Never Better: My Life in Our Times

by Tommie Gorman

'Money is handy for doing messages' was a phrase the young Tommie Gorman heard from his father, growing up in Sligo in the 1960s. Struggle was never far away but their household had a surplus of love and warmth. From modest beginnings as a local reporter at the Western Journal, where his deadlines were dependent on the bus schedule, Tommie landed at RTÉ , taking up the post of North-West correspondent in 1980. Over the next four decades he became a familiar presence in Irish homes, known for his coverage of Europe and Northern Ireland, as well as his unforgettable interviews with controversial figures including Gerry Adams, Roy Keane, Ian Paisley and Arlene Foster. While revelling in his life as a journalist, he was also coping with the cancer diagnosis he received in 1994 and seeking ways to access life-saving treatments for patients who shared his rare form of the disease. In this insightful and generous book, Tommie takes readers behind the scenes and shares some of his memories from Sligo to Stormont, via Brussels and Sweden, as he recounts forty extraordinary years of Irish history from his front-row seat and looks at what may lie ahead for the island.

Genres: Memoir

384 pages, Hardcover

Published December 29, 2022

Reviews

[Martin Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a brilliant book that I enjoyed reading, Tommie takes you through the last 40 years of the political world of Ireland North and South and also the EU,telling who done what and who said what,also talks about growing up in Sligo and his family history, highly recommend it

[Ben Hegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who has followed Tommie Gorman in more recent years via RTE, I was keen to read this. It actually helped fill in a lot of gaps in my knowledge of NI history from my younger years. I found it to be a bit hard to read in the first few chapters as it jumped from one thing to another but after that the chapters are more coherent and focused on a theme. It's not chronological as such but is pretty easy to follow. I love the humanity of Tommie that shines in the book. He passed away only a few months ago, which made reading the book even more meaningful. A great man who did much for Irish journalism on both sides of the border. An excellent narrative, particularly if you're keenly interested in politics like myself. An easy yet immensely enjoyable read! Highly recommend!

[Vincent Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story and a life-experience record of the many challenges that Tommie Gorman was forced to face because of his unfortunate illnesses which he tackled with courage and dignity.

His early childhood memories in Sligo and his journey into journalism and the trust and respect he earned was richly deserved and he could mix it with the mighty and famous without losing his solid Sligo grounding.

A very informative and pleasant read.
I wish I had known Tommie Gorman.
We are much poorer without him.

[Sandra Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Tommie Gorman was a Northern Ireland correspondent for Irish press and television, the book provides an interesting account of the Troubles and their aftermath. He takes us through the early days of the European Union up to Brexit.
I lived through this and saw his reports. It was a great refresher, and he added details about Brexit and about present NI, which were new to me since I left Galway and moved to Canada

[Irl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Tommie's reading of his book (apart from the accents he put on from time to time for Boris Johnson etc.) A great behind the scenes look at the stories and events Tommie covered in Europe and Northern Ireland. He has a very engaging way of weaving in his family and native Sligo. It is clear he loves football. His star gazing at the end regarding Irish unity in the future is thought provoking. Highly recommended.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight of the life and times of Tommie Gorman. Not in chorological order so going back and forward in his life.