Ferbane woman remembers five years with Bertie

 Former Fianna Fail Press Officer, Ferbane woman Olivia Buckley writes of her personal reaction to Bertie?s resignation.

It?s fair to say this week has been one of high emotion in Fianna Fáil. I worked closely with Bertie Ahern for five years and so, the nature of his announcement of resignation on Tuesday naturally brought about a sense of sadness. Of course we know inside that every political life must end some day, however its arrival is something we?re never quite ready for.

But as we move towards the weekend, I?d rather reflect on the upside of Bertie Ahern?s life as Taoiseach. He had much to offer to Ireland and of course, much to offer Fianna Fáil.

In my eyes, he broke the barrier between politics and people. While Dail Eireann was home to the day to day workings of elected representatives, Bertie Ahern believed real politics was to be found in homes, streets, halls, workplaces and schools. He responded to people, and people responded to him.

He held the highest office in the country, and yet I know no one who felt inhibited by him or his position. His approachability made him special. It would not feel at all unnatural to rise a conversation with him should you chance to come across him. Age and gender were no barriers.

He was easy to work for, and easy to work with. And only a prolonged silence would indicate that he might not have wholly approved of your latest action!

As a Fianna Fáiler, I believe he softened the image of the party amongst those who weren?t party supporters. He inherited a bruised and injured party in the early nineties and through his personality and patience, he healed it both internally and in the public mind. He restored a sense of confidence within Fianna and allowed Fianna Failers feel good about being Fianna Fáil again.

As a country, he made us feel modern, young, proud and self-assured.

Today, I hope he feels unburdened of the yoke that only he knew the weight of for the past eighteen months. Public dissection of a personal life is an infliction but this week that has ended.

I also hope that when the wave of emotion subsides, he can stroll softly into the sunset, content in his heart with all that he has done.