Gallery: A Political Life in Pictures

Bertie Ahern meets George W Bush in Washington following his address to Congress

With Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness July 2007

With Irish troops January 2008

Announces his resignation outside Government Buildings

Presents shamrock to US President George W Bush March 2008

Newspaper headlines like this one dogged Ahern throughout his career

With Minister for Education Mary Hanafin December 2007 

Miriam and Bertie Ahern with daughters Cecelia and Georgina Byrne November 2007

Known for his walks on the beach, Ahern walks with Brian Cowen and Mary Hanafin in Cork

With Sylvester Stallone 1997

His yellow suit stood out among this walk on the beach with world leaders like Vladimir Putin and George W Bush 

With Arnold Schwarzenegger 1998

With Brian Cowen at 10 Downing Street to discuss devolution May 2000

With China Prime Minister Wen Jiabao September 2006

With Hillary Clinton March 2006

With then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi October 2004

With Sharon Corr October 2005

With Bill Clinton in the Oval Office March 2000

With Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk February 2008

With President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso

President McAleese dissolves the Dáil, which officially started the long-awaited 2007 election

Ahern played a key role in the Good Friday Agreement

With French president Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of the France v Ireland Rugby World Cup September 2007

Ahern and Fine Gael rival John Bruton

Ahern and his mentor Charles Haughey speak with a pair of schoolgirls

His attempts to build the national stadium dubbed 'Bertie Bowl' were ultimately thwarted

Albert Reynolds with his Finance Minister, Bertie Ahern

Ahern and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had an unprecedented relationship

Final Cabinet meeting - 29 April

Ahern becomes sixth Irish leader to address a Joint Meeting of US Congress

Ahern tells US Congress 'Ireland is at peace'