Ahern praises political skills of 'my best friend'

THE FORMER taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil Bertie Ahern said yesterday he would never have been elected a TD if it had not been for the organisational skills of the late Senator Tony Kett.

Mr Ahern spoke at the funeral in Beaumont, Dublin and described Mr Kett as a man he was “so proud to be able to call my best friend”.

Mr Kett died on Sunday, aged 57, after a long illness.

Mr Ahern said he had known Mr Kett for 35 years, since they met when he was 24 and had started work in the accounts department of the Mater hospital.

“Our main interests were in sports and politics, and we were with each other night and day.”

He said they played football together at a club they helped establish, and it was here Mr Ahern first noticed Mr Ketts skills. These skills were to serve the Fianna Fáil party for the next three decades. “And I can honestly say I would never have been elected to the Dáil if it was not for his organisational skills.”

He said Mr Kett had been one of his closest advisers throughout his career. He spoke of how his friend had been co-opted on to Dublin City Council in 1988 after his own appointment as labour minister, how he was re-elected in 1991 and in 1999 served as City Father. In 1997 he was elected to Seanad Éireann and again in 2002 and 2007. He worked passionately on education and disability issues and was a former administrator of the Central Remedial Clinic.

“He was a native of Ballinasloe and keen supporter of the county’s hurling and football team but as an adopted son of this community he was sympathetic to the Dubs.”

He also loved music and his party piece, said Mr Ahern, had been The Bright Blue Rose. It seemed appropriate he said, to recall the lyrics they used to sing together:

“And it is a holy thing, And it is a precious time, And it is the only way, Forget-me-nots among the snow, It’s always been, and so it goes, To ponder his death and his life eternally”.

The appreciation from the former taoiseach received warm applause from the congregation, which included Minister of State Martin Mansergh; Minister of State Peter Power TD; new Minister of State Áine Brady and former minister of state Noel Ahern TD. Also in attendance was Fianna Fáil TD and native of Ballinasloe, Co Galway, Noel Treacy, Cyprian Brady TD, Independent TD Finian McGrath and Jimmy Deenihan TD.

Colleagues from the Seanad included Fianna Fáil Senators Donnie Cassidy, Celia Keaveney, Ann Ormond, Lisa McDonald, Jim Walsh, Mary White and Larry Butler; Progressive Democrats Senator Fiona O’Malley; Green Party Senator Dan Boyle and Independent Senator Joe O’Toole. Other figures included Fianna Fáil activist Joe Burke and the former taoiseach’s programme manager, Gerry Hickey.

From Dublin City were Cllr Maurice Ahern, Cllr Deirdre Heaney and Lord Mayor Cllr Eibhlin Byrne.

From the world of business were Manchester businessman Michael Wall and Ned Sullivan.

The President Mrs McAleese was represented by her aide-de-camp Col Declan Carbery, and Taoiseach Brian Cowen was represented by aide-de-camp Comdt Michael Treacy.

The mourners were led by Mr Kett’s widow Noreen, his son Jason, daughters Joanne and Jennifer, daughter-in-law Zoe and granddaughter Isabelle.