Overload: a brother, a wake, and a secret

by Lydia Little

‘I promised not to tell, so I wrote it down instead . . .’

Lydia Little tells the story of her extraordinary brother, Fergus O’Farrell, by bringing the reader through an intimate, raw account of his wake and funeral – all the while carrying the secret of how he really died.

Fergus was the charismatic voice of Interference, an iconic band in the Irish music scene in the 1990s. His song “Gold” features in the Oscar-winning film Once, which stars his close friend Glen Hansard. Breaking Out, an award-winning film telling the story of Fergus’s life, went out on general release in 2021.

Overload is not just a tale of loss and secrecy. It is also a discovery of music and the joy that can be found within grief and giving ourselves permission to allow that joy in.

“A unique perspective on the life and death of Fergus O’Farrell, an original authentic poetic genius. His music will outlive us all.” — Steve Coogan, actor and comedian

“Overload tells a story we feel we all know – that of grief and loss – in such detail and complexity that it is always compelling. It is an intimate after-party to which we’re all invited.” — Tara Flynn, actress

242 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2022