History tells us one thing for sure: we’re blessed with Boring Bertie

Of course, the events of either of those earlier decades have little to do with the present, but it worth remembering that the only other head of government to enter 10 years of continuous service is Bertie Ahern. By contrast, his 10 years as Taoiseach have been spectacularly staid.

FROM the night of the election count it was obvious that Bertie Ahern was going to be re-elected Taoiseach. Some people had to go through the routine of trying to make it exciting, but it only looked like a tired circus act. Looking back over Bertie Ahern’s 10 years in office, there has not been that much excitement.

In the 10 years after WT Cosgrave took over as head of government in 1922, he had to deal with the trauma of the Civil War, the collapse of the Boundary Commission, the Army Mutiny, the assassination of Kevin O’Higgins and the entry of Fianna Fáil into the Dáil.