John A. Costello remains the most elusive of our former Taoisigh, despite his enormous contribution to Irish history. He declared the Republic, led the country's first ever coalition government, and faced the Mother and Child Crisis. A surprise choice who battled against taking the job, Costello was the Reluctant Taoiseach.

David McCullagh's previous book was A Makeshift Majority, a history of the first Inter-Party Government. He began working as a journalist with the Evening Press, before joining RTÉ, where he has been Political Correspondent since 2001. He is married to journalist Anne-Marie Smyth. They have one daughter, Rosie.