EARLIER THIS year,

Wexford town library helped to commemorate the life, politics and legacy of the late Brendan Corish, to celebrate the centenary of his birth.

Born on November 19, 1918, to Richard and Catherine Corish, Brendan Corish was educated at the CBS and went on to join the clerical staff at Wexford County Council at the age of 19.

He was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1945 in a byelection for his father Richard’s seat, a seat he had held since 1922. He became leader of the Labour Party in 1960, a role he held until 1977. In the Labour-Fine Gael coalition of 1973 to 1977 he became Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Social Welfare.

He retired from the Dáil in 1982 and Wexford did not have a Labour TD again until 1987 when Brendan Howlin was elected. Brendan Corish passed away on February 17, 1990.

At the ‘Remembering Brendan Corish’ conference in Wexford Library, Brendan Corish’s son Richard spoke of his memories of growing up in a political house, particularly during such turbulent years that included the Northern Troubles.

The following is his speech from that day.