Liam Cosgrave: Marking border between old and new Ireland

For someone who was far more comfortable waiting quietly in the background than standing in the glare of the spotlight, the past few days of wall-to-wall attention must feel unusual for those who knew Liam Cosgrave, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

How apt, then, that amid the high-profile coverage of his life and times, the late taoiseach’s true legacy has been quietly and sensitively overlooked, left in the background where he felt most at home.

As news of his death at the age of 97 emerged on Wednesday night, politicians across the party divide took the respectful step of remembering the former taoiseach in his best possible light.