"Dignity was our most valuable possession." Joe Duffy is a household name in Ireland. As the presenter of RTE Radio One's "Liveline" programme, he takes the pulse of the Irish nation every day, often delving into highly controversial topics. Whenever somebody wants to get something off their chest, the advice is often: "Talk to Joe". Writing with raw honesty, Joe here recounts his difficult upbringing in working-class Ballyfermot. He paints a poignant, heart-breaking picture of family life with a hard-drinking father and hard-working mother. Aspirations for a better life were rarely encouraged in Ballyfermot. Despite this, Joe was determined to escape to a different future. He became one of the first from his area to enter the hallowed halls of Trinity College Dublin, where he developed a strong sense of social justice, eventually becoming President of the Union of Students in Ireland, leading protests on campus highlighting access to education and spending two weeks in Mountjoy Jail as a result.
After a stint working in the probation service, Joe eventually moved into a career in broadcasting, working first as producer and then roving reporter on "The Gay Byrne Show", before finally finding his niche on "Liveline". The book highlights the major stories and controversies raised by the programme, including child abuse and scandals in the Irish health service. It also deals with controversial issues such as the shocking death in 2010 of Joe's friend and fellow broadcaster Gerry Ryan. This is a riveting, deeply felt and fascinating memoir which goes behind the public face of Joe Duffy to reveal a complex, passionate man.
