Dublin
One of Ireland’s most colorful prime ministers has died. Charles Haughey, who was 80, served three terms as head of government during the 1980s. An avid yachtsman known as “the Boss,” Haughey tended to flaunt his wealth, sporting French silk shirts and designer suits. Although he was a strong advocate of the reunification of Ireland, the Fianna Fáil party head wasn’t always popular with Republicans. During the IRA hunger strikes, he alienated many by presenting a silver teapot to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. His popularity further dipped in 1999, when a gossip columnist said she’d been having an affair with him for decades. But Haughey is now revered for starting some of Ireland’s most popular welfare programs, including free travel for the elderly, inheritance rights for widows, and tax breaks for artists.
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