BIG READ: Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen talks about his health in rare radio interview

IRELAND'S former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, opens up about his health, politics and his future in an exclusive interview with Midlands 103.

Once an active member of Irish politics, disaster struck in 2019 when he suffered a stroke which required a 12 month stay in the hospital. The politician reassured interviewer Will Faulkner that he is now "doing great."

Praising hospital staff, medics, speech therapists, and physios at St Vincent’s Hospital and Royal Hospital Donnybrook, the former Minister for Finance said that soon his conversation came back. Before his rehabilitation he said, "I would be held up in conversation, but thankfully that has dissipated."

Mastering his speech again, the Clara native now walks with the aid of a cane. Admitting his physical side is slower to recover, he says, "paralysis on the right side has not left me." Most recovery starts after six to nine months, he reiterates, and is based on "constant repetition," to ensure progress. "I'm not totally 100% but we’re getting there".

Having discussed sport, hobbies, and keeping his mental health well, the former Fianna Fáil politician says if he had the opportunity to repeat his career, he would venture into politics all over again. Still politically active, he says "I’m interested in what goes on in my country, who runs my country, who gets support to do the job that needs to be done."

Regarding social media and both its positives and negatives, he adds, "there’s always a view on [politics] and it’s fair enough," but he also thinks, "it’s almost hip to be negative," and finds social media an easy way of expressing personal opinions on a public platform.

While no longer active in Dáil Éireann, the former Laois-Offaly politician discussed the housing crisis at length, saying he often seriously thinks to himself, "what can I do about it?" Currently on the board of Midlands Simon community, Mr Cowan and the other members work with Sophia Housing Association, and he says being proactive with the issues is the only way to make progress.

For those seeking accommodation and dealing with the growing costs which go hand in hand, he adds that it is "hard" to meet payments in the current economic crisis. Speaking with Mr Faulkner, he says that housing capacity is a problem at the moment, but believes that to address the issue and help to solve the problem requires "making a contribution."

"We know what the problems are, you've got to work with others to help solve the problem".

Looking to the future, Mr Cowan vows to keep undertaking projects in a voluntary capacity. With a family occasion on the horizon, his eldest daughter's wedding, he says, "I hope to discharge the paternal functions well on that day," noting that bringing his physical health up enough to walk her down the aisle is his main goal this year.