Fionnán Sheahan

And yet, you'd have to say...

Over the decades, there was always a bit of a whiff of cordite about elements of Fianna Fáil.

The republicanism was still inherent.

If ultimately, if perhaps not taking up arms themselves, but if others were maybe turning a blind eye or providing some assistance, probably encapsulated by the arms trial.

Absolutely.

1970, I remember, at this time of year, May 1970, got up one morning to find, and we didn't have Morning Ireland, found all radio programs were suspended.

And there was a discussion going on with the political correspondents, Arthur Noonan from this radio.

paper, among others, discussing this huge crisis.

The Taoiseach by then was Jack Lynch, new generation, and he had sacked two members of his cabinet and a number of other, two very heavy hitters in Fianna Fáil, Neil Blaney and Charles Haughey, one who was going to dominate Irish politics for the subsequent years.

30 plus years, Kevin Boland, he resigned and others as well and a huge rift and split in the party.

At issue was a move to import arms for use by the nationalist community to defend themselves in Belfast, in Derry and other centres because they had been subject to vicious attacks the previous year and into that year of 1970.

Yeah, and a key element of Troubles.

Let's talk about kind of more modern era leaders then.

Charlie Haughey, I mean, ultimately, when you look back now, kind of remarkable, wasn't it?

Look, this is only...

40 years ago, a leader of the biggest party in the country, Taoiseach slash Four Occasions, who was so wealthy, had a large mansion, North County Dublin, owned a yacht, an island, and had all other trappings of wealth.

And the maths didn't add up, did they?

No, the great mystery, where did his wealth come from?

There were rumblings, there were questions in the Dáil.

Some of the more dissident left-wing deputies raised questions in the Dáil.