LETTERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN the Department of the Taoiseach and the chairman of the Gresham hotel in 1973 show that Liam Cosgrave was partial to a drop of soup and a bit of cauliflower.

A Mr D. O’Sullivan from the Taoiseach’s office and a Mr TJ O’Sullivan (no relation, we think)  from the Gresham consulted on a suitable menu for a luncheon hosted by Cosgrave:

… following the acceptance by the Taoiseach of articles of furniture donated for the Granard Room in the State Apartments, Dublin Castle.

The Gresham chairman and his wife were also invited to the luncheon, but first, there was the delicate matter of the grub:

See the letter here

Menu one included Dublin Bay prawns, Wicklow lamb, and some nice wines…

See the menu here

While menu number two went for smoked salmon, raspberries and cream, and some more nice wine…

Menu number two is here

It seems that the luncheon, with the appropriate soup and the preferred cauliflower, went down a treat, with the O’Sullivans and the Cosgraves hitting it off big time…

You might also notice that the chairman at the time was a certain ‘Toddie’ O’Sullivan, for whom Toddy’s Bar is now named.

Now for the important bit… what did it cost?

See it here, and see the all important drinks bill here

So there you have it. Am interesting little glimpse into 1973 niceties, and now we know that £192.56 would buy a  swanky luncheon in the Gresham Hotel for around 30 people.

We also had a rifle through the 1982 state papers. See what we dug up here>

How much was a round of drinks in 1973?>