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John A. Costello

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John A. Costello (20 June, 1891 - 5 January, 1976), a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney-General of Ireland from 1926-1932 and Taoiseach from 1948-1951 and 1954-1957.

An Taoiseach John A. Costello, T.D
Rank:2nd
First Term:February 18 1948 - June 13 1951
Second Term:June 2 1954 - March 20 1957
Predecessor:Eamon de Valera
Successor:Eamon de Valera
Date of Birth:20 June 1891
Place of Birth:Dublin, Ireland
Date of Death:5 January 1976
Place of Death:Dublin, Ireland
Profession:Lawyer
Political Party:Fine Gael

Early Life

John Aloysius Costello was born on 20 June 1891 in Dublin. He graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in modern languages and law. In 1914 he was called to the bar and became a barrister. In 1922 he joined the staff of the Attorney-General and in 1926 he was appointed the Attorney-General by the Cumann na nGaedhael government. He also represented the Irish Free State at Imperial Conferences and League of Nations meetings.

Election to Dáil Éireann

In 1933 Costello was elected to Dáil Éireann for the very first time. In 1948 he was asked to become Taoiseach in the first Inter-Party government. Richard Mulcahy, the leader of Fine Gael, was seen as an unacceptable choice for Taoiseach. Costello was seen as the one person who could unite the different elements that were to make up the new government. This government oversaw two significant events: the decalaration of the Republic and the Mother and Child Scheme. At a press conference in Canada on 7 September 1948 Costello announced that the Irish Free State was about to leave the Commonwealth. On 18 April 1949 (Easter Monday) the Republic of Ireland came into existence. In 1950 the Minister for Health, Noel Browne, tried to introduce a scheme which would provide free health care for children up to the age of sixteen. The Mother and Child Scheme was opposed by the Catholic Bishops and the Irish doctors and Browne resigned as minister. The episode damaged the government and in May 1951 Costello requested that the Dáil be dissolved and an election was called.

Taoiseach Again

In May 1954 Fianna Fáil lost power and Costello returned as Taoiseach and head of another Inter-Party government. The government had a comfortable majority in the Dáil, but an outbreak of militant activity by the IRA de-stabilised the government. Clann na Poblachta and Fianna Fáil tabled motions of no confidence in Costello's leadership. Rather than face defeat he asked the President to dissolve the Dáil again. In 1957 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Costello returned to the bar and retired to the backbenches of Dáil Éireann. Costello received many honorary degrees from universities in the United States and eleswhere. In March 1975 Costello was made a freeman of the city of Dublin.

John A. Costello died on 5 January 1976.

Costello's First Government, February 1948 - June 1951

Costello's Second Government, June 1954 - March 1957

Preceded by:

Eamon de Valera

Taoiseach (1932-1948)		 Prime Ministers of Ireland
Taoisigh na hÉireann		 Succeeded by:
Eamon de Valera
Taoiseach (1951-1954)
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