Gang of 22

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The "Gang of 22" was a group of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dálaí who were opposed to the leadership of Charles Haughey in the early 1980s. The very evident division within the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party left a deep split in the organisation.

The origins of 'The Gang of 22' was when Desmond O'Malley challenged Charles Haughey for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1983. A vote of no-confidence Charles Haughey's leadership failed by 55 votes to 22. The Gang of 22 included Mary Harney, David Andrews, Seamus Brennan and Willie O'Dea.

The name is a pun on the Gang of Four, a group of Communist leaders in the People's Republic of China who were imprisoned after the death of Mao Zedong.