Taoiseach Enda Kenny met Bobby Kerr in his home county of Mayo for an exclusive interview where he discussed a life after politics and growing up around the GAA.
The leader of the Fianna Gael party also denied that rural Ireland's economy is 'dead'
Recalling his memories of his childhood in Mayo in the 1950’s, the Taoiseach said: “Mayo is the same as any other county where you have a sense of place and a sense of where you came from but this county in particular was the second worst affected in the country at the time of the great Famine.”
“So there wouldn’t have been a house in the 50’s or 60’s that didn’t have emigration as a feature, therefore there’s a connection to the Diaspora abroad, being in Britain, America or Australia.”
Mr Kenny alluded to the diverse rural hinterland in Co Mayo and how it has overcome challenges over the years like emigration and lack of facilities.
“I think it’s given the people a sort of a personality of being able to face adversity and challenge which is even more important these days,” he added.
The Taoiseach also opened up on his family life and particular his father, Henry Kenny, a keen sportsman in the Mayo region in his day.
“My dad went to school in Castlebar and played for Mayo from 1932 to 1948. He became a public representative as a TD in 1954 and died in 1975.
Also Taoiseach @EndaKennyTD talks, Mayo, football, business and the future. Live from 10 @NewstalkFM #DTBWestport pic.twitter.com/tALUlBU8dq
— Bobby Kerr (@bobbykerr) July 18, 2015
“In his generation he would have been one of the outstanding Gaelic footballers, which was a very different style of play than it is now.”
The Taoiseach spoke about inheriting certain traits from his father like listening to people and hearing their concerns and in essence doing what you can to help them.
When questioned on the two-tier Ireland, where there are towns that have been forgotten about and financially struggling, the Taoiseach defended small town Ireland’s resilience.
The Taoiseach said that it was “certainly not” too late to save some smaller rural towns which have been hit badly by the economic downturn.
“When this Government was elected, you faced your economic circumstances. We had no name, no integrity and our reputation was in shreds and that’s all changed.
“We know the cities are thriving, and the silicon docks in Dublin have become an international magnet for high quality start ups. The same is now playing in Cork and in Galway.”
The Taoiseach went on to discuss the agriculture sector and the thriving industry which has been reborn with the opening of markets in China.
“I don’t accept at all anybody’s thesis that provincial Ireland is dead. Yes, there have been catastrophes and yes there are places that have suffered unduly but now the challenge is to make that happen in a different way,” said Mr Kenny.
Mr Kenny said that everything is changing so therefore the opportunity is there for the Government to lock the economy into a way that it won’t run back ways, that it can only go forward.
Speaking of his love of GAA, Mr Kenny said: “In the Western counties they have made a real effort at hurling over the last 10 to 15 years. While it will never be to the standard that you have in the Southern counties it’s grown in popularity.”
The Taoiseach said that to win an All-Ireland then you have to get everything right on the day and it can be the “slip of a boot” that can lose a game.
Mr Kenny told Bobby Kerr that the GAA taught him a lot about leadership.
“You have to study people and their strengths and weaknesses. If people are having an off day, can you change them around?
“You have to be able to understand people’s temperament and mentality and how they react under pressure, who are the stars for the big days and who will never let the team down.”
The Taoiseach who will be turning 64 later this year was asked where will it all end after being in politics for 40 years.
With the General Election on the horizon, the Taoiseach said: “Politics never ends but you have to understand in this business just as people give, so they can take away. You can never take anything for granted.”
He added: “The important part from a politician’s perspective is that it is an immense privilege to be given the trust of the people and the important thing to do is make decisions in the people’s interest.
“It has nothing to do with ego or self, they give you that authority they give you that trust and respect.”
Mr Kenny said that when the time comes to move on from politics that he hopes he will leave a legacy of a better Ireland than the one he was handed when first elected.
When pushed on whether he would go to Europe if he fails to be re-elected, the Taoiseach said: “I’m never anything than an optimist; I expect to win the next election. I expect to serve the next term as full Government.”
“I believe we can put our country in a place where it will never run back and that means for those on up ahead and on the path of an aging population we can look after them but really you give the generation becoming behind the opportunity not to have to face the catastrophe that e inherited just a few years ago.”
The Taoiseach said he has a lot of plans and places he would like to travel to when he does eventually finishes up his leadership.
When it comes to exercise and planning some down time the Taoiseach said: “Given the pressures of Irish politics, you don’t have much of an opportunity to plan your exercise days but I try to do something on the ‘old bicycle’ or a hill walk on a Sunday morning.”
Mr Kenny added: “You only have the one body to carry you through this life so you have to treat it with respect and keep it in as good as shape as you can.
“In that sense a healthy and exercising Ireland that is not obese and is not going in the wrong direction. It’s all too easy to sit on the couch and watch the screen but get out there and understand the excitement or the adventure of life, activity or adrenaline pumping.”
“These are things that excite me and I like to see other’s participate in,” said the Taoiseach.
“We have the best country in the world and the characteristics of a great race.”
Concluding his interview with Bobby Kerr, Mr Kenny quoted US President John F Kennedy saying: “This [Ireland] is an extraordinary island with extraordinary people.”
“When we apply ourselves with a single objective in mind nothing can stop us and nothing can hold us back,” said the Taoiseach.
