Long road to the top for bus driver’s son
OVER the years Michael Martin has earned himself the unfortunate moniker of “The man who would be Taoiseach”.
But that was turned on its head yesterday as the 59-year-old Corkman was sworn in to lead the 33rd Dail with Leo Varadkar at his shoulder and Eamon Ryan by his feet.
It was, like this coalition Government, a long time coming. With three decades of politics under his belt he’s been knocking at the door for quite a while.
That can only prove a positive as he brings 31 years’ experience of cut and thrust in Leinster House to the office.
Micheal Martin has come a long way from his Turners Cross days and has already served under Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.
SWEETHEART
As the son of a bus driver, he was one of the first in his family to go to university.
Not long after qualifying as a teacher, he entered politics in 1987, marrying college sweetheart Mary O’shea in 1989 and taking a Dail seat the same year.
The couple suffered heartache in 2010 with the loss of daughter Leana who died at the age of seven as a result of a heart condition.
Mr Martin moved up the ranks in the emerging leadership under Bertie Ahern, with a key cabinet appointment as Education Minister during the Celtic Tiger era.
Trouble came knocking when he moved to the health portfolio after a reshuffle in 2000, introducing the smoking ban in 2004 before moving to enterprise and employment.
In 2008, under Brian Cowen as Taoiseach, he was promoted to foreign affairs, managing to sidestep the blame over the Lisbon Treaty fiasco.
Three years later he replaced Cowen as party leader after the former was ousted over his handling of the financial crash.
The party was decimated in the 2011 general election – but has been on a curve of recovery ever since.
Martin is a proud Corkman with a love of GAA who held huge respect for his late father Paddy, and former Taoiseach Jack Lynch.