It could be said that two Aherns - if you count the Taoiseach as well as his TD brother Noel - are under pressure and uncertain of their immediate future, but a third brother, the eldest, Councillor Maurice Ahern has a much more stable year ahead of him. On Monday, he becomes Dublin's new Lord Mayor and is secure in the position for a year. Under the agreement between FF and Labour to share the office, Labour's Mary Freehill was mayor over last year's glamorous high-profile millennium and FF gets it for the next 12 months. Naturally, several councillors had their eye on this plum, particularly since an election may be in the offing and the Mansion House can generate great publicity. Unfortunately for many, Noel Dempsey's edict aimed at separating local and national politics means members of the Oireachtas are not eligible and those with the dual mandate, such as Noel Ahern, who was seen as destined for the job a few years back, were ruled out.
FF councillors Mary Mooney and Michael Mulcahy were known to be interested, but Maurice Ahern, despite being a new councillor, beat Mooney for the nomination by 13 votes to six and he will beat rival party candidates on Monday. It all goes to show, as one Opposition councillor said, that Bertie Ahern's writ not only runs in Leinster House but in City Hall too.
Will Ahern be one of the last lord mayors elected by councillors rather than directly by citizens? Probably, although councillors throughout the country intend fighting Dempsey's new local government measures on this and on the dual mandate, especially regarding the Upper House, since senators being elected mainly by councillors, should be eligible to be both.
And will Ahern be able to move into the Mansion House at all now that there's a dry rot scare? Yes he will, at least until the expert report comes up with the definitive prognosis.
Quidnunc is at rholohan@irish-times.ie