Bertie Ahern Resigns as Taoiseach: How the Blogs Saw It

Reinstating the popular blog-roundup from the election for one night only to take a look at how today’s news was met in blog-land. Take a gander at Jazz Biscuit too in case I missed anything.

Ciaran Cuffe and his Green Party have come in for immense amounts of stick since going into government (even today, suggestions that John Gormley has Stockholm Syndrome) but there is no doubt that he got this one bang on. WOW is absolutely right. Even the iron constitution of lefties too stubborn to quit took a hammering at the news today. World by Storm points to the very real problem that now faces the opposition - tactics. Do they attempt to continue talking about ‘corruption’ and tie the remaining Ministers into that narrative or do they attempt to take a new tack - we will probably have to wait for the next polls to find out. “Who says blogs have no influence”?. Well not P O’Neill, he predicted it. That’s Ireland lists the Top Ten Things We’ll Miss about Bertie Ahern.

We are all Bertie now, and so beings weeks of soft-soaping as the media looks inward and asks whether Fianna Fail have a point. Or not, hopefully. It is a deep and moving moment though, Thomas Byrne “shed a tear” this morning. Conversation at Limerick Blogger even goes so far as to suggest immediate canonisation. Dublin Central loved Bertie (well parts of it!) and someone told them in Ballybough last night or early this morning obviously so they could get the banner ready.

Chief Mourner at the obsequies today for the Taoiseach’s reign was Eoghan Harris. (That’s Senator not Mr.) Anthony at Public Enquiry (one of the many chief suspects) brings us the transcript of his eulogy complete with criminal intent being laid at the foot of the blogosphere.

Michael Smith demurs slightly from the love-in, in an incredibly good read and a very long profile of Ahern considering he only went this morning! Gavin’s facebook group are also jumping for joy. Others that will feel the pinch are those in Northern Ireland, as Conall McDevitt notes that Ahern’s departure date of May 6 is the day before the NI Investment Conference which he was due to attend and may shunt it into the political sidings.

Keith (love the post URL) dusts off the Enoch Powell while John Carroll speculates on who might replace the great one. As Grandad notes, all is well that ends well.