Micheál Martin has been a major player in Irish politics for many years but he knows there's one woman he has to thank for his success - his wife and 'best friend' Mary.
The Tanaiste and Mary have faced happiness and heartbreak side-by-side during their 34 years of marriage and supported each other through the loss of their two children Ruairi and Léana.
Speaking about their relationship on the Jenny and Mairéad Now podcast, Micheál admitted that he's 'very lucky' to have a spouse who understands the demands of politics.
When asked what he believes makes a successful marriage, Micheál said: ‘I don’t think I’m an expert on that, I think you need to create space for each other.
'There is a degree of telepathic understanding [between himself and Mary], we kind of understand what each other’s thinking without saying it… common interests matter.
‘Mary would be the person I’d go back to at the end of the day and tell her what’s happening today… she’d have her own views, she instinctively understands politics. I’m very lucky that way as politics is really absorbing so you do need a spouse who understands that and because she had worked in Fianna Fáil as a youth officer.. she saw the lifestyle of politics in the 80s, [and knows] how all-consuming it was.’
When asked by the podcast hosts if he could have had such a successful career and 'done what you've done without Mary' Micheál didn’t hesitate in saying 'no'.
Micheál added: 'And it got better with time… when we came to Cork she knew everyone, she has a great way of connecting people, it’s uncanny. If she met you she’d know your sister, your uncle… in politics that’s invaluable. She’s always saying to me “look who’s coming”.'
Although Micheál, who recently said he doesn't want to run for the Áras, believes Mary has great skills that would make her a brilliant politician, he said that she wouldn't have wanted a career in the limelight.
'She's not front of house in that way,' he said. 'She’d have made a great politician, but she worries a lot… worrying about me, the election.'
Micheál said that Mary, like many mums, worries about their children as well and 'wouldn't like them to go into politics' as it's a 'very demanding life' and social media has only added to the scrutiny.
While all their children have helped out in Micheál's campaigns over the years, their daughter Aoibhe is particularly interested in politics and he believes she'd be a wonderful representative.
'I’d say we need people interested in society to come forward,' Micheál said before telling a funny story of how Aoibhe kept him accountable during the pandemic by always making sure he was within his 5km.
Elsewhere in the podcast, Micheál spoke about how Mary supported the family through the loss of their children and the lovely way she keeps their memories alive.
