Albert Reynolds (born 1932) became prime minister of Ireland in 1992, reflecting a new generation of Irish leaders. Entering politics after success in business, he won leadership of the Fianna Fail Party and was able to build a governing coalition with a progressivist and socially liberal Labour Party.

Albert Reynolds was born in Rooskey, County Roscommon, on November 3, 1932, and was educated at Summerhill College in Sligo. He married Kathleen Coen, and they had two sons and five daughters. He became the owner of a chain of dance halls that flourished during Ireland's "show band" craze of the 1960s. Reynolds then got into the pet food business; next he purchased a local newspaper. The president of the Longford Chamber of Commerce from 1974 through 1978 and a member of the Longford County Council from 1974 through 1979, he was elected to the Irish parliament, Dail Eireann, in June 1977. He was part of the overwhelming majority...