2026 Feb John A Costello

John A Costello and the true origins of Ireland’s economic revival.

The Irish economic miracle through which we have all lived is often attributed as the child of Sean Lemass and Ken Whitaker. Cormac Lucey would argue differently and says the previous Taoiseach John A Costello played an understated role which the public know little about.

Cormac Lucey writes for The Sunday Times Ireland about economics. He is a chartered accountant who has worked in various industrial and corporate finance jobs in both Ireland and Germany. He served as a special adviser to Michael McDowell, during the 2002-07 government. He lectures in finance at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the Irish Management Institute and Chartered Accountants Ireland. He is also a frequent commentator on public affairs.