Irish Independent 12 May 2007

WHEN it comes to sticking with Bertie Ahern through thick and thin, there is no one quite like his ex-wife Miriam. The teflon Taoiseach's staunchest supporter has revealed she is embarking on the campaign trail on his behalf next week.

Tireless Miriam said she will be canvassing for Fianna Fail in the Dublin Central constituency as she hosted a major fundraiser for the charity she has supported for years.

Wearing an outfit from a boutique in Malahide and a Coast shrug, she was a picture of ease as she greeted guests at an event in aid of the CARI charity for sexually abused children.

But her carefully coiffed locks belied the fact that she has had little time for anything else, between organising the annual lunch and rushing to Holles Street to see her new grandsons.

Malahide resident Miriam was assisted from early morning yesterday by her boyfriend Terry McCoy, who lives in Skerries. McCoy dashed around seaside restaurant Cruzzos in the Malahide marina ahead of the packed annual event.

Celebration

"I will be canvassing next week and I'll be campaigning for Bertie," said Miriam. "I have been keeping up with the election but the lunch was keeping me occupied. I canvass for Fianna Fail and am a member of the Cumann in Glasnevin/Drumcondra."

She shrugged off the potential impact of the turbulence over her former husband's financial affairs on the electorate and said she was sure he would pull through the election victorious. It could be a double cause for celebration for the Aherns in two weeks as the public may also catch their first glimpse of new arrivals Rocco and Jay. The twins are expected to emerge from Holles Street Hospital for the first time.

"I think the reaction at the doors to Bertie has been very positive and I think he has made a wonderful Taoiseach," said Miriam. "I would expect him to win."

The busy grandmother also revealed she had to make a last-minute dash from Chile to see her new grandsons after they arrived unexpectedly. She had not even recovered from jet lag when she learned that her daughter Georgina had given birth prematurely.

"I was annoyed with myself for not inquiring more - but that was only momentarily," she said. "I had just got to Santiago and checked my mailbox. I gave myself a chance to recover from the flight and then left. I got back at the right time and had more input then. It did cut the holiday short but that was not what was important. Chile is a beautiful country and I would love to go back at some stage."

She said, like everyone else, she got a "surprise" when she heard the names chosen by Georgina and Nicky for the twins. "They are unusual names but I approved of them both."

Georgina and Nicky did not make the fundraiser as they were in Holles Street feeding the babies and changing their nappies, while daughter Cecelia was in Germany.

"I am delighted with the babies and they are thriving and growing day by day," said Miriam. "They are small but have no health issues, thank God. We were originally told they would be out in six weeks - is it three weeks since then? I'm confused," she laughed.

Coordinated by PR guru Tara O'Connor, the popular Newbridge Silverware CARI Summer Lunch and Fashion Show had a waiting list. Guests wore Gucci and Dior, and included Alan Hughes and Sinead Desmond from TV3, Gayle Dunne, Siobhan Mc McClafferty, Louise Loughman Byrne, and Annette Rocca.

(Daughter Georgina is married to Sligo's Westlife singer Niki Byrne)

Georgina Byrne, born Ahern (born May 4, 1979, in Dublin, Ireland) is the daughter of the Irish Taoiseach (prime minister), Bertie Ahern and his estranged wife, Miriam Patricia Kelly.

She has a younger sister, novelist Cecelia Ahern.

Georgina married her childhood sweetheart, Westlife star Nicky Byrne on August 5, 2003 at Wicklow Registry Office, Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland.

The civil ceremony was followed on Saturday August 9 by a church blessing at the Roman Catholic Church of St Pierre et St Paul in Gallardon, Eure-et-Loir, France and a reception at the nearby 16th century Château d'Esclimont.On November 5, 2006, it was announced that Georgina is expecting.

In December 2006, Georgina's husband announced that they are having twins in the second week of June 2007.Non-identical twin sons Rocco Bertie and Jay Nick Byrne were born at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street in Dublin at 9.55am on Friday 20th April 2007.

Rocco and Jay are currently in the special care baby unit (SCBU) and they are the fourth and fifth Westlife babies born and the only boy Westlife kids.

The other three are former member Bryan McFadden's two daughters Molly and Lilly Sue and Shane Filan's only daughter, Nicole.

There is yet no pictures of Jay and Rocco as they will be detained in hospital for at least month because they were 7 weeks premature and Nicky has declared that it's not right to sell pictures of them as it might scare them.

It's been announced that Rocco's godparents will be Nicky's younger brother Adam and Georgina's sister Cecelia. Jay's godparents will be Nicky's older sister Gillian and her husband Mark Gallagher.

(Source - Wiki)

TOP

Return to Stories