On a crucial day in the Northern peace process, the Taoiseach bounced a ball and laughed and joked before the cameras with young members of the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association in Galway yesterday.
The occasion was the announcement by Mr Ahern of a major deal between the television station TG4 and Cumann Peile Gael na mBan. The channel is to become the official sponsor of the All-Ireland ladies' senior and junior football championships for the next three years. This provides it with exclusive live television rights for both championships during this period.
Speaking at the function, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association/Cumann Peile na mBan, and said that he was delighted to hear that the number of registered players had reached a "staggering" 84,000 over the last few years.
