Bertie Ahern put his credibility on the line during his four-day visit to the Middle East this week. It had nothing to do with politics or peace or jobs or tribunals, but concerned one of his great passions. Asked by our soldiers in South Lebanon's beleaguered Camp Shamrock who would win this year's all-Irelands the Taoiseach said Meath would win in football and that the hurling would be between Cork and Clare. But ever conscious of his own political base, he said Dublin would win the football All-Ireland in 2000.
When one soldier in an outpost told Bertie he was a Dub, the northside Taoiseach asked him to be more specific. "Rathfarnham," he replied. "Wrong side of the city," said a voice. "It's still Dublin," observed Ahern.
The Taoiseach was accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith for part of the visit and a number of officials, but not Celia Larkin. He was well wrapped up against the notorious cold of the mountains thanks to Army press officer, Eoin O Neachtain, who supplied him with a jumper, a fleece and tunic. He had checked the size with the Taoiseach's private secretary.