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Seán Lemass: The Lost Memoir: The autobiography of Ireland's most admired taoiseach
The unheard voice of Seán Lemass - 22 hours of lost interviews reveal the private thoughts of Ireland's most transformative taoiseach
Lemass never left any papers or an autobiography. Instead, he gave 22 hours of interviews to an Irish businessman Dermot Ryan in 1967 and 1968. The transcripts were given to The Irish Times and extracts from these interviews were published as a supplement in May 2018. They laid bare tensions in his relationship with long standing Taoiseach de Valera, his disdain for the IRA, his complicated relationship with Great Britain and much more.
Lemass never left any papers or an autobiography. Instead, he gave 22 hours of interviews to an Irish businessman Dermot Ryan in 1967 and 1968. The transcripts were given to The Irish Times and extracts from these interviews were published as a supplement in May 2018. They laid bare tensions in his relationship with long standing Taoiseach de Valera, his disdain for the IRA, his complicated relationship with Great Britain and much more.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 10, 2026
Political memoirs often end up feeling like carefully constructed exercises in legacy management. Lemass: A Lost Memoir does almost the opposite.
Compiled from a series of interviews conducted after his retirement, this book follows Seán Lemass from the sixteen-year-old volunteer who fought in the Easter Rising, through the Civil War and the loss of his brother Noel, to his election as a TD at twenty-four, becoming a cabinet minister at twenty-six, and eventually Taoiseach after more than three decades spent moving between some of the toughest ministerial portfolios in government.
What makes this book so fascinating is that it is not simply a record of what Lemass did, but an insight into how he thought. The memoir captures the evolution of a political mind over fifty years of public life. Lemass emerges as a practical socialist, a logical thinker and, above all else, a problem solver. He openly says that his favourite part of the job was sitting in his study working through economic problems and debating possible solutions with others. That mindset shaped almost every major decision of his career.
His relationship with Éamon de Valera was one of the most interesting parts of the book. Lemass admired De Valera's intellect and leadership, but also acknowledged the tensions between them as Ireland changed. He reflected honestly on wanting the Taoiseach position and being frustrated when De Valera delayed his departure from the role, only to later admit that once he had the job himself, he missed having De Valera there. It is a surprisingly human portrait of a complicated political partnership.
Lemass's approach to government was consistently pragmatic. He discussed Ireland's decision to join the European Economic Community as an economic necessity, arguing that Ireland needed to move beyond dependence on Britain and compete on a more equal footing internationally. He described his decision to meet with Terence O'Neill as a recognition that ignoring Stormont was no longer productive. Although he remained opposed to partition, he believed practical conversations were necessary to find solutions. His criticism of violence from the IRA in the North also reflected this practical mindset. Actions had to achieve something, not simply express a belief.
His observations on other leaders were another highlight. Lemass praised JFK's intelligence, broad outlook and ability to consider not only the immediate problem but also the historical causes, wider implications and future consequences. His reflections on the Cuban Missile Crisis were particularly fascinating. While visiting Germany, Lemass listened as Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer discussed taking a more aggressive response to the Soviet Union. Lemass did not intervene in the conversation, but privately found himself agreeing with Kennedy's more measured approach. His comparison with Harold Wilson was also revealing. While he respected Wilson's ability as a problem solver, he felt Wilson could sometimes be short-sighted, focusing on individual problems without always considering the wider picture and the consequences that might follow.
The interview format is the book's greatest strength. Lemass was sent the transcripts afterwards and changed almost nothing, adding only small clarifications. Even when discussing controversial topics, he did not attempt to rewrite history or soften his opinions. The result is a portrait that feels remarkably honest.
Perhaps the most revealing section comes at the end, when Lemass discusses his legacy. He says he does not particularly care what historians of the future think, because they will inevitably judge his decisions through the standards of another era and focus on his mistakes. Instead, he hoped his grandchildren would simply remember him as a "good sort of fellow" who dedicated his life to public service.
That modest ambition feels entirely consistent with the man who emerges throughout the book. Lemass helped transform Ireland's economy and modernise the country, but he certainly did not enrich himself. After retirement, he worried about ensuring Kathleen would be financially secure and took up company directorships partly because of those concerns. When he died, much of his estate was tied up in the family home. His integrity was not simply about being incorruptible, but about living in a way that made his integrity believable.
This is probably a five-star book for readers already familiar with twentieth-century Irish history rather than complete newcomers. For me, it was a fascinating portrait of a remarkably intelligent and deeply practical man
Compiled from a series of interviews conducted after his retirement, this book follows Seán Lemass from the sixteen-year-old volunteer who fought in the Easter Rising, through the Civil War and the loss of his brother Noel, to his election as a TD at twenty-four, becoming a cabinet minister at twenty-six, and eventually Taoiseach after more than three decades spent moving between some of the toughest ministerial portfolios in government.
What makes this book so fascinating is that it is not simply a record of what Lemass did, but an insight into how he thought. The memoir captures the evolution of a political mind over fifty years of public life. Lemass emerges as a practical socialist, a logical thinker and, above all else, a problem solver. He openly says that his favourite part of the job was sitting in his study working through economic problems and debating possible solutions with others. That mindset shaped almost every major decision of his career.
His relationship with Éamon de Valera was one of the most interesting parts of the book. Lemass admired De Valera's intellect and leadership, but also acknowledged the tensions between them as Ireland changed. He reflected honestly on wanting the Taoiseach position and being frustrated when De Valera delayed his departure from the role, only to later admit that once he had the job himself, he missed having De Valera there. It is a surprisingly human portrait of a complicated political partnership.
Lemass's approach to government was consistently pragmatic. He discussed Ireland's decision to join the European Economic Community as an economic necessity, arguing that Ireland needed to move beyond dependence on Britain and compete on a more equal footing internationally. He described his decision to meet with Terence O'Neill as a recognition that ignoring Stormont was no longer productive. Although he remained opposed to partition, he believed practical conversations were necessary to find solutions. His criticism of violence from the IRA in the North also reflected this practical mindset. Actions had to achieve something, not simply express a belief.
His observations on other leaders were another highlight. Lemass praised JFK's intelligence, broad outlook and ability to consider not only the immediate problem but also the historical causes, wider implications and future consequences. His reflections on the Cuban Missile Crisis were particularly fascinating. While visiting Germany, Lemass listened as Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer discussed taking a more aggressive response to the Soviet Union. Lemass did not intervene in the conversation, but privately found himself agreeing with Kennedy's more measured approach. His comparison with Harold Wilson was also revealing. While he respected Wilson's ability as a problem solver, he felt Wilson could sometimes be short-sighted, focusing on individual problems without always considering the wider picture and the consequences that might follow.
The interview format is the book's greatest strength. Lemass was sent the transcripts afterwards and changed almost nothing, adding only small clarifications. Even when discussing controversial topics, he did not attempt to rewrite history or soften his opinions. The result is a portrait that feels remarkably honest.
Perhaps the most revealing section comes at the end, when Lemass discusses his legacy. He says he does not particularly care what historians of the future think, because they will inevitably judge his decisions through the standards of another era and focus on his mistakes. Instead, he hoped his grandchildren would simply remember him as a "good sort of fellow" who dedicated his life to public service.
That modest ambition feels entirely consistent with the man who emerges throughout the book. Lemass helped transform Ireland's economy and modernise the country, but he certainly did not enrich himself. After retirement, he worried about ensuring Kathleen would be financially secure and took up company directorships partly because of those concerns. When he died, much of his estate was tied up in the family home. His integrity was not simply about being incorruptible, but about living in a way that made his integrity believable.
This is probably a five-star book for readers already familiar with twentieth-century Irish history rather than complete newcomers. For me, it was a fascinating portrait of a remarkably intelligent and deeply practical man
April 30, 2026
POV you're a man of integrity and accidentally facilitate Charlie Haughey.
October 1, 2026
Ireland's most admired leadee
Unlike many politicians Lemass never wrote his own autobiography. This book is set around a series of interviews he gave As such this is as close as you can get to what he thought of his life's works.
The book offers an insight into Irish history
Unlike many politicians Lemass never wrote his own autobiography. This book is set around a series of interviews he gave As such this is as close as you can get to what he thought of his life's works.
The book offers an insight into Irish history
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews