Bringing Bertie back into the fold - Fianna Fáil’s invite to rejoin party

“THERE’S nothing as ‘ex’ as an ex-taoiseach,” Jack Lynch once remarked. That has been certainly true of Bertie Ahern. Apart from running for the Presidency, there is nowhere for a former Taoiseach to go in public life in Ireland and remain central to national affairs.

Unlike Éamon de Valera and others, Bertie did not have the option of heading for ‘The Park’. When the economy collapsed soon after he resigned as taoiseach in April 2008, his status tumbled as quickly as the economy. He went from Celtic Tiger hero to Recession zero almost overnight.

The most popular taoiseach since Lynch, Bertie was an affable and engaging politician who clearly enjoyed the warm and friendly greetings he got wherever he went, whether it be at an All-Ireland final or enjoying a pint at Fagan’s, his local pub in Drumcondra, the heartland of his constituency.