Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the work that needs to be done before a border poll is held… and thoughts on Trump, Biden, the Irish presidential election… and Erik ten Hag
The Roscommon People’s informal (and unscheduled) 15-minute chat with former Taoiseach BERTIE AHERN in Castlecoote House last Thursday fleetingly touched on presidential races in Ireland and America, Labour’s win in the UK, the border poll issue, the next election here, home-made jam cakes, and Erik ten Hag…
It was a relaxed Bertie Ahern who sat down with the Roscommon People for a chat on Thursday, prior to the former Taoiseach addressing the 16th annual Percy French Festival in Castlecoote an hour or so later.
As Ahern sat in the beautiful kitchen in the historic Castlecoote House, scones were on the table (home-made jam cakes were due, Bertie noted when I joined him). And no subject was off the table.
Welcoming the recent election of Keir Starmer as new UK Prime Minister, Mr Ahern said the coming into office of the new Labour Government could add impetus to the often stalled political process in Northern Ireland.
Speaking of his own close friendship with new Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Ahern described Starmer’s appointee as “a good guy” who had chaired the Brexit Committee. Indeed, he noted, Labour has a number of key personnel with strong connections to counties in Ulster.
The former Taoiseach saw the Labour win, the appointment of Mr Benn, Prime Minister Starmer’s own knowledge of the North, and the recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly as positive developments.
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern delivering his keynote speech to the attendees of the Percy French Festival in Castlecoote House last Thursday. Pic: Kieran Croghan
In Castlecoote to deliver a keynote address on the prospects for a United – or ‘new’ – Ireland, the three-time Taoiseach said a number of years had been lost (due to Stormont not sitting) but that there was now an opportunity for progress.
Asked about the prospects for a border poll on the issue of the reunification of Ireland, he said there were “a few thorny issues” to be addressed, including the need for the British Government to drop the Legacy Act, and equally for the new administration to proceed with an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
(Later, addressing a large attendance at the Percy French Festival, Ahern said we “haven’t a bloody clue” how a New Ireland would look, and that the details of how it might work need to be painstakingly worked out in advance of a vote going ahead – “otherwise it will be lost”).
Throughout that address, he would emphasise time and time again the need to be inclusive and to work with those of the unionist/loyalist tradition.
Back in the kitchen, when I asked Mr Ahern if he would welcome a Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin Coalition after the next election, he sounded quite dismissive.
“I think we are heading for the status quo… maybe Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and another, or another and another! There isn’t much appetite for Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin”.
As guests mingled in one of the dining rooms above us in Castlecoote House – during a tea/coffee break in Thursday’s festival proceedings – Ahern and his small entourage (two people) welcomed the delivery of those delicious jam cakes, that and the arrival of one or two other invited guests.
There was still time for a few more questions. At the time of our chat, US President Joe Biden was still a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election.
“Trump is obviously in the driving seat” Bertie asserted. “We (Ireland) got on well with Joe (Biden). In his speech the other night, Trump spoke against American investment overseas”.
Noting that there were “five or six” swing states a while back, he said Trump’s dominance over Biden meant there are suddenly more like a dozen such potential ‘marginals’.
Asked about the trolling of politicians online, and recent sinister protests outside the homes of senior political figures, Mr Ahern said the climate is “far more serious and dangerous” nowadays.
“A few years back, you might get an egg thrown at you. I think I got jam thrown at me in Donegal once!”
(There’s that jam reference again).
It brought him on to the subject of the far-right.
“They want trouble… they are led by videos online. If the far-right in Ireland follow other countries, we’ll have violence”.
I put two final questions to Ahern. Firstly (and predictably) I asked if he has any plans to put his name on a certain ballot paper in the relatively near future, i.e. a presidential run of his own.
“We’ll see how the game plays out” was his first gentle batting away of my question.
I returned with the ever-reliable “so you’re not ruling it out?”.
“Never say yes, never say no” Bertie replied.
“It depends on a number of factors. On your health. On who is running. Who gets nominations. So we’ll see”.
My last question was on one of the key issues of our time.
Was he happy with Manchester United’s decision to retain Erik ten Hag as manager?
“Happy enough!” began the well-known Man Utd (and Dublin GAA) fan. Or was he?
“If we didn’t win the FA Cup, it was all over for him. But once he won the FA Cup… (that saved him). I haven’t been overly impressed with him, he doesn’t inspire confidence. You could say my jury is out on him… I’ll support Ten Hag if we win the Premier League next season!”
*Later, after his address, Ahern received rapturous applause from the audience, took questions, and posed for photographs with attendees. During his visit Mr Ahern paid tribute to Kevin Finnerty, proprietor of Castlecoote House, hailing the restoration work undertaken there, and also commending the festival organisers on the ongoing success of the annual event.
