W. T. Cosgrave 1880-1965

Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith were the two leaders of the new Irish Free State due to come into effect in December 1922. both died prematurely in August 1922 as the IRA fought a civil war against the Provisional Government. The new leader , WT Cosgrave, was faced with a daunting battle to defeat the IRA and bring the new State into being. He was up to the task and led the Government for 10 years restablishing peace and defeating deValera and the IRA. However he was defeated in the 1932 General election and embedded democracy into the new State by handing over power peacefully to his sworn enemy deValera.