Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen joined Will Faulkner for a 40-minute chat on Midlands 103 this week where the former Laois-Offaly Fianna Fáil TD discussed health, hobbies, and of course, politics.
The Clara man spent a year in hospital after suffering a bleed on the brain four years ago, but says his recovery is going well.
“The length of time was very long; 12 months. And things happened while I was in hospital, even though it was towards the end. My mother passed on and I was home for the last few days of her life,” Mr Cowen said.
“That was a big change, apart from the physical challenges. But I’m in great form now.”
Speaking about his recovery, Mr Cowen said: “I’m very lucky. The type of stroke I had, three out of four don’t make it. And of the one out of four that remain, many of them don’t recover to the extent they were at before. So, it was a pretty serious situation.
“Thankfully, with the great help from the medics and the hospital staff, and indeed people like speech therapists and physio therapists.
“In both St Vincent’s and in Donnybrook afterwards, I overcame a lot of it. My conversation came back; the loss of words that I had that I couldn’t click on – I would be held up in conversation a lot. All that has thankfully dissipated.
“I’ve made a great recovery mentally and I’m grateful for that. The physical side of things is slower.
“You make most of your recovery after say six or nine months, and what you get after that is based on your constant repitition basically.
“The paralysis caused by the stroke on my right side has not left me. What you’re trying to do is awaken your nervous system again and hopefully your brain regenerates.
“We’re no there yet, but we’re getting there. My eldest daughter is marrying towards the end of the year, we’re all delighted about that, and I hope to discharge the paternal functions well on that day. Like walking her down the aisle. So having that goal is something that keeps me very active,” Mr Cowan said.
Asked about his down time, the topics of books, music and sport came to the fore.
“It took me a while to get back reading to the extent I did in the past. I read a lot of biographies; I have a room at home that you can’t get in or out of it with books.
“It’s where I like to go, listen to some music and have a read on some of the wintery days. That is still a work in progress for me.
Music is also an essential part of the former Taoiseach’s life.
“I always liked his Paul Brady. He had that northern twang, but very much a guy who never engaged in ambivilance towards violence and things like that.
“He wrote songs which are very reflective of the vast majority of people – north and south. There is a need to know your neighbour, as the fellas says, and get on with life.
“Live and let live regrdless of your personal politics or ideas, and that’s something I’m very much into myself.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve moved with the times. My preference is with some of the artists which I grew up with.”
Sport, of course, get a mention, with Mr Cowen taking great joy in Offaly’s recent upturn in form at underage level. He also spoke about the rise of women’s sport, siting soccer, camogie and Gaelic football specifically.
“People realise now how important it is to participate. We went through the whole Covid problems, and people got back into basic exercise.
“What happened during that time reminded people to get back to basic pleasures and being a bit more community conscious.”
Reflecting life as a politician, Mr Cowen said he would do it all again if he could. And he believes others should take a more active, positive role in society.
“I’m interested in what goes on in my country, who runs my country, who gets support to do the jobs that need to be done,” he said.
“It’s almost hip to be negative; it’s almost hip not to have a view which is shared by others. Social media, for example: it’s a good thing, but it can be a terrible thing.
“But if people take on the responsibility, give encouragement, give purpose, give a bit of direction. If people take their energy and put it into doing something positive, and change something they they feel indignant about – it would be better than all this negativity.”
Since retirement, Mr Cowen has joined the board of the Simon Community. This provides a major cross-section with another of his passions – housing.
“I was asked to go on the board of the Simon Community and I did, and continue to do so. It’s doing some excellent work that makes a difference.
“Simon are working with a group called Sophia, an organisation for people seeking housing in city centre areas. And there will be very good developments in that area.
“Another thing I’m involved in: this whole question of providing more options for people to help people move into a home. Getting a loan from the bank is one way; then there’s another idea we can bring to the table.
“It will be about insuring that the money people spend monthly on rent – and then they’re expected to save money for a deposit – it is very hard to meet all these hurdles the way they’re set up at the moment.
“But there is an idea where your rent money could well be used against building equity in the home. I don’t know how may it will help, but I know it’s going to help a fair few.
“Everyone knows what the problem is, but you’ve got to come up with solutions and work with other people who would hopefully have some funds available which would be substantial in helping people into that area.
You can hear the full interview here.
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