This week Miriam O'Callaghan meets former Fine Gael government minister Peter Barry and his daughter, Senator Deirdre Clune.
Deirdre recalls her earliest memories of her father who worked in the family grocery business in Prince's Street in Cork. Peter tells Miriam about how he made the decision to package tea for sale on foot of an early market research survey in the 1950s. The grocery business then became Barry's Tea.
As well as a tradition in the grocery trade, there was also a tradition of politics in the family. Peter's father had been a member of the Irish Army during the war of Independence, a member of Cumann na nGael and later of Fine Gael. He was known as W.T. Cosgrave's man in Cork. But Deirdre remembers her grandfather more for his interest in photography than his interest in politics. That said, when she became the third in her family to become Lord Mayor, she was given a gift of an essay that her grandfather had written on the role of the councillor.
Peter explained that he first ran for the Dail in the late 1960s, thinking he would only run twice. But when he was offered a government ministry after the 1973 election, he continued his career in politics. He tells Miriam about his leadership hopes, his relationship with Garret FitzGerald and his role in negotiating the Anglo Irish Agreement in 1985.
Deirdre ran for election in 1997. The decision was hers, influenced by the late Hugh Coveney. Her father was worried about her decision, but was glad that she wasn't just making sandwiches - women's traditional role in politics - but had chosen to run for office.
Politics is a challenging profession. Deirdre describes the loneliness of being a female deputy away from home. That said, both father and daughter pay tribute to their respective spouses for the support that they have given them. Both Peter and Deirdre reflect on the recent election when Deirdre unexpectedly lost her seat.
Peter is now retired and doesn't get involved in public debate. He tells Miriam that his religious views have changed over the years, of how he has chosen his conscience over Vatican rules and how he still believes in an afterlife.
Peter says that he never thought that he would see the day when Dr Ian Paisley would allow the Irish government have a say in the affairs of Northern Ireland nor would he see a royal visit to Ireland, but he has lived to see both come to pass. The Queen's recent visit to the English Market was particularly sweet as the Barry family grocery shop had been close to the entrance to the English Market and he has known the traders there for more than sixty years.