Micheál’s history lesson for Leo

AS Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Leo Varadkar went first in the tributes on Thursday to the late Liam Cosgrave, his 97-year-old predecessor. He was workmanlike.

Then came Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin. Most of his speech was written by adviser Peter McDonagh, who is known universally in Fianna Fáil as ‘the Child of Prague’, so-called because he is based in the Czech Republic capital. he is a grand-nephew of 1916 leader Thomas McDonagh. Mr Martin himself has a MA in political history and co-authors his speeches. Martin’s address was delivered evocatively and put Mr Cosgrave, and more particularly his father, WT Cosgrave (who fought in 1916), at the centre of our nation’s history. He wiped the floor with Varadkar, who appeared detached – and he is the Fine Gael man. Varadkar’s talent is that he knew it. When Martin had finished, Varadkar looked at him intently for about 10 seconds, then smiled meaningfully to himself and lowered his head.