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Leaving Dublin
"Brian Brennan's memories of his childhood in Dublin, before heading off to seek a new life for himself in Canada, are amusing, charming, and filled with loving warmth. This is the Dublin and the Ireland that I remember, too, not at all like the place of misery depicted in Angela's Ashes. A most enjoyable read!" —Dermot Desmond, Irish businessman and financier, Chairman of International Investment and Underwriting
"Brennan modestly says this is 'the story of an ordinary immigrant from Ireland', though I must disagree. It is a tale of a remarkable life in Ireland and Canada told with flair and extraordinary skill. Brennan takes the reader on a journey that is both poignant and humorous and spans six decades. You'll not be disappointed if you go along for the ride. Don't take my word for it. Read the book." —Patrick Taylor, New York Times and Globe and Mail best-selling novelist
Leaving Dublin: Writing My Way from Ireland to Canada is an engaging and entertaining exploration of a man's life that begins in middle-class Dublin, includes stints as a travelling musician and broadcaster in Canada, and culminates in a career as an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. With passion, candour, humour and vivid stories, Brian Brennan tells how he left a soul-destroying job in the Irish civil service to seek new opportunities in a country where he had no friends and no family connections. He offers revealing glimpses of suburban life in the postwar Ireland of the 1950s, the commercial music scene in Canada during the 1960s, and the commercial radio and newspaper scene during the last third of the 20th century, when journalism went from being a business with a conscience and a higher purpose to an enterprise owned by large corporations that care more about private profit than public debate.
"Brennan modestly says this is 'the story of an ordinary immigrant from Ireland', though I must disagree. It is a tale of a remarkable life in Ireland and Canada told with flair and extraordinary skill. Brennan takes the reader on a journey that is both poignant and humorous and spans six decades. You'll not be disappointed if you go along for the ride. Don't take my word for it. Read the book." —Patrick Taylor, New York Times and Globe and Mail best-selling novelist
Leaving Dublin: Writing My Way from Ireland to Canada is an engaging and entertaining exploration of a man's life that begins in middle-class Dublin, includes stints as a travelling musician and broadcaster in Canada, and culminates in a career as an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. With passion, candour, humour and vivid stories, Brian Brennan tells how he left a soul-destroying job in the Irish civil service to seek new opportunities in a country where he had no friends and no family connections. He offers revealing glimpses of suburban life in the postwar Ireland of the 1950s, the commercial music scene in Canada during the 1960s, and the commercial radio and newspaper scene during the last third of the 20th century, when journalism went from being a business with a conscience and a higher purpose to an enterprise owned by large corporations that care more about private profit than public debate.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2011
12 people want to read
About the author
Brian Brennan
17 books3 followersI’m an Irish-born Canadian writer who has published 15 nonfiction books of biography and social history, and one historical fiction novel. For more information, visit my website at www.brianbrennan.ca
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 16, 2018
Like the author, I have despaired over the lack of quality, integrity, interests and objectivity of the news industry, and have sadly concluded that the only one left with any objectivity at all is the BBC. So it was very interesting and informative to read an “insiders” take on this business.
The author, having made his living from writing for three decades or more, has produced a smooth, polished product. It flows easily from paragraph to paragraph and is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The tales of early life in Dublin, his parents and their influences, his early stage career, cutting his teeth in broadcasting and then settling into the Calgary Herald as a respected “Herald Staff Writer” are all excellent reading.
Brian does bog down a bit, in my opinion, on the management issues, labour difficulties and protracted strike that led to his eventual exit from the newspaper. This is understandable to a degree, given how involved he was with the “Club of 93”. The average reader may also want a dictionary close by, so thank goodness for the Kindle “automatic lookup” feature, which instantly defines a word.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. It is insightful, very well written, and a clear explanation as to how Canada greatly benefits from a more open immigration policy. A policy that focuses on those who are willing and able to learn and make serious contributions, in this case to our literary heritage that is just now finding its presence. I look forward to reading his other books.
The author, having made his living from writing for three decades or more, has produced a smooth, polished product. It flows easily from paragraph to paragraph and is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The tales of early life in Dublin, his parents and their influences, his early stage career, cutting his teeth in broadcasting and then settling into the Calgary Herald as a respected “Herald Staff Writer” are all excellent reading.
Brian does bog down a bit, in my opinion, on the management issues, labour difficulties and protracted strike that led to his eventual exit from the newspaper. This is understandable to a degree, given how involved he was with the “Club of 93”. The average reader may also want a dictionary close by, so thank goodness for the Kindle “automatic lookup” feature, which instantly defines a word.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. It is insightful, very well written, and a clear explanation as to how Canada greatly benefits from a more open immigration policy. A policy that focuses on those who are willing and able to learn and make serious contributions, in this case to our literary heritage that is just now finding its presence. I look forward to reading his other books.
August 1, 2014
I should say that I do know Brian Brennan personally and I have promoted him and this book on my blog, Reading Recommendations, and through my previous business, Alberta Books Canada.
I also know or at least have heard of most of the people Brian mentions in "Leaving Dublin" since I was working in the book business in Calgary most of the time Brian was there. That made this book a very special read for me, revisiting old times! But aside from my personal connection, it was Brian's engaging way of telling his life story that kept me reading. He has a way of writing that draws you right into his life and makes you want to read more about his adventures and experiences. I suggest that anyone who appreciates good writing will enjoy reading this book. This is the way to write a memoir!
Highly recommended.
I also know or at least have heard of most of the people Brian mentions in "Leaving Dublin" since I was working in the book business in Calgary most of the time Brian was there. That made this book a very special read for me, revisiting old times! But aside from my personal connection, it was Brian's engaging way of telling his life story that kept me reading. He has a way of writing that draws you right into his life and makes you want to read more about his adventures and experiences. I suggest that anyone who appreciates good writing will enjoy reading this book. This is the way to write a memoir!
Highly recommended.
November 17, 2012
Memoir of this Irishman's journey from Ireland to Canada with all the reasons and realities experienced en route... from offered security in job and future to the hunger of wanting 'more' than the expected norm that sets him on his way.
April 20, 2015
Certainly an interesting memoir of a recent Irish immigrant to Canada.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews