His legacy is debated, but there’s no denying that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is one of the most significant figures in Irish political history.

In a series of episodes of the Inside Politics podcast, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan tell the story of Bertie Ahern’s years in power and assess his impact on modern Ireland.

In the first instalment they examine Ahern’s rise to prominence within Fianna Fáil, how he first came close to the Taoiseach’s office before having it snatched away by a political ally turned foe, and the smart general election campaign that brought him to power June 26th, 1997.