Statement from Former Fine Gael Leaders on the death of Liam Cosgrave

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.

Limerick City TD, 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.

“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.” 

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.”