Clann na Talmhan merged with the National Agricultural Party a rival political party setup in Leinster to represent the large farmers there, with the belief that the merger was needed in order to contest the upcoming 1943 general election. The unified party the party won ten seats in that election and nine at the 1944 general election. However, the merger of the two groups brought a great deal of instability as infighting between the small farmers from Connacht and the large farmers from Leinsters divided the party members. In light of this Donnellan resigned as leader following the election and was replaced by Joseph Blowick, a large farmer holder from County Mayo. In government and decline The party was one of five parties in the first inter-party government (1948–1951), with Blowick serving as Minister for Lands and Donnellan becoming a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance. Clann na Talmhan was one of three parties in the second inter-party government (1954–1957), with Blowick and Donnellan reprising their ministerial roles. However, this period saw a retrenchment rather than expansion of the party, which did not expand its support beyond western and southern small farmers. Like its spiritual predecessors, Clann na Talmhan could not unite small and large farmers in one party, and this restricted its electoral appeal. The party began to lose its position after its spells in government. A lack of improvement in the economy during this period led to disillusionment with Clann na Talmhan, and people again began to vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rather than small parties. During the 1950s many activists had departed, and the party became little more than a collection of personal electoral machines. By 1961, Donnellan and Blowick were the only party TDs remaining, and the party ceased to exist as an organisation independent of those men. When Donnellan died in 1964 his son John Donnellan was elected in his place, but for Fine Gael rather than his father's party. Blowick decided not to contest the 1965 general election, and Clann na Talmhan was formally wound up. General election results See also Farmers' Party (Ireland) :Category:Clann na Talmhan politicians References Sources Maurice Fitzgerald, 2000. "Ireland's European Integration, 1957 to 1966" in Protectionism to Liberalization: Ireland and the EEC, 1957 to 1966. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Open Access Copy Barberis, Peter, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, 2005. Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organisations.