Once upon a time in the land governed by a new coalition...

MARY HANAFIN hadn’t been Taoiseach long. She had only recently succeeded Brian Cowen, who took over from Bertie Ahern after the disastrous election of 2006.

Tue, 02 Aug, 2005 - 01:00

Fergus Finlay

Fergus Finlay is a former political activist and adviser to three governments, the former head of the children's charity Barnardos, a writer and a broadcaster.

Cowen had led the party through nine years in opposition, but had resigned after falling short of a majority at the end of the rainbow government's second term in office.

Hanafin had been the unanimous choice to succeed him, and it was she who had put the new coalition together. It hadn't been easy. The media was universally hostile, and several members of her own party harboured the deepest misgivings. But it was either do it or spend another five years in opposition, and none of them was ready for that.