‘Brave voice against terrorism’

BORN in 1920, Liam Cosgrave had a 40-year political career and was part of the government which saw Ireland become a Republic in 1949.

He also oversaw Ireland joining the UN, addressed the US Congress in 1976 and signed the Sunningdale Agreement in the North which led to a short-lived powersharing executive in Belfast in 1972.

Eamon De Valera presented him with the seal of office in 1973. He was Taoiseach until 1977, some of the most turbulent years of the Troubles. He’s been described as a courageous voice against terrorism. He was at the head of Government on the day of the Dublin-monaghan bombings on May 17, 1974, when loyalists killed 33 people, including a pregnant woman at full term.

Mr Cosgrave covered the cost of his father’s state funeral in 1965.