It's not often you hear the Taoiseach expressing extreme opinions about anything, but books are obviously an exception.
As a critic, he makes the Butcher of Broadway sound like a vegetarian. "I've launched a lot of books for the Christmas market and they're all rubbish," he said last night, when launching yet another one.
His latest beneficiaries had no need to worry, however. The point of his savage review - and it was delivered tongue-in-cheek - was not so much to denigrate the others, as to emphasise the worthiness of last night's publication. If you buy only one book for Christmas, Mr Ahern suggested, this should be it.
Midsummer Magic is a pictorial record of the 2003 Special Olympics, drawn from the work of 78 of Ireland's press photographers.
The brainchild of veteran sports cameraman Ray McManus, it covers the extraordinary event from the lighting of the torch in Athens to the teary farewells at Dublin Airport. In between, in more than 300 colour pictures, are the games themselves, with the opening ceremony a particular highlight.
Mr Ahern said the games had inspired hope for "a fairer society in which all citizens contribute in their own unique way and are valued equally". The book would now serve to remind us of the "grace, resilience, joy, and courage" of the athletes, he added.
Other speakers last night included Catriona Ryan, who competed in the golf event, and recalled her pride at representing her country and the excitement of the opening ceremony. She also paid tribute to the Special Olympics movement in general: "I've met so many people and visited so many places I wouldn't otherwise have seen."
The photographs were chosen by a jury including Ray McManus, former Irish Times pictures editor Dermot O'Shea and former Irish Times photographer Joe St Leger.
The book also features some of the best newspaper articles on the games, including contributions by Irish Times journalists Mary Hannigan and Rosita Boland.
Midsummer Magic is on sale at €29.95. All royalties go to Special Olympics Ireland.
