Former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave Has Passed Away

Until today, he was the last Taoiseach with us to be born prior to the foundation of the Irish state. As the son of W.T. Cosgrave he was quite literally born into public life and in his lifespan he lived the history of independent Ireland.
First elected to Leinster House in 1943, he was only 23-years-old when he sat beside his father on the Dáil benches.
And then when Fine Gael came to office in 1948 he was Chief Whip (or Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach as it then was called back then) and also served as Minister for External Affairs in the 1950’s where he saw Ireland’s application to join the United Nations come to fruition.
He led Fine Gael for 12 years from 1965 to 1977 – the last four of them as Taoiseach.
"With the Troubles in Northern Ireland erupting during that time these were amongst the most turbulent years in our history as an independent state. Throughout all those years he showed real grit, resilience and determination both in opposition and in government," recalls Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin.
Cosgrave will be best remembered for his great efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. He almost managed to strike a power-sharing deal in the North with the Sunningdale Agreement in 1973, but it was rejected by the Unionists.
Whilst he did not lead Ireland into the European Community, he became Taoiseach a couple of months after our accession.
In 1975, Ireland held the presidency of the Community for the first time and it was a notable success under his stewardship. He bowed out of public life in 1981.
Cosgrave was described last night by Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Martin Heydon as a "part of a pre-eminent Fine Gael family, an exceptional patriot following in the footsteps of his father W.T who laid the key foundations of the State".

Tributes have been flowing since his death was announced late last night. Three former Leaders of Fine Gael have joined together in expressing their respects and condolences on the passing of former Taoiseach and Fine Gael Leader, Liam Cosgrave.
Former Finance Minister Michael Noonan, said: “Liam Cosgrave was a great leader who followed in the tradition of his father, W.T Cosgrave, who helped to found the State.
“As time went by, his strengths in his role as Taoiseach become more apparent - in particular, the way he dealt with Northern Ireland, the Troubles and spill over of those difficulties into the South. His leadership proved to be admirable."
He added: “I got to know him very well first in my role as Chairman of the West Limerick Constituency during the 1977 General Election campaign.
“I became personally friendly with him in later years and I used to always meet him in Croke Park at the All-Ireland football and hurling finals. He would be accompanied by his daughter Mary and we would discuss politics at half time.
“I want to offer my deepest condolences to his entire family and friends in the old Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency."

John Bruton said: “Liam Cosgrave gave great service to this State in extremely difficult times.
“He was a pioneer in important ways. At the age of only 28 in 1948, he became the first ever Chief Whip a Coalition government, a daunting task for which there was no precedent for him to follow.
“In 1965, he became Leader of Fine Gael and injected a strong element of badly needed professionalism into the party’s work.
“In 1970, and again in 1972, he took vital political stands, as leader of the Opposition, to protect the integrity and security of the state. In both instances, he put the country’s interest before his own political advantage.
“In 1973, he became Taoiseach in a National Coalition government with the Labour Party. He managed the Coalition exceptionally well, and the two parties continued to work and campaign together right to the end. In this, he established an important precedent for future coalitions.
“In private and in public, he was the same... self-effacing, modest and kind. He was authentic in every way.”

Former leader Alan Dukes said: “Liam Cosgrave was a man of great honesty and integrity, devoted to the welfare of the state which his father had helped to found.
“As Leader of the Opposition and as Taoiseach, he vigorously defended the rule of law and opposed the forces of subversion.
“He had strong personal values and beliefs but respected those who disagreed with him. He prized family values and was unfailingly courteous to all who met him.
“He deserves to be remembered as a modest, warm man who was a statesman of great stature and determination.”

While Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin TD has paid tribute to former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave.
“It is 40 years this year since Liam Cosgrave left frontline politics following the 1977 general election and his relatively low profile since then means that his extraordinary career has often been somewhat overlooked. This is very unfair as, by any standard, his was a quite remarkable tenure in our public life," he told us.
“Until today, he was the last Taoiseach to be born prior to the foundation of the state. It is also extraordinary to think that a member of the 1948 inter-party government, formed almost 70 years ago, was still with us until today.
“He will be remembered as a fair and principled man who conducted the business of government efficiently.
“His lengthy retirement since he left the Dáil in 1981 has been marked by a quiet dignity. He never sought to re-impose himself in the public consciousness. Instead he returned to family life with his wife Vera who sadly also passed away last year.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to his children Mary, Liam and Ciaran. I also offer my sympathy to the Fine Gael party on the loss of their elder statesman.”

The Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin also released a statement on the passing of the former Taoiseach. “I am deeply saddened to hear news of the passing of former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave this evening," he says.
“Liam Cosgrave led a Fine-Gael Labour coalition during turbulent times in the 1970s, alongside Tánaiste and Labour leader Brendan Corish.
“I know Liam was a very close personal friend of Brendan's from that time, and as my own mentor, Brendan often told me what a gentleman Liam Cosgrave was, and how generous of spirit he was.
“I had the privilege of meeting Liam Cosgrave myself on many occasions with his daughter Mary, and he really was a gentleman to his fingertips; a true patriot.
“On behalf of the Labour Party, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mary, Liam’s sons Liam and Ciarán and extended family, as well as his many friends, former colleagues and all in the Fine Gael party."

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said she was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing" of the former Leader of Fine Gael.
“He had a long distinguished career in politics, following in the footsteps of his father W.T. Cosgrave," she says.
“He was revered among Fine Gael politicians and supporters across Ireland and held in high esteem by those who witnessed his incredible contribution to Irish political life. He will be greatly missed by us all.
“To Mary, Liam Junior, Ciaran and his extended family, I wish to express my sincere condolences at this very sad time.”
While former Taoiseach Enda Kenny points out that Liam Cosgrave’s "most striking quality was his unshakeable conviction, whether to his deep Catholic faith, or to preserving the democratic integrity and security of the State".
Kenny adds, “He was a man of great loyalty, old fashioned courtesy, personal warmth and always had a great sense of humour.
“I had the honour to serve under his leadership and to learn from him. He was no ideologue but was rooted in common sense. He had a genuine rapport with people and was always conscious of the impact of policy on people’s everyday lives.
“His closeness to people and willingness to work for them was reflected in the fact that he invariably headed the poll in his beloved Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency.
“He led one of the best Governments the country has seen and did so with a quiet dignity and a steely resistance to those who would undermine the State. He was conscious at all times of the example of his father W.T Cosgrave and sought to emulate his qualities of probity and courage.
“The Fine Gael party owes him a great debt. He became a TD at the bleakest time in the party’s history when many forecast its demise.
“His persistence and belief saw him steer the party back to recovery and Government.
“He was kind and encouraging to me as a young TD, and always available for advice - but only when it was wanted. One of my most touching memories was the phone call from him on the night of my election as Taoiseach in 2011: “You have made an old man very happy,” he said to me. It was a very proud moment for me.
“To his family, to Mary who gave him such care and devotion, to Liam and Ciaran and his wider family, my sincere sympathy.”
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.