Celia Larkin
Encyclopedia
Celia Larkin is a former Irish civil servant
and was the partner of then Irish Taoiseach
(prime minister) Bertie Ahern
. Their relationship ended in April 2003. Ahern is separated, though not divorced, from his wife. There was some controversy in the media at Ahern's public presentation of his partner. No other European Heads of Government have similarly presented their partner at official engagements. Ahern was accused of hypocrisy in being associated with a woman other than his wife while being a practising Massgoer. The media discovered the couple had broken up when Larkin failed to co-host a diplomatic dinner for the visiting German Bundespräsident
, although her name, along with that of the Taoiseach, was featured on the invitations. Various media reports have suggested that Ahern has, since 2005, been in a relationship with his long time friend Anna Bogle.
Larkin, during the period of her relationship with Ahern, regularly acted as his consort. She also occasionally engaged in civic functions in a private capacity. For example, she launched a high speed ferry, the M.V. Jonathan Swift for Irish Ferries.
Since parting with Ahern, she has expanded her chain of beauty salon
s, and has appeared on Reality Television
, in an RTÉ
show The Restaurant, a more serene forerunner to the ITV
series Hell's Kitchen
.
In July 2005 Ms. Larkin was appointed to the board of the new National Consumer Agency, a Government funded consumer watchdog
. Her appointment was reportedly made at Bertie Ahern's request.
As of 2010 she is attending the University of Limerick
as a mature student.
Civil service of the Republic of Ireland
The Civil Service of Ireland is the collective term for the permanent staff of the Departments of State and certain State Agencies who advise and work for the Government of Ireland. It consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State...
and was the partner of then Irish Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
(prime minister) Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
. Their relationship ended in April 2003. Ahern is separated, though not divorced, from his wife. There was some controversy in the media at Ahern's public presentation of his partner. No other European Heads of Government have similarly presented their partner at official engagements. Ahern was accused of hypocrisy in being associated with a woman other than his wife while being a practising Massgoer. The media discovered the couple had broken up when Larkin failed to co-host a diplomatic dinner for the visiting German Bundespräsident
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
, although her name, along with that of the Taoiseach, was featured on the invitations. Various media reports have suggested that Ahern has, since 2005, been in a relationship with his long time friend Anna Bogle.
Larkin, during the period of her relationship with Ahern, regularly acted as his consort. She also occasionally engaged in civic functions in a private capacity. For example, she launched a high speed ferry, the M.V. Jonathan Swift for Irish Ferries.
Since parting with Ahern, she has expanded her chain of beauty salon
Beauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
s, and has appeared on Reality Television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
, in an RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
show The Restaurant, a more serene forerunner to the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
series Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen (UK TV series)
Hell's Kitchen was a British cookery reality show aired on ITV which featured prospective chefs competing with each other for a final prize. Four series had been aired since 2004, three presented by Angus Deayton and the latest by Claudia Winkleman....
.
In July 2005 Ms. Larkin was appointed to the board of the new National Consumer Agency, a Government funded consumer watchdog
Consumer watchdog
A consumer watchdog is an individual or organization that supports consumer rights; the term may refer to:* Consumer organization* Watchdog journalism* Consumer Watchdog , a private consumer rights advocacy group in Botswana...
. Her appointment was reportedly made at Bertie Ahern's request.
As of 2010 she is attending the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
as a mature student.
External links
- "Dublin Aflutter Over Party Featuring Premier's Partner" - New York Times
- "Celia Larkin due back before Mahon Tribunal today" - Belfast Telegraph
- "Ahern in reception invitation row" - BBC News
- "Taoiseach begins giving evidence" - BBC News
- "Tribunal to question Celia Larkin on £30,000 loan" - Irish Times
- "Ahern nominates Celia Larkin to consumer body" - Irish Times
- "Celia Larkin's aunt moves out of home after Mahon controversy" - Irish Independent
- "Celia blanked my calls for her to go" - Herald