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Age: 52.
Home: Semi-detached house in Turners Cross, Cork.
Nickname: The "Dauphin''. He was seen as heir apparent as FF leader. Has also been dubbed "Steve Silvermint'' for his cool, clean image.
Family: Married to Mary O'Shea, former Fianna Fáil youth organiser. Father Paddy was a boxer, known as "The Champ".
Education: Attended Coláiste Chríost Rí before studying Arts at UCC. His MA thesis on party politics in Cork between 1918 and 1932 was published as a book. Like Enda Kenny, he had a short career as a teacher.
Most famous achievement: Introduced the smoking ban in pubs and workplaces. Some regulars felt bars smelt worse as a result.
Biggest gaffe: Once caused embarrassment by talking in a cringeworthy stage Chinese accent when recalling a trade mission: "You Irish – very good at software!"
Least likely to say: "I'll have the Full Irish with white buttered toast."
