 In 1966, Ireland celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.Éamon de Valera came within 1% of defeat in that year's Irish presidential election, less than two months after the celebrations in which he played such a central part.On 10 November 1966, Lemass officially announced to the Dáil his decision to retire as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach with his usual penchant for efficiency, "I have resigned."