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FAMILY, FRIENDS AND politicians have paid their final respects to former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, whose funeral took place in Dublin today.
The former Fine Gael leader was laid to rest at Goldenbridge Cemetery in Inchicore following midday mass at the Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in attendance, as were former taoisigh Enda Kenny, Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern as well as a number of ministers and other politicians.
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Cosgrave was given a limited State funeral as per his family’s wishes.
He served as Taoiseach between March 1973 and July 1977. He’ll be remembered for bringing Northern Ireland to the brink of peace with the 1973 Sunningdale Agreement.
Upon first being elected as a TD in 1943 Cosgrave, at the age of 23 years and two months, became one of the youngest people to ever be elected to the Dáil. This saw him sitting in the chamber alongside his father WT Cosgrave, a founder of the Irish Free State.
Following the announcement of the 97-year-old’s death this week, Varadkar described Cosgrave as “courageous”, “determined” and a “man of great loyalty and kindness”.
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Remembered for “nearly bringing peace”. So he didn’t, that’s not an achievement. I’m sure he was a good man to many, but he put his religious beliefs and the church before the needs of the country.
@Derrick McGrath: or you could say he realised his beliefs were not everybody’s and he made an attempt to legalise contraception, even tho he himself was personally opposed. He was one of the last to vote in the Dail that day, so as not to unduly influence others.
@Dermot Lane: What are you, his biographer?
@Arnold Lane: The cheek of presenting an informed opinion on these forums. For shame.
@Derrick McGrath: People who lived through the 70′S generally have a different view of that era despite the hardships in different parts of the country. Agriculture and the fishing industry was beginning to boom by the end of that decade and many of the cultural influences of a confident nation began to come into their own on an international stage . It must appear like a downtrodden nation to the eyes of people who now cast the Catholic Church as a villain and indeed it does deserve a lot of criticism however that perspective is unfair as it is on Cosgrave. The deadpan demeanor of that leader would now be out of place in the megawatt social media of today but at that time it was appropriate even if it was gently mocked -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzu1ToAxdFk
R.I.P Mr Cosgrave
@Dermot Lane: most people won’t appreciate your researched and balanced comment on this forum
Brian Cowan looking the picture of wellness.
@Brian Farrell: cmon. Give us a break. He’s on s big pension.
@Paul Coughlan: he looks like he’s on an s big bender.
Listening on the radio this week to the many politicians who knew him he comes across as having been an absolute gentleman but as a teenager in the early 70′s I have clear memories of his election posters around Dunlaoghaire with his stern face with a stubby little mustache staring down at me and thinking he looked a bit like you know who : (
@Brian MacCarthaigh: Freddie Mercury?
@lavbeer: how did you guess?
@Brian MacCarthaigh: Willie O’Dea?
@Brian MacCarthaigh: maybe if Leo grew a moustache he’d look like Freddie. Don’t insult one of the greatest performers
@lavbeer:
He will be remembered by people who suffered from him not representing them.
Enda, Bertie and Brian all looking well fed the pension must be agreeing with them…..
May he Rest In Peace, but I hope we never see a leader of his kind in a progressive outlooking country ever again.
@Casper: “I hope we never see a leader of his kind in a progressive outlooking country ever again”.
I totally disagree with you. The ‘Celtic Tiger’ and the subsequent crash it caused would not have been allowed under his leadership in my opinion.
@John Hagin Meade: we would never have had a Celtic tiger under his leadership
@John Hagin Meade: wake up. His government introduced additional taxes like all the others. Not a good legacy
@John Hagin Meade: how so ????
@Karen Murphy Fehily:
“how so ????”
He always put the people and country first so he would have ensured that the continuous rise in property prices would be resisted in whatever way needed. Also his government would continue the policy of building sufficient social housing thereby stemming the relentless ‘bubble’ from forming. The FG of then was a totally different party to the sham of a FG we have now. I was always a FG voter in the past but alas no more.
@John Hagin Meade: isn’t this the kind of policy SF are fighting for I am sure they would love your vote in the next election.
@Casper: “Isn’t this the kind of policy SF are fighting”.
That’s why SF will be getting a high placing on my next GE ballot paper.
Looks from the picture here as if the “ordinary” people were kept outside the church. Can’t have them mixing with the elite.
@Brendan Keegan: ot doesnt look loke thst at all. A lot of people wait outside till the remains go in,then follow.
@Brendan Keegan: This is the sort of horseshite comment that has these comment sections ruined. My jaysis.
@Dermot Lane: REALLY are you for real
RIP but RTE are a total disgrace.
http://www.dannymorrison.com/water-is-too-good-for-them-sean-orourke-rte/
@Midland Celt: yes shows him up for what he was. I wouldnt want a leader like him.
@Nash: RTE west brits. No representation of the people of Ireland.
@phil: p##ck
Despite all their money, we must have the ugliest bunch of politicians in the world. It probably wouldn’t be as bad if you had a good-looking bunch riding ya!!
@Paul Culligan: lol it would certainly ease the burden
Polling the electorate.
@Paul Culligan: what about Regina. Surely you love her looks.
@Paul Culligan: a come now Leo is looking very cool and smart in his new role. With his height and sallow skin he stands out above the rest. Credit where credits due.
It may have been a partial state funeral but it would appear the ecclesiactics were out in strength….always a worrying sight…
It looked like a state funeral to me.
Does that buffoon Harris only have one suit and tie to his name !
40 years pension. did he really need it at his age?
Does Bertie’s pension get paid into a bank account…has he got a bank account ??? for years he managed without one !!!
@Michael Mcshane:
I was at the funeral, it was very dignified. They allowed us local peasants in to see it.
He was a great Leader, and to those who say he put his religious beliefs first before his country, Don’t you mean he put God first ?
have your say