A TALE OF TWO SPEECHES

WHEN Brian Cowen was elected Taoiseach, he set out his vision for the country in a passionate speech exploring Irish identity, the progress the country had made, and the quest to keep improving. A little over two and a half years later, the economy had collapsed, the IMF had arrived to clean up the mess and Mr Cowen gave another speech — one very different in tone and substance. In years to come, these two speeches may come to be seen as natural bookends to his prematurely ended leadership. Political Correspondent Paul O’Brien reports

THERE is a burst of applause and a chorus of cheers and whoops. It is Saturday May 10, 2008, three days after Brian Cowen has been elected to replace Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.

Mr Cowen is on a celebratory homecoming tour to his native Offaly, and has already visited Edenderry and Tullamore.