*Technically* (or more appropriately constitutionally) it was Éamon de Valera who took office on 29 December 1937.
But in the list of former Taoisigh, Wikipedia (and I know there is a discussion about wikipedia's trustworthyness as a source here) lists the first two presidents of the Executive Council within the list of Taoisigh, who were WT Cosgrave and de Valera.
So, does WT count as the first Taoiseach in all but name?
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Yeah basically the office was exactly the same.
Its the same in NI, The First Minister is still really the Prime Minister of NI.
'A defeatist attitude now would surely lead to defeat, it primarly a question of whether we have confidence in ourselves and the dilligence and determination of our people,We can't opt out of the future.' Sean Lemass (1965)
Taoiseach, surely?
What about Cathal Brugha? He was the first, temporary, president, elected by the First Dail, succeeded by De Valera a couple of months later.
"We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep." - The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1
You can make it even more complicated if you want to throw the Government of the First Dáil into equation. The First Dáil was the people elected MP in the 1918 elections who refused to take their seats in Westminster. Devalera was in jail at the time so could not assume the position of head of the cabinet (which you might consider to be the first Taoiseach) so Cathal Brugha stood in for him.
But of course the Anglo-Irish Treaty had not taken place at that stage so there is an inherent question of legitimacy there.
We do count our Dails from that period and according to Brian Leniahan pictures of all of Ireland's finance Ministers are up on wall and that includes McNeill and Collins who were there before the Treaty.Originally Posted by johnfás
When do we date it from? President of the Dail Government and President of the Executive Council were the exact same positions as Taoiseach except for the name. In 1921 de Valera got him declared President of the Irish Republic, so head of state and that is obviously different. On the other hand the state did come into being though in December 1922, so maybe it is best to count from then.
"Give us the future, we've had enough of YOUR past, Give us back our country, to live in, to grow in and to love..."
bah! You lost me a bet! I bet a friend a pint that it'd be an RSF nutter who'd launch in with a rant about the first Dáil! Damn you johnfas!! *shakes fist*
Just a small point: I had the first mention of the First Dail, but I too am not an RSF, nor even a PSF nutter.
"We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep." - The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1
Are you questioning my RSF credentials? :P
That's a bit more complicated as the First Minister power's are not exactly the same as the old PM's. The Second Minister is as powerful and there was no figure as powerful as the Prime Minister in Northern Ireland. In many respect the Prime Minister position of Northern Ireland has been split in two.
With President of the Executive Council and Taoiseach, the name of the position was simply changed. Nothing else.
"Give us the future, we've had enough of YOUR past, Give us back our country, to live in, to grow in and to love..."
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