Eamon Gilmore: ‘What Labour needed was a fresh voice’

The epiphany came early on Sunday, at 6am, not too long after dawn. Eamon Gilmore was already awake and was at his computer in his home in Dún Laoghaire, poring over the tables of local election results.

He had known for months that the elections last weekend were going to be tough but the reverses were worse than he anticipated. And as he scrolled through the councils, he saw the full extent – unvarnished, unalterable – of the collateral damage that had resulted from what he saw as putting the country first at a time of crisis. It struck him this was the end.

"What upset me was to see really good Labour councillors losing their seats and to see very good Labour candidates, many standing for the first time, not succeeding."

In an interview with The Irish Times, Mr Gilmore says his decision over the weekend was a surprise, ultimately even to himself. On Saturday night he had said publicly he intended to carry on as leader. Even on Sunday political correspondents were being briefed that he would meet Enda Kenny on Monday and that a reshuffle, a shake-up and a renewal would be on the cards.

But in parallel to that on Sunday he had come to the conclusion the first act in that shake-up would be his stepping down. Over the course of the day, he consulted his family and his closest friends and advisers.

“I didn’t make my decision lightly. I spent a lot of time reflecting on it myself and then discussing it with people. I think it’s probably fair to say that the overwhelming advice I was getting was to stay and at moments like that people close to you can be very kind to you.

“[But] this was very much the conclusion I reached myself. What the party needed to revive was a fresh start, a new leader and a fresh voice.”

He would not be drawn on his own future. The new leader of the party, he says, “should have the absolute freedom to make the decision”.

On his name being mentioned as the next European commissioner, he responds: “Until last Sunday, my intention was to continue as leader of the party. Clearly I have not given any thought to it . . .That’s a matter for the Taoiseach.”