Euro
British Pound
Product Description
He was not a conciliator. His political policy was distinguished by an unwavering belief that his view, and only his view, was correct. In 1919, de Valera said ‘we are reaching for the stars in the hope of obtaining the mountain tops’. Several times he said it, and several times he applied that sentiment to his negotiating endeavours. Every good negotiator knows, however, that ‘one’s reach should not exceed one’s grasp’. A negotiating stance must take into consideration the possible, not just the unachievable aspiration. De Valera’s ambition and drive, along with his disregard for the opinions of others and the willingness to ‘elbow others out of his way’ were the hallmarks of his political career.
Joseph E. A. Connell Jnr is the author of Dublin Rising 1916, published earlier this year by Wordwell. He writes a regular column in History Ireland: Countdown to the Rising and is a regular contributor to Newstalk’s Talking History programme.
