Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, shortened to Fine Gael (pronounced: /ˌfina gail/, meaning Family of the Irish or Tribe of the Irish,) is the second largest political party in the Republic of Ireland. It claims a membership of 30,000, and is the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament. Fine Gael was founded in 1933 following the merger of its parent party Cumann na nGaedhael, the Centre Party and the Army Comrades Association, popularly known as the "Blueshirts". Its origins lie in the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, identifying in particular Michael Collins as the founder of the movement. Modern Fine Gael describes itself as the party of the "progressive centre", with core values focussed on fiscal rectitude, free enterprise and reward, individual rights and responsibilities. They are strongly pro-EU integration and opposed to violent Irish republicanism. Fine Gael is Ireland's only party in the European People's Party (EPP); its MEPs sit in the EPP-ED group. The party's youth wing, Young Fine Gael, was formed in 1977 and has approximately four thousand members. The current party leader is Enda Kenny. He was elected by a secret ballot of the parliamentary party on 5 June 2002. (via Wikipedia)