Bertie Ahern to step down as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil after 11 years in the job.
Bertie Ahern has lived all his life in Drumcondra and has represented the Dublin Central constituency for more than a quarter of a century.
The lights were on but Bertie Ahern wasn't in his constituency office this evening.
As news emerged that Bertie Ahern was to step down as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, well-wishers dropped by his constituency office to lend their support and to thank him for representing them over the years.
Bertie's door behind us was never closed to us.
Having represented the people of Drumcondra for more than 25 years, support for him remains overwhelmingly strong. Constituents at Fagan's pub had many favourable things to say with one man saying that the departure of Bertie Ahern will be a huge loss to both the constituency and the country. Another said,
We have lost a great leader, a man of vision.
A woman described him as a great man for surprises and praises his shock decision to stand down.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 April 2008. The reporter is Samantha Libreri.
