Burning Bright: A comedy about money, fame and the Celtic Tiger

by Catherine Brophy

This is a LAUGH OUT LOUD novel about money fame and the Celtic Tiger. The Kerrigans are splashing the cash. They have made it big time, so eat your heart out you small town snobs! But Daddy's-girl Kirsty wants to go one better and become an International Celebrity. She tries out for a Talent Contest, crashes Madonna's Christmas party, gets accepted for Big Brother and dumps her boyfriend live on air. None of it makes her a star. She tries to snag a footballer boyfriend-that doesn't go well. But when a video of Kirsty and cows at a wedding goes viral on You Tube, fame arrives with a bang. But then there's Tracey O'Hagan, mad, bad and dangerous to know. She's a blast from a shady patch in the Kerrigan past, and she carries a gun...

326 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2013

About the author

Catherine Brophy is a writer, story-teller and broadcaster. She writes film, T.V. and radio scripts and short stories. Her novels are The Liberation of Margaret Mc Cabe,Dark Paradise and Burning Bright She lives a blameless life in Ireland but travels whenever she can. She’s been rescued by a circus troupe in Serbia, had breakfast with a Zambian chief, ate camel stew in the Sahara, and was kicked by a horse on the Mexican plain.

Reviews

[Annmarie Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.
For most of the read I wanted to strangulate the young woman at the centre of the story!
That is one of the things that is so good about this book. That young wan is real! I've seen her, I've met her - anyone in Celtic Tiger Ireland probably has too.

The story reveals a sadness tho - the sadness of a generation of folk who didn't really know WHAT to do with all the money that was floating around. Whether Catherine Brophy means too or not, she reveals to us a culture of waste, decadence, extravagance and ungratefulness that was in part to blame for the recession Ireland is in at the moment.

But don't mistake me - I laughed a lot reading this book. Great craic, great characters & a great story - from a great story-teller!

[Kevin McAllion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entertaining comedy follows the fortunes of the noveau niche Kerrigans, who burned bright as the Celtic Tiger bared its claws. Father Eamon's huge success in the construction industry ensures they never have to worry about money again and have all they could ever hope for back in Ireland. But that's still not enough for teenage daughter Kirsty, who seeks fame to go with her fortune. While the book is told skilfully from the vantage point of multiple family members (never losing the thread or your interest despite the rapid changes in narrator) it mainly focuses on Kirsty's attempts to become a reality TV star, something she eventually succeeds in when she snares a place on Big Brother. Trying to provide some words of caution on her journey are best friend Lala, a far more grounded girl who seeks a more satisfying career as writer, and younger brother Jake, a budding film director. Kirsty largely ignores their advice before finding out the hard way that fame can be a cruel mistress when it finally arrives.
The rest of the Kerrigans play little more than a supporting role, although the colourful past of parents Eamon and Marian is hinted at through the dark presence of a family friend who made her fortune through criminal means. Some of the biggest laughs come from the dynamic between the grandparents with Marian's cold and deeply religious mother having little in common with Eamon's parents, who have vowed to make the most of their son's fortune.
I found Burning Bright a great read and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Kerrigans. I'm a huge fan of Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy, which brought to vivid life a family from working class Dublin. This book shines a light on those at the opposite end of the social spectrum and shows how much Ireland has changed from the 1990s to the present day.

[Carolann Copland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Brophy's 'Burning Bright' is a tonic for our recession deadened senses. Quite simply, it will make you laugh. Out loud. On the bus. Or wherever you are. Her empathy with her characters and her ability to bring to life the ridiculousness that was the Celtic tiger is pure brilliance! This is a funny story well written. The Kerrigans, especially Kirsty, are a scream. You met them everywhere over the last ten years or so. Now you can read their story and laugh your socks off.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! What fun that was! This book was the best anecdote for a stressful work week. Perfectly written, this story moved along with great comedic timing. The characters are flawed, but endearing and everybody gets their just desserts in the end.