A timeline of events that led to the Fine Gael leadership challenge
February 8th: High-profile TD George Lee quits the party and politics, raising serious questions over Kenny's leadership.
February 9th: The Mayo TD responds by vowing to up his game after a robust meeting with the front bench. He says: "What I'm going to do now is be myself and I'm going to speak out from my heart."
February 9th: Mr Bruton admits his own leadership ambitions but in the same breath says he fully supports his leader and a four-month waiting game begins.
March 11th: The parliamentary party rejects a plan backed by Mr Kenny to impose quotas of women candidates. His own female front-benchers dismiss it.
March 20th: Mr Kenny shocks many in his parliamentary party announcing he would abolish the Seanad if put in power.
June 10th: He attempts to score valuable political points by trying to move a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach over damning criticisms of the causes of the banking crisis.
June 11th: Mr Kenny is dealt a severe blow with an opinion poll showing his rating down seven points and continued failure to capitalise on dissatisfaction with Brian Cowen.
June 12th: Mr Kenny telephones Mr Bruton and asks him to defend publicly his leadership in an interview. Mr Bruton refuses.
June 13th: Mr Bruton declines to comment on Kenny's leadership. The pair meet that night in Fine Gael headquarters for 45 minutes with both men refusing to back down.
June 14th: Mr Bruton asks for time to discuss "issues" privately with party colleagues. Battle lines are drawn as Mr Kenny steps in and sacks him at 4pm.
June 15th: Renegade Fine Gael front-benchers ready to back Mr Bruton hold a breakfast meeting in the Green Isle Hotel in the outskirts of west Dublin.
June 15th: Mr Kenny chairs the weekly meeting of his front bench in Leinster House 2000. He warns the divided shadow cabinet they face a reshuffle on Monday before walking out less than half an hour later without giving them a chance to challenge him.
June 16th: The Kenny and Bruton camps express confidence they have the votes necessary to win the motion of confidence vote called by Mr Kenny before the Fine Gael parliamentary meeting. Former frontbenchers Charlie Flanagan and Kieran O'Donnell defect, dealing a blow to Mr Kenny.
June 17th: Mr Kenny survives a vote of confidence after the parliamentary party meets to debate the motion. The 51 TDs, 15 Senators and four MEPs had a five hour long debate and vote. The atmosphere was described as "cool and calm".