I know that the biggest news around the world today would be President Obama's remarks on Israel. However because of my recent course of Irish politics and my love for the Republic of Ireland the biggest news to me was the death of former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald.
FitzGerald was one of the characters that seems to always compose Irish politics. He had a PhD and was the typical professorial candidate. At the time he was the complete antithesis of Fianna Fail leader Charlie Haughey. Haughey was the man comfortable being the politician and FitzGerald was far more comfortable in the front of a lecture hall.
He was a member of the Fine Gael Party a center-right party in Ireland (Ireland is blessed to have two center-right parties dominate the conversation). Garret had an unusual start to his political career with being elected to the much weaker Irish Senate (Seanad Éireann). He was elected to the Dail just four years later. Then another four years later Fine Gael would enter into coalition government with the Labour Party.
In the Taoiseach (or Prime Minister) phase of his political career he would go head to head with Charlie Haughey of Fianna Fail. Haughey was a political powerhouse with great communication skills. The intellectual FitzGerald would have two terms as Taoiseach, one from June 30, 1981 - March 9, 1982 and his second from December 14, 1982 - March 10, 1987.
After leaving the Dail in 1992 he would retire to write op-eds and get his voice out there. Dr. FitzGerald will have a special part in Irish history and will be remembered.
RIP Dr. Garret FitzGerald 1926-2011
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