Three times Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern appeared at Belfast’s Eason’s bookshop to sign copies of his newly published autobiography. Often described as an enigma of Irish politics, this latest addition to Irish literature guarantees an intriguing read. Former finance minister Charlie McCreevy once stated “I know 25 per cent of Bertie Ahern”…and that’s 24 per cent more than anyone else”.

BY CONNOR DALY

Ahern had been at the cutting edge of Irish politics since first elected to Dáil Éireann in the Fianna Fail landslide victory in 1977. He negotiated Ireland’s first social partnership agreement, which underpinned economic recovery and put in place the foundations for a period of sustained growth. In 1991, he was appointed Minister for Finance. International commentators first began to refer to ‘Ireland’s Tiger economy’ in this period. Bertie Ahern succeeded Albert Reynolds as leader of Fianna Fail in November 1994. In 1997, he became Ireland’s youngest ever Taoiseach.

The Ahern Era witnessed an unprecedented acceleration of Irish economic and social progress. Under his leadership, Ireland’s economy out-performed that of every other European nation. For the first time ever, employment numbers exceeded 2 million. Working closely with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, Ahern was highly influential in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which has provided the political framework for a lasting peace in the north of Ireland.

On the international stage, he presided over the completion of the largest ever expansion of the EU and concluded negotiations on a European constitution. At home, Ahern enjoyed phenomenal electoral support. He was the first Taoiseach since Éamon de Valera to win three successive General Elections. He had served for ten years, ten months and ten days as Taoiseach.

Ahern’s own account of his early family and political life will no doubt work to influence today’s university students currently considering a career in politics; from working class Ireland to Celtic Tiger, the former Taoiseach explains the rise and rise of a modern icon.