What do you think?
Rate this book
Halfway Home: My Life 'til Now
Yes, I am a singer. But I am also a horseman, an athlete, and a doctor. I am a son, a brother, and a friend. I can sing as I do only because of the life that I've led. With each decade, I've found myself in very different, evermore challenging arenas, but the many stages of my life have always intertwined. I have moved from one stage to the next as if on a wild steeplechase, keeping my eye fixed straight ahead and above me. If there is a single line connecting all the episodes and main events of my life it is this -- a gift both given and received.
-- from the Introduction
In Halfway Home, a beautifully written memoir, Ronan Tynan, a member of the enormously popular Irish Tenors, shares his remarkable story of overcoming adversity and attaining worldwide success in several different areas.
Diagnosed with a lower limb disability at birth, Ronan Tynan had his legs amputated below the knee when he was twenty years old. Eight weeks later, he was climbing the stairs of his college dorm, and within a year, he was winning races in the Paralympic Games, amassing eighteen gold medals and fourteen world records. After becoming the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education, he served a short stint in the prosthetics industry and began a new career in medicine. He continued his studies at Trinity College, where he specialized in orthopedic sports injuries.
After earning his medical degree, Ronan chose music for the next act in his life. Less than one year after he began studying voice, he won both the John McCormick Cup for Tenor Voice and the BBC talent show Go for It. He went on to win the prestigious International Operatic Singing Competition in France, and in 1998 his debut Sony album, My Life Belongs to You, became a top-five hit in England within just two weeks and eventually went platinum. Later that year, he was invited to join The Irish Tenors, furthering a journey that started in a small Irish village and has brought him to the world's grandest stages.
In Halfway Home, Tynan movingly describes his life story, which Barbara Walters called "so amazing you may find it hard to believe."
-- from the Introduction
In Halfway Home, a beautifully written memoir, Ronan Tynan, a member of the enormously popular Irish Tenors, shares his remarkable story of overcoming adversity and attaining worldwide success in several different areas.
Diagnosed with a lower limb disability at birth, Ronan Tynan had his legs amputated below the knee when he was twenty years old. Eight weeks later, he was climbing the stairs of his college dorm, and within a year, he was winning races in the Paralympic Games, amassing eighteen gold medals and fourteen world records. After becoming the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education, he served a short stint in the prosthetics industry and began a new career in medicine. He continued his studies at Trinity College, where he specialized in orthopedic sports injuries.
After earning his medical degree, Ronan chose music for the next act in his life. Less than one year after he began studying voice, he won both the John McCormick Cup for Tenor Voice and the BBC talent show Go for It. He went on to win the prestigious International Operatic Singing Competition in France, and in 1998 his debut Sony album, My Life Belongs to You, became a top-five hit in England within just two weeks and eventually went platinum. Later that year, he was invited to join The Irish Tenors, furthering a journey that started in a small Irish village and has brought him to the world's grandest stages.
In Halfway Home, Tynan movingly describes his life story, which Barbara Walters called "so amazing you may find it hard to believe."
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2001
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 14, 2012
I had the honor of seeing Ronan Tynan perform in Texas City's beautiful new Catholic Church as the culminating celebration for the city's Centennial celebration last month. His voice was as breathtaking as his personality was captivating. I wanted to know more about this amazing man.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone in need of an incredible dose of "can-do" attitude, humor, and compassion. The obstacles he has overcome, the amazing accomplishments he has achieved, the risks he has taken, and the way he has lived his very full life were all fascinating and inspiring to me!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone in need of an incredible dose of "can-do" attitude, humor, and compassion. The obstacles he has overcome, the amazing accomplishments he has achieved, the risks he has taken, and the way he has lived his very full life were all fascinating and inspiring to me!
December 17, 2010
What an absolutely inspirational and amazing story. It is such a tough story at time, but brings to light the ability to do just about anything if you are determined.
December 25, 2017
He is amazing! Tremendously accomplished.
June 20, 2021
I enjoyed his sense of humor, his candid approach, his honesty for the good and bad. He didn’t shy away from the harsh truths, and also didn’t play humble when he did have success.
January 14, 2009
I love the Irish Tenors so I was very interested to read this memoir by Ronan Tynan. He has had a lot of adversity in his life and has accomplished much. I would recommend it highly.
March 21, 2009
Drive and determination against many obstacles in this autobiography. Ronan Tynan has a great sense of humor and of course a beauiful voice. The book is entertaining and encouraging.
Read
April 6, 2009Inspiring.
March 27, 2011
An amazing story of will and stubborness of a very talented man, but not as well told as I would have liked.
July 12, 2012
I like the Irish Tenors and was happy to find a book by my favorite tenor--Ronan Tynan--only to discover that it was incredibly boring and I could not wait for it to end.
July 20, 2012
inspirationa!
October 2, 2013
Very inspiring story!
July 28, 2010
inspiring
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews