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Brian Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.〔The Progressive Democrats party was part of the coalition government from May 2008 until the partys dissolution in November 2009.〕 Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May 2008 until 22 January 2011, when he resigned under political pressure after a failed and highly controversial attempt at a cabinet reshuffle. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 1984 to 2011. He previously served as Minister for Labour (1992–93), Minister for Energy (1993), Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (1993–94), Minister for Health (1997–2000), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2000–04) and Minister for Finance (2004–08)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Mr. Brian Cowen )〕 and also as Tánaiste (2007–08). He became leader of Fianna Fáil on the resignation of Bertie Ahern. On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Ahern as Taoiseach, Cowen was nominated by Dáil Éireann to replace him and was appointed by the President later that day. Cowen's administration coincided with the Irish financial and banking crises. He has received substantial criticism for his failure to stem the tide of either crisis, ultimately culminating in his government's formal request for financial rescue from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, widely seen in Ireland as a national humiliation.〔(Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF )〕 Cowen's leadership saw record low levels of public support for Fianna Fáil, his government, and the Taoiseach himself. With approval at 8 percent by the time the 30th Dáil was dissolved, he was the least popular incumbent politician in the history of Irish opinion polling.〔 "As Taoiseach," said ''The Sunday Times'', "he has proved to be a dismal failure."〔 In 2011, the ''Irish Independent'' called Cowen the "worst Taoiseach in the history of the State." ==Early and private life== Brian Cowen was born in Tullamore, County Offaly〔Archived from Jan. 2010〕 on 10 January 1960. He grew up at the family home in Clara. He is the son of May and Bernard Cowen, a former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator. The family owned a public house in Clara town, beside the family home. His father also worked as an auctioneer. Cowen often worked as a barman in his father's pub when he was growing up. He has two brothers – Christopher and Barry.〔 His brother, Barry, is also involved in politics and is a TD for Laois Offaly.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Councillor Barry Cowen )〕 His other brother, Christopher, is a publican (who was found by taxation authorities to have failed to pay taxes), runs the family pub and is the oldest of the Cowen brothers. The old Cowen family home and pub are soon to be demolished to make way for a new development. Cowen was educated at Clara National School, Árd Scoil Naomh Chiaráin (St. Ciaran's High School), in Clara and the Cistercian College of Mount St. Joseph in Roscrea, County Tipperary. He was twelve years old when he entered Mount St. Joseph College, as a boarder. After secondary school, he attended University College Dublin where he studied law. He subsequently qualified as a solicitor from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Dublin.〔 Cowen is married to Mary Molloy and they have two daughters.〔 He is a member of the Gaelic Athletic Association and continues to serve as president of Clara club. He also played with the Offaly Gaelic football team in the early 1980s. Cowen likes to socialise with his constituents in some of the local pubs in his native Offaly.〔 In May 2003, he took part in a charity CD project organised by ''The Brewery Tap'' pub in Tullamore. The CD featured 28 songs, including Cowen singing the Phil Coulter song, ''The Town I Loved So Well''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Live at the Tap )〕 In May 2007, Cowen told Jason O'Toole of ''Hot Press'' that, as a student: "I would say there were a couple of occasions when marijuana was passed around – and, unlike President Clinton, I did inhale. There wasn't a whole lot in it really." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Brian Cowen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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