Full On

by Ivan Yates

In Full On, ex-government minister, businessman and broadcaster Ivan Yates recounts a fascinating political and personal story. From his early days in Enniscorthy to his youthful entry into national politics - becoming the youngest member of the 22nd Dáil at just twenty-one years old - it describes his subsequent rise within Fine Gael and the John Bruton-led coalition government of the mid-1990s.With characteristic honesty, he paints a gritty, no-holds-barred picture of the ruthless realities - and characters - behind the spin of Irish political life, and how he played his part. He describes his time as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and how, during the BSE crisis of the mid-1990s, he pushed himself to his physical and mental limits, before finally leaving politics behind in 2001 to pursue business.He recounts the ambitious rise of Celtic Bookmakers in the Tiger era, and the cost of its ultimate demise, leading to bankruptcy, with its heavy personal price.A gripping and utterly compelling read, Full On is a journey behind the scenes of not just one life but of a modern Ireland that has seen more than its share of highs and lows.

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2014

Reviews

[Philip Magnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full On is a worthy title for a book by someone who has had way more ups and downs than most. It additionally brings out his personality and life and times very well.

He was an outsider from the word go, a Protestant brought up in a Catholic country (then though not now). It doesn't seem to have bothered him. In fact not much did bother him, in the sense of preventing him from accomplishment his goals. Not even his teenage future wife repeatedly refusing his approaches to the point of telling him that surely he could tell when someone was not at all interested.

He has had intense experiences as a young farmer, a national politician at 21, and high office as a minister for agriculture. In my opinion, he could certainly have become the leader of his political party and possibly taoiseach (prime minister). But he was tired of the political life by that point and left to start a betting business. There again he had immense sucess with around 60 betting shops around Ireland and even a few in Wales.

He is thankfully honest about his faults. One was expanding too quickly with too much debt. He had nowhere to hide with the financial collapse of the late noughties. Well nowhere except Wales that is where he fled to declare bankruptcy with the easier British approach to a business eclipse.

Yates is engaging, controversial, and likeable in his present employment as a commentator on radio. His book reflects this and is breezily written and hard to put down. He's not pretentious and speaks his mind. The book is a good encapsulation of his life and temperament.

[Mark Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comes across much as he does on the radio - straight talking. Refreshingly frank about his own shortcomings. Well written, worth reading.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cneasta.

Honest.

[Paul McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest

[MR PATRICK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into a young man cast into senior government and the ensuing pressure it entails

[Alit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Superficial book about a life of bluff and bluster. A better title might have been "Like me or lump me" It lacked any depth in terms of explored thoughts, relationships, feelings and was very light on anecdotes and stories that the reader would have expected. Whilst written honestly, he comes across as a very much "in your face" character. Having grown up in Ireland during his political career, I recall him as a well respected TD and later Minister who was considered a future leader of Fine Gael. However, this book turned me off him big time. There is a lack of reflection on his life and his decisions to date. Whilst it was interesting to confirm just how parochial Irish politics is and how each TD is focused on getting elected and looking after their parish, there was nothing new or revealing about any of the characters in this landscape - it was all superficial. Needed more content rather than this stream of consciousness approach.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to like Ivan Yates on the wireless. Now I want to smack him.

[Thomas Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, frank and entertaining read

[brian andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life and times of Ivan Yates, from farmer in Wexford to ministerial office holder in the Irish Dail, story of achievement, power, challenges, risks, entpreneurship, downfall and beginning again.