Just Joe: My Autobiography

Description

The autobiography of one of Ireland's most popular broadcasters. Joe Duffy takes the pulse of the Irish nation every day on Liveline. Whenever somebody wants to get something off their chest, the advice is often- "Talk to Joe". Just Joe reveals the private man behind the public voice. Joe writes with raw honesty about his difficult upbringing in working-class Ballyfermot, with a hard-drinking father and hard-working mother, and about his younger brother Brendan, who has drink and drug problems and has spent time in prison. For Joe, education was key to a fresh start. He was one of the first from his area to attend university at Trinity College Dublin. His social justice campaigning led to him becoming President of the Union of Students in Ireland. He spent two weeks in Mountjoy Jail following a protest against government cutbacks. Joe eventually moved into a career in RT Radio, where he first became known as a roving reporter on The Gay Byrne Show, before finally finding his niche on Liveline. Just Joe highlights the major stories and controversies raised by the programme; it also deals with the shocking death in 2010 of Joe's friend and fellow broadcaster Gerry Ryan. This is a riveting, deeply felt and fascinating memoir of a complex, passionate man.

Joe Duffy is the presenter of Liveline, one of the most popular radio shows in Ireland. Brought up in the working-class Dublin suburb of Ballyfermot, he was one of the first people from his area to attend Trinity College Dublin, where he became a student leader advocating access to education and social justice. He went on to a successful radio career with The Gay Byrne Show on RTE Radio One, before in 1999 becoming the presenter of Liveline. Married to June Meehan, he is the father of triplets and now lives in Clontarf in Dublin.

Beautifully written, honest and thoroughly enjoyable. A great read -- Gay Byrne