TAOISEACH (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern said this week that bringing about peace in Ireland was his proudest achievement.In his last speech to his Fianna Fail party before he resigns next week, Ahern said the Belfast Agreement provided for the future happiness and prosperity of Ireland and that, in time, April 1998 would "stand tall as a watershed in our history."Ahern was speaking at the annual 1916 Fianna Fail commemoration in Arbour Hill, Dublin, where there was a record attendance to hear him make his 14th and final speech as party leader.He said he was especially privileged to make his final address at the memorial for the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, and recalled that in his first Arbour Hill speech he said the historic task of this generation would be to finally heal the wounds of division that had festered for too long on the island of Ireland."Peace in Ireland is my proudest achievement. It is an achievement I share with thousands and thousands of people across this island and beyond our shores who were voices for sanity, persuaders for justice and implacable opponents of those who sought to cling to violence as a political weapon," said Ahern.The outgoing taoiseach conveyed his "best wishes and deep affection" for Brian Cowen, who will succeed him next week."He has the ability, the capacity and the intelligence to keep this country on the path of peace, prosperity and progress," said Ahern. "I have no doubt he will do this party proud. He has been a loyal friend and he will be a great leader."For the first time in recent years, Ahern specifically mentioned former Fianna Fail Minister Ray Burke, who was jailed for tax offenses. Burke was among those he commended for working closely with him during the peace process.Ahern also spoke of the roles played by former President Bill Clinton and former Senator George Mitchell. He reserved special praise for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair."Here was a British prime minister blessed in abundance with patience, wisdom and generosity. He worked tirelessly for peace on this island for many years and he will always be deserving of this nation's gratitude," said Ahern.Speaking to reporters after the event, Ahern disclosed that his speech to the joint houses of Congress in Washington next week will be markedly different to the one he delivered to the British Houses of Parliament in Westminster last year.On a personal note, he commented, "I have given over 30 years of my life to working for Fianna Fail and Ireland. It is a choice I will never regret."