Celia Larkin

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 practicising 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 [Irish Independent, 28th Aug 05 [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=45&si=1458457&issue_id=12928] ] 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 salons, 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 [Irish Independent, 20th Jul 05 [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1435953&issue_id=12759] ] .

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