WHENEVER Mrs Robinson appeared her, special adviser Ms Bride Rosney was never far behind. The two go back a long way to 1977 when they met during the Wood Quay archaeological protest, Ms Rosney as a protester, Mrs Robinson as a lawyer. They became close friends and Ms Rosney is godmother to the youngest of the Robinsons three children, Aubrey, who is now 16.
A teacher by profession, and union activist, she was an executive member of the Teacher's Union of Ireland. Ms Rosney comes from Cathirciveen, Co Kerry, but was reared in Dublin and has a science degree from UCD. She was principal of Rosmini Community School in Dublin when the Labour Party approached Mrs Robinson to run for the Park.
Ms Rosney joined the campaign as the candidate's representative, on election committees. Tensions arose between her and Labour campaigners, especially Mr Fergus Finlay, as she strove to establish Mrs Robinson as an independent, rather than a Labour Party, nominee. Since the disagreements nearly seven years ago, both the President and her adviser have had less than good relations with the Labour Party leadership.
When Mrs Robinson became President, Ms Rosney was appointed to the newly created post of special adviser. From her spacious office in Aras an Uachtarain she oversees every aspect of the President's official life - arrangements for all her engagements, her travel, her entertaining, her statements and so forth pass first across Ms Rosney's desk.
Early last year Bride Rosney announced that whatever the President decided to do about a second term, she would be stepping downs from her job in the Aras.
She says now she is looking for a job. It is understood that she may not confine herself to education.