Liam Cosgrave

Liam Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Mac Cosgair) (born April 13, 1920), served as the fifth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland between 1973 and 1977. The son of W.T. Cosgrave (who served as the first President of the Executive Council from 1922 to 1932), Liam Cosgrave entered Irish politics, becoming a TD in Dáil Éireann in 1944, when his father retired. He retained his seat until his own retirement in 1981. Cosgrave served as Minister for External Affairs from 1954 until 1957. During his term as Minister, Ireland joined the United Nations.

Fine Gael Leader

In 1965, when James Dillon retired as Fine Gael leader after the 1965 election loss, Liam Cosgrave, as a senior party figure and son of the first parliamentary leader of Fine Gael, easily won the leadership. Throughout his leadership, Cosgrave was seen as dour, conservative but utterly trustworthy and honourable. He played a key role in the Arms Crisis, when, as leader of the opposition, he pressured then Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, to take action against senior ministers who were involved in importing arms intended for the Provisional IRA.

Related Topics:
James Dillon - Fine Gael - Arms Crisis - Fianna Fáil - Jack Lynch - Provisional IRA

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Cosgrave's determination to support government anti-terrorist legislation in votes in the Dáil, in the face of outright opposition from his party, almost cost him his leadership. The growing liberal wing in Fine Gael was opposing the Government's stringent laws on civil liberty grounds. Cosgrave, following in his father's footsteps, put the security of the State and its instititions first. Risking his leadership Cosgrave was determined to vote for the Bill. However a series of Dublin bombings, which were heard in Leinster House, the home of the Republic's parliament just before the vote, led Fine Gael's liberal TDs to change their viewpoint and vote for the Bill. Cosgrave's leadership was saved and his decisions apparently vindicated, although some believe that the Ulster Volunteer Force had set out to deliberately influence the vote by bombing Dublin on that day, knowing the brunt of the legislation would fall on the IRA. Cosgrave emerged from these events as a man of honour and integrity. Labour decided to ditch its anti-coalition stance and embrace Cosgrave as a possible Taoiseach. Pre-election pact talks began between the two parties and within months, he had again emulated his father by becoming Taoiseach.

Related Topics:
Dublin bombings - Leinster House - Ulster Volunteer Force - IRA - Taoiseach

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