Liam Cosgrave 'Not an exciting man'

ballooba

A few documents released to day from the archives, some on Liam Cosgrave. It's a little before my time to remember but I found them interesting nonetheless. I've pasted two articles from today's Irish Times below.

The first describes him as "not an exciting man", something that could be said of FGs current leader Enda Kenny.

The second deals with the menu for Hillery's inaugaration. In stark contrast to CJH Cosgrave seems to have preffered a modest menu.

British officials welcomed Cosgrave's quiet courage
John Bew

Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave was "not an exciting man", according to British officials preparing for his visit to No 10 Downing Street in March 1976, but he was "honest, courageous and firmly opposed to compromise with violence".

In a steering brief, written by the Northern Ireland Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before his meeting with British prime minister Harold Wilson, the taoiseach comes across as an honourable man, if a little boring.

It was believed that Mr Cosgrave was arriving in London in a strong negotiating position, due to recent Irish government successes in clamping down on Provisional IRA activity.

The senior delegation from the coalition government, which included tánaiste Brendan Corish and minister for foreign affairs Dr Garret FitzGerald, was also expected to be "more robust in deciding their Northern policy on its merits", because of divisions on this issue within Fianna Fáil.

Referring to the career of his father, WT Cosgrave, the steering brief suggested that the taoiseach had "entered politics out of a sense of family duty rather than choice". In opposition he had "lacked the edge to make a successful leader" and his style was "that of a committee man", reminiscent of former British Labour prime minister Clement Attlee. On the North, it was claimed that he "has little real feeling" and has "never fully understood the attitudes of its divided people, although in recent months he has shown a welcome realism in this respect".

On Garret FitzGerald, officials warned British negotiators that he was "sometimes too ready to accept the complaints (often orchestrated by the Provisionals) against British forces in the North and to take the part of the Northern Catholics . . . whatever the grounds". More generally, his views were those of a "moderate socialist". He was identified as "one of the best informed, most intelligent and articulate members of the Dáil, speaks well (and quickly), and at great length and commands respect".

Dr FitzGerald was "easy and approachable" but could be "naïve" and "impatient" of any objections to the ideas which "tumble out of his mind".

Brendan Corish, as a former hurler and footballer, was described as having "considerable presence". He was "vigorous in debate", "modest and easy in manner; a man of sincerity but few intellectual pretensions".

© 2006 The Irish Times

Caviar proved a little too rich for Cosgrave's taste

Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave insisted on deleting caviar and foie gras from the menu chosen to entertain VIPs at a reception for the inauguration of President Hillery in 1976.

The taoiseach agreed to a "de luxe" menu for the inauguration but only on condition that caviar and foie gras were not served, as had been initially suggested.

The Civil Service Dining Club won the catering contract for the inauguration on price and quality, but an official in the Taoiseach's Department emphasised in a note that there were aspects of their approach that needed attention.

"The staff will have to be more carefully selected to make sure guests are not subjected to the rather cavalier treatment which I have observed at some receptions," the official wrote in a memo to Mr Cosgrave.

He said the dining club tended to "scrimp" on staff and there was a tendency to be too liberal in dispensing spirits, as "if trying encourage greater consumption and greater profits for themselves".

"This will have to be closely monitored," he warned.

"We would also want to ensure that items such as scampi and trout do not make a token appearance for the sake of providing an attractive menu."

The official also objected to a recent reception where, instead of the glasses and tableware being cleared away, they were instead "dumped in a visible corner of a serving area or accumulated on tables giving a very tatty effect overall".

© 2006 The Irish Times

ballooba

Wikipedia article on the man himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Cosgrave

SF1

Aren't most Fine Gael leads boring any way plus Cosgrave always scared me when I was growing up.

ballooba

Wouldn't call Garret Fitzgerald or Eoin O'Duffy boring.

Wasn't Bruton asked not to smile in public?

daithimac

brutons laugh always scared the bejesus out of me. Still does infact