Cowen, Brian (1960-…), served as prime minister of Ireland from May 2008 to March 2011. Ireland’s prime minister is called the taoiseach << TEE shok >> . Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, elected him prime minister. He succeeded Bertie Ahern, who resigned. Cowen had succeeded Ahern as leader of Fianna Fáil << FEE uh nuh FAWL >> , Ireland’s governing party, in April 2008. In January 2011, amid severe domestic economic troubles, Cowen resigned as the party’s leader. Fianna Fáil then lost to center-right Fine Gael in February elections. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny succeeded Cowen as prime minister on March 9.
Cowen was born Jan. 10, 1960, in Tullamore, County Offaly. He earned a law degree from University College Dublin. Cowen was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984. He has served as minister for labor; minister for transport, energy, and communications; minister for health and children; minister for foreign affairs; and minister for finance. He was appointed tánaiste, or deputy prime minister, of Ireland in 2007.
See also Fianna Fáil .
