NOW that Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will be out of a job next month when he relinquishes his office, speculation is rife as to what his next move will be, considering that the sprightly leader is only 56 years old and undoubtedly has a good few innings left.

One of the first A-list friends Ahern spoke to after delivering his resignation speech last Wednesday was fellow Dubliner Bob Geldof, who has made quite a name for himself not only as a rock star, but as an advocate of Third World debt relief.

The Irish media reported that Geldof and Ahern spoke last week for more than a half hour by telephone about plans to possibly work on a new global anti-poverty campaign together.

Ahern also spoke with the former secretary general of the UN, Kofi Annan, who now heads a Geneva-based group called the Global Humanitarian Forum.

If Bertie's famous writing daughter Cecelia gets her way, her dad will take a much-needed rest from public life for a while.

Cecelia, best-selling author of such novels as P.S. I Love You, and the creative force behind the hit ABC comedy Samantha Who?, said she's "never been so proud of a person in my life," as her dad. She's also pleased Bertie resigned because now he can "catch up on 30 years of sleep."

Other celebrity notables reacting to the news of Ahern's imminent departure included dance king Michael Flatley. The Chicago-born Flatley, a resident of Ireland for many years, isn't too pleased that Bertie was essentially hounded from office because of an ongoing tribunal into corrupt politicians.

"It is a very sad day for Ireland and Irish politics. We are now going to lose our strongest political asset abroad," said Michael.

"Bertie Ahern was a very humble man who never forgot about ordinary people. He represented this country so very well on the international stage and that is something that Ireland Inc will greatly miss."