Irish statesman raved wildly about beer (2,6)
I believe the answer is:
de valera
'irish statesman' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'raved wildly about beer' is the wordplay.
'wildly' is an anagram indicator.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'beer' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'raved' anagrammed gives 'devra'.
'devra' enclosing 'ale' is 'DE VALERA'.
(Other definitions for de valera that I've seen before include "Eamon -- --, Irish prime minister and president" , "Old Irish nationalist" , "Eamon . . . . . . . . Irish statesman and president" , "Lead rave for former Irish Taoiseach and President" , "Head of state" .)