John Costello’s Temper fit!

Excerpt from my new book, "Color Me Green: Ways the Irish Influenced America."

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John Costello’s temper fit was a paroxysm on the part of the Irish Prime Minister that finally broke completely the British control over the 26-County Republic of Ireland.

Since 1921, when Michael Collins signed his “death warrant” and Ireland became a “Free State Commonwealth,” still considered a part of the British Empire, Ireland had been kept subjugated to rule by the English crown.

It was 1948 that John Costello became Prime Minister of Ireland. He attended a Commonwealth conference in Canada, also a Commonwealth of England. Conducting the meeting was the Governor General of Canada who was born in County Tyrone, one of the six British-controlled northern counties. The Governor General despised the Southern Irish. He took pains not to speak to or acknowledge Costello at all.

John Costello walked out on the meeting furious! He called the Press and stated firmly that he was breaking off all connections with England, including the northern counties of Ireland. His proposal passed in the Dáil Éireann, Assembly of Ireland governing body. Ireland, finally, after nearly 800 years, became a totally independent Republic.

Since that time Ireland has flourished. A combination of Irish agriculture, tourism and cyberspace ingenuity along with Celtic energy and membership in the European Union, has created an exciting, long-squelched prosperity.

And it happened because of Costello’s Irish temper.

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Actor Keenan Wynn, portraying a crusty old plantation owner in the delightful musical production Finian’s Rainbow, complained about the Irish settlers on his property.

“My family has had trouble with immigrants ever since we came to this country!”

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To read more stories like this one about the Irish influence to America, order my new book, "Color Me Green: Ways the Irish Influenced America" by Helen Walsh Folsom.

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