There were those yesterday who broke into a chorus of 'ding dong, the witch is dead', and there were those who bemoaned the nation's political landscape as a now poorer place.

Bertie Ahern has divided opinion like perhaps no other Taoiseach in the state's history. During numerous highs and some nadir-like lows, Mr Ahern has consistently managed to remain on an even keel with Ireland's voters and steered his party to three terms of government during what will be remembered as Ireland's golden economic era.

Only last weekend, his parliamentary colleagues were stating unequivocally how 'the media' would not be responsible for driving Mr Ahern out of office. How right they were. Despite having ample potential political scandal to gorge themselves on, the media (for the most part) has treated Mr Ahern with kid gloves for a long time now and such was the suddeness of yesterday's announcement it caught the country's press on the hop.

Mr Ahern signed off on his own terms, delivering his own eulogy in a fitting political creschendo from a man who wasn't going to be pushed by anyone.

His legacy will be poured over in the coming weeks until he officially steps down on May 6. Peace in the North will be discussed at length, and Mr Ahern can feel rightly proud that he played a large part in moving a stagnated process in a postive direction.

The economy has been much trumpted by Fianna Fail in recent times and perhaps Mr Ahern's legacy with regard to it will be remembered disparately by those at the increasingly wide and differing ends of the social spectrum. Not too many will recall Mr Ahern for serious advancements in the health sector. However, as a unique and powerful political force he will leave a large hole in public life and one that his party will do well to fill in the coming weeks and months.

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