Irish statesman
Born: April 13, 1920;
Died: October 4, 2017
LIAM Cosgrave, who has died aged 97, was one of Ireland's most respected statesmen who served as taoiseach from 1973 to 1977 and was part of the government which declared Ireland a republic in 1949.
He also oversaw Ireland joining the United Nations and addressed the Joint Houses of US Congress in 1976.
He was born in 1920, the son of WT Cosgrave, who was a key figure in the foundation of the Irish Free State and an officer in the 1916 Rising. Liam Cosgrave went on to follow in his father's footsteps with a 40-year political career and acquired an international reputation as an opponent of violence.
Born in Dublin, he trained first as a barrister and was called to the bar and elected to the Dail in the same year, 1943.
Five years later he was appointed to the government and held a number of foreign affairs posts, including minister for external affairs from 1954 to 1957; he also led Ireland's first delegation to the UN Assembly in 1956.
He became leader of Fine Gael in 1965 and taoiseach eight years later. In an Irish context the Sunningdale agreement in Northern Ireland - which he negotiated with Edward Heath's Government in 1973 - looms large in his achievements, albeit that six months after it was signed a loyalist workers' strike brought down the institutions in Belfast. Cosgrave remained a keen supporter of further talks with Harold Wilson's government and then James Callaghan's.
He was regarded as having a good relationship with unionist leader Brian Faulkner, who introduced internment but became central to the power-sharing deal.
Cosgrave led the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government in the 1970s which ended 16 years of Fianna Fail domination.
Socially, Cosgrave was a conservative and in the 1970s opposed the limited legalisation of contraception. After leaving the Dail in 1981, he was approached to stand as president but preferred retirement.
The president of Ireland Michael D Higgins said UN membership was one of Cosgrave's most memorable achievements and gave shape to Ireland's independent voice on the global stage.
"His words on that occasion that Ireland should work to 'take our place in the comity of nations and do our part to secure what small nations have always required, the maintenance of peace' remains to this day an important reminder of our nation's role and unique voice on global issues such as disarmament, peacekeeping, human rights and development," President Higgins said.
"Liam Cosgrave was committed to serving the people of Ireland with all of his energy, intellect as well as passion.
"In retirement, he loved to be among the people, be it at state occasions or sporting events and it is fitting that we pay tribute to his significant contribution to Ireland."
Liam Cosgrave is survived by his three children Mary, Liam and Ciaran.
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