The next 100 days - Success may cost Cowen his popularity

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen made his first significant public appearance in a few weeks yesterday when he joined the people of Omagh — and virtually everyone on this small island — in remembering the terrible times that led to the murder of 31 innocent people in that quiet, unremarkable Tyrone town 10 years ago.

That moving ceremony was probably one of the very few times since he became Taoiseach just over 100 days ago that anything other than the economy or our tremendous Lisbon dilemma dominated his thoughts.

There must have been moments since May 7 when Mr Cowen wondered what he did to deserve such a tsunami of pessimism.