 A former Fianna Fáil cabinet Minister and a political ally of Lynch, Patrick Hillery, was eventually nominated (without election) as Ó Dálaigh's successor and sixth President of Ireland.In 1977, the government, although reasonably unpopular, felt sure of an election victory and June date for the poll was fixed.The National Coalition's spirits had been buoyed up by the actions of the Minister for Local Government, James Tully.