Celia Larkin

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Celia Larkin is a former Irish civil servant and was the mistress and subsequent partner of Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern. Their relationship ended in April 2003. Ahern is separated, though not divorced, from his wife. There was much controversy in the media at Ahern's public presentation of his mistress/partner, in comparison to other European Heads of Government, who while remaining married, do not produce their mistress at official engagements. Ahern was accused of hyprocisy in being associatd with a woman, not his wife, while being a practicising Mass going Catholic. The media discovered the couple had broken up when she failed to co-host a diplomatic dinner for the visiting President of Germany, although her name, along with that of the Taoiseach, was featured on the invitations. Various media reports^{[citation needed]} have suggested that Ahern has, since 2005, been in a relationship with a new partner; long time friend Anna Bogle.

Larkin, during the period of her relationship with Ahern, regularly acted as his consort. She also occasionally engaged in civic functions in a private capacity. For example, she launched a high speed ferry, the M.V. Jonathan Swift for Irish Ferries.

Since parting with Ahern, she has expanded her chain of beauty salons, and has appeared on Reality Television, in a RTÉ show The Restaurant, a more serene forerunner to the ITV series Hell's Kitchen.

In July 2005 Ms. Larkin was appointed to the board of the new National Consumer Agency, a Government funded consumer watchdog. Her appointment was reportedly made at Bertie Ahern's request.^{[citation needed]}