The Irish Free State was one of dozens of new European democracies to emerge from the cauldron of the 1914-1918 war. It was one of the very few that was still democratic in 1939. This book shows how the steely determination of one man, Kevin O'Higgins, made this possible. O'Higgins faced down mutinies in both the Gardai and the Army. He dissolved the Dáil Courts which were a parallel system that might easily have undermined the conventional courts. With WT Cosgrave, he put through a constitution which reconciled the local opponents of independence with the new State.

When the E.U. and the U.S. agree, other countries follow.

We in Ireland have not been immune from the bigotry and the indifference which manifested itself in Europe this century

The European Union is the world's most successful invention for advancing peace.

Ireland has a role to play in making the E.U. united and strong.

The E.U. imports more agricultural goods from developing countries around the world than does the U.S., Canada and Japan, combined.

If the EU and the US can cooperate successfully on regulating financial markets, everyone else will follow.