Daniel McConnell: Garret FitzGerald’s positive impact is one worth recalling

A decade after his death, it is Garret FitzGerald’s so-called ‘Constitutional Crusade’ – in which he sought to weaken the clutch of the Catholic Church on the institutions of State and to liberalise many aspects of Irish life – which has become his enduring legacy

Dr Garret FitzGerald: With the benefit of time, in the 10 years since his death in June 2011, the true extent of his successes have come to light. Picture: Provision

It has been said that Garret FitzGerald was the best thing and the worst thing to ever happen to Fine Gael.

The best in that he revolutionised the second party in Irish politics from a part-time ramshackle organisation to one that achieved near electoral parity with Fianna Fáil.