Kenny was a taoiseach with a mission, but not a vision

How will history remember Enda Kenny, Ireland’s 13th taoiseach?

For certain, Kenny, who stepped down last week as Fine Gael leader – and, effectively, as taoiseach – will forever be remembered as Ireland’s post-crisis austerity leader.

The question of judging his performance in that role, however, is decidedly trickier.

In 1971, Dr Brian Farrell wrote perhaps the seminal book on the role of the taoiseach, entitled Chairman or Chief. It has provided Ireland ...