"Defeated and demoralised, Fine Gael was a broken political party after the 2002 general election. Opponents mocked and critics sneered when the party turned to a relative unknown as its new leader. Enda Kenny avoided talk of ideology and political beliefs - even his own deputy leader admitted he was wooden in television interviews. But Kenny has turned out to be a surprising leader. Big names like Mairead McGuinness and George Lee have been recruited as the party has pursued populist campaigns on crime, misuse of public money and abolishing Seanad Eireann. In Party at the Crossroads, Kevin Rafter tells the remarkable story of the Fine Gael comeback and provides an authoritative assessment of Irish politics after the economic boom."--Back cover.