 825 |
| 4 |  John A. Costello | Jun 2, 1954 | Mar 20, 1957 | 1,022 |
| 3 | Éamon de Valera | Jun 13, 1951 | Jun 2, 1954 | 1,085 |
| 2 | John A. Costello | Feb 18, 1948 | Jun 13, 1951 | 1,211 |
| 1 | Éamon de Valera | Dec 29, 1937 | Feb 18, 1948 | 3,703 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the Taoiseach of Ireland?
- Micheál Martin has been Taoiseach of Ireland since Jan 23, 2025.
- How is the leader of Ireland chosen?
- Irish voters elect a parliament called the Dail, which then nominates the Taoiseach, Ireland's prime minister, to lead the government. Elections must happen at least every five years. Ireland's president is a separate and mostly ceremonial job.
- Who is the longest-serving Taoiseach of Ireland?
- Éamon de Valera, with 5,613 days in office across 3 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Ireland?
- Across 23 completed terms, the average taoiseach of Ireland has served 1,383 days (about 3.8 years). Terms are getting shorter: the last five completed terms averaged just 1,014 days. The last leader to beat the average was Enda Kenny, who left office in 2017.