Party that self betrayed

The Cosgrave Party: A History of Cumann na nGaedheal, 1923-1933, Ciara Meehan, Royal Irish Academy: €30

THIS book, which seeks to evaluate Cumann na nGaedheal’s proper place in Irish history, provides a balanced coverage of its years in power. It attributes the “creation of stability” within the State to the party during a period in which the government faced “more frequent and serious cabinet crises” than any other.

Cumann na nGaedheal was only formed after the government had been established. This was the first and only time an Irish party was formed in such circumstances. Kevin O’Higgins is usually seen as the strongman of the government, because he was the one who handled the Army mutiny in 1924. WT Cosgrave was indisposed at the time, but Ciara Meehan argues convincingly that Cosgrave was the real boss throughout the party’s period in government.