Bertie Ahern is an Irish politician who served as the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, of Ireland from 1997 to 2008. He was a member of the Fianna Fáil party and played a significant role in the peace process in Northern Ireland, particularly in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Ahern was born on September 12, 1951, in Dublin, Ireland. He began his political career in the 1970s and held various government positions before becoming Taoiseach. His leadership was marked by economic growth in Ireland, often referred to as the "Celtic Tiger" period, although his tenure also faced challenges and controversies.