Costello, John A.

The Oxford Companion to Irish History | 2007 | 700+ words | Copyright

Costello, John A. (1891–1976), taoiseach 1948–51 and 1954–7. Costello started his career as a barrister in 1914, and became one of the main legal advisers to the Free State government after independence. He was attorney‐general from 1926 to 1932, and represented the state at the League of Nations and imperial conferences between 1926 and 1932. He entered the Dáil in 1933 as a Fine Gael TD (Dáil deputy) for Co. Dublin, and was the compromise choice as taoiseach in the first interparty government. Although his term in office is traditionally best remembered for the Mother and Child controversy and the formal establishment of the Republic of Ireland, it also recorded some notable achievements, particularly in industrial development, house building, and public health. His second term of office was ended by the IRA border campaign, which led Clann na Poblachta to withdraw support. He subsequently retired to the backbenches and again took up his work as a barrister.

Joost Augusteijn

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