Taoiseach Micheal Martin has opened up on the tragedy of losing two young children.
Mr Martin and wife Mary tragically lost their son Ruairi from sudden infant death syndrome in 2000 at just five weeks old.
10 years later, daughter Léana died at the age of eight after years of cardiac issues.
The Taoiseach recounted his sheer disbelief at such a terrible incident, but said he resolved himself to continue on for his other two young children.
He told the Irish Times: "What I always say is that Micheál Aodh and Aoibhe took us through that, because when you have children and you endure trauma like that, you have to get up the following day."
Since the tragic death of his son, the Taoiseach found that a return of routine and "getting back to life" was the only way for his family to cope.
He added: "You have to get back up again, and you have to go through the routines of life."
At the time, the Taoiseach was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ireland was going through the worst period of the economic crash, with the Government facing a €6 billion budget and the troika deal.
During this time, the Taoiseach opened up about how his family and community at home helped him, his wife and his children.
The Taoiseach and Mary had his brother and her sister to help them, while their children had the support of the club to keep encouraging them to get out exercising and doing simple things.
"Sport was important – the kids playing sports, you’re going back out to watch them. These simple things; you’re back out meeting other people," the Taoiseach said.
Beloved memories
The Taoiseach revealed that his wife, Mary, had taken a lot of pictures of the family and every year sends calendars to their extended family.
He added: "It just brings back those shared memories and the happy times we had together.
“I love Christmas with the kids, and we’d some great times – certainly the holidays without question.
“A simple thing like Dunworly Bay, it’s a beautiful beach down in west Cork.
"The kids running up and down. The tide’s coming in and all the kids decide they’ve got to stop the tide.
"That’s as high as it gets, and then we’d go up to Mary O’Neill’s in Butlerstown and they’d have the Tayto and the Ribena."
