What a brilliant picture, very striking.

Many more years ahead I hope

A man who represented an outright assault on the constitution and the impartiality of the law in this state. If Haughey, Ahern, Lenihan etc and FF represent the African tinpot dictator rob the people blind school. Cosgrave represented the South American control freak tinpot school of Govt. His Govt. were as much a threat to Irish democracy as Haughey’s and FF’s culture of criminality.

The treatment of President o’Dalaigh was disgraceful, the tolerance of corruption in the state as long as it suited political objectives. The response to the massacres in Dublin and Monaghan and a hundred other travesties.

Different to Ahern no doubt but like Bertie left a legacy that the state has yet to clear from its system. The belief that power was to be wielded for the good of your group, rather than the good of all. That the Status Quo in Ireland had to be protected by all means. Change to be despised as a threat to the established order and those that were at the top.

I don’t understand why the man is being celebrated like this. The 1970s were hardly a decade of great economic or social progress. The treatment of President Ó Dálaigh by his government was a disgrace. Just because someone has lived a long time does not make them worthy of a canonisation!

Deeply conservative figure. Failed to address abuses in Church run institutions.

Mullen
Let me tell you that people like you are the reason I’m delighted that Northern Ireland remains a Constitutional part of the United Kingdom. In fact after forty years of murder and mayhem and thuggery and outright savagery the only thing you have to show for it is the Queens shilling and more people in the North prepared to remain in the UK than before your killing and maiming of innocents began.

Historial fallacy 101. You can’t judge people who made decisions in a totally different environment almost half a century ago by today’s standards. In 1972 the people demanded certain things from their leaders – conservative Catholicism being an obvious requirement. You’ll get the rare individual who breaks new ground but generally speaking political leaders operated in the environment they lived in. 2013 is going to be a harsh judge on 1972.

“I’ll shed no tears when the free state relic does the decent thing, and sleeps with the worms.”

I hope the Ireland of 2050 more forgiving of your own particular perspective.

Lets see that Dublin & Monaghan bombings took place with evidence sent to the UK. Section 31 introduced and scandals with abuse by Catholic clergy known about.
oil crisis & High taxes and lots of emigration like now so nothing has changed except were run by Europe & no currency so a failure of a government like today’s last 2 governments.

He lives across the road from me in
Knocklyon. He has a 24/7 365 day Garda presence at the gate to his house but he goes for a walk by himself everyday. He is Fit for a 92 year old. It’s always irritated me that he has Garda looking after him it’s such a waste of money

May he have many more years of happy retirement. This man was an Irish Patriot like his father before him.

Is this the guy with a Garda protecting him 24/7.