The Irish Leader of the Opposition is a largely ceremonial title traditionally held by the leader of the largest opposition party in Dáil Éireann. The Leader of the Opposition is invariably seen as the alternative Taoiseach to the present incumbent, and heads a rival alternative government known as the Front Bench.

Irish Leader of the Opposition

Those who became Taoiseach after the end of their session as Opposition Leader are indicated in italic.

• Thomas Johnson (1922-1927) - Labour
• Eamon de Valera (1927-1932) - Fianna Fáil
• W.T. Cosgrave (1932-1933) - Cumann na nGaedhael
• W.T. Cosgrave (1933-1944) - Fine Gael
• Gen. Richard Mulcahy (1944-1948) - Fine Gael
• Eamon de Valera (1948-1951) - Fianna Fáil
• John A. Costello (1951-1954) - Fine Gael
• Eamon de Valera (1954-1957) - Fianna Fáil
• John A. Costello (1957-1959) - Fine Gael
• James Dillon (1959-1965) - Fine Gael
• Liam Cosgrave (1965-1973) - Fine Gael
• Jack Lynch (1973-1977) - Fianna Fáil
• Garret FitzGerald (1977-1981) - Fine Gael
• Charles Haughey (1981-1982) - Fianna Fáil
• Garret FitzGerald (1982) - Fine Gael
• Charles Haughey (1982-1987) - Fianna Fáil
• Alan Dukes (1987-1990) - Fine Gael
• John Bruton (1990-1994) - Fine Gael
• Bertie Ahern (1994-1997) - Fianna Fáil
• John Bruton (1997-2001) - Fine Gael
• Michael Noonan (2001-2002) - Fine Gael
• Enda Kenny (2002-present) - Fine Gael