Bertie Ahern, three times Irish Taoiseach, is often described as an enigma. The Old IRA man's son who delivered peace in Northern Ireland. A working class boy responsible for the Celtic Tiger. An ardent nationalist admired by European leaders.
Now, in this frank and revealing autobiography, Ahern gives his own account of a remarkable political life and the personal story that accompanies it.
At the cutting edge of Irish politics for over three decades, Ahern was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1977 Fianna Fáil landslide under Jack Lynch.
He was appointed a party whip by Lynch's successor Charles Haughey in 1979. Throughout the volatile political times, he strongly supported Haughey during three challenges to his leadership of Fianna Fáil.
His tenures as Minister for Labour and Minister for Finance underpinned economic recovery and put in place the foundations for a period of sustained growth.
Unanimously elected leader of Fianna Fáil in 1994, he helped unite his party which he led to victory at the 1997 general election.As Ireland's youngest ever Taoiseach, Ahern won widespread acclaim for his perseverance and skill in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement, which has provided the political framework for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
Bertie Ahern resigned on 6th May 2008. He had served for 10 years, 10 months and 10 days as Taoiseach.
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