BERTIE AHERN:

Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) 

Clearly some of the most influential figures in the life of any individual are those responsible for your upbringing and nurturing and for Bertie Ahern, it was no different. He speaks highly and affectionately of the parents who raised him in Drumcondra and who have both sadly passed away.  

"My father and mother had very little money and they believed in education, so anything that they had went into education. They never went out, they never drank or smoked, they didn't socialise, apart from going to friends' houses for a cup of tea or vice versa. My father's only interest was the horses -- he loved reading about them or listening to races on the radio. He went to the dogs -- to Shelbourne Park and Harold's Cross......and bet a few shillings. He didn't put much money on because he hadn't got it. Our days out were at Croke Park, as we had a huge interest in sport."

Throughout our conversation for this book Bertie Ahern spoke of the intimacy that existed in Dublin when he was young. He laments now that many of the open, green spaces are gone, replaced by building. "The parks are just about hanging in there," he says. "All the time there's more and more land being built on and it's sad.  When I look at all the places I played in as a kid, it's sad. I know you  have to accept it but I think it's sad -- it's great in terms of generating activity and employment but the locations in terms of the good old open spaces are all being slowly  filled in and that is a great pity."...

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(C) Ogma Consultants 2002

(c) Audrey Healy 2001/2002