Miriam O'Callaghan to tell of 'worst year of life' as she releases first memoir
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RTE star Miriam O'Callaghan has revealed she is set to release her first memoir.
Miriam: Life, Work, Everything will be published on October 30 and will be the Prime Time host's first book. The mum-of-eight is set to dish details on her personal life and fascinating insights into a career that has given her a ringside seat to a changing Ireland.
Speaking about her memoir, Miriam admitted it has taken 20 years to write and she is set to tell all about "the worst year of my life" in 1995. She said: "I have written my memoir, I can't believe I am saying that. It's 20 years since Sandycove first sent me a contract - let's just say, it's taken a while!
"I thank them for their patience, persistence and belief in my story. I have always lived my life in fast forward, so I never thought I would have the time to look back and reflect.
"I also reflect on the worst year of my life, 1995, my BC and AD - the year that forced me to rethink everything. I also wondered if anyone would be interested. Then one day not that long ago - with a prompt from Patricia Deevy - I decided I would write it, because if I didn't write it now, I might never do so."
The Dubliner said she thought the book would focus solely on her work as a Journalist but instead she will open up about her family life also. "At first I thought it would just be about my work as a journalist, but then when I began writing I realised how impossible it was to separate my professional and personal lives.
"I don't know if that's because I'm a woman or a mother or both or none of those things, but I just knew that for my story to be authentic and truthful, I couldn't simply focus on the work side of my life.
"My career in broadcast journalism over four decades has mirrored a profoundly changed Ireland and I have been lucky enough to have had an eyewitness view. It was a privilege to cover the peace process for both the BBC and RTÉ, and at times it has been emotional looking back.
"Major career moments include: presenting on the days of both the Good Friday Agreement and when we all voted by a whopping majority on this island for peace; campaigning for John Hume to be voted as 'Ireland's Greatest' person in 2010; presenting the Marriage Referendum results from Dublin Castle in 2015 and my interview with Leo Varadkar that same year when he was the first cabinet minister in the history of our country to come out as a gay man.
"When members of the public come up to me, they will often ask about certain programmes or interviews I have done, but more often than not they, usually women, quickly segue into asking me about having eight children and how I managed to hold down a big career, so that's why my story is about life, work and everything."
But Miriam said she is "very nervous" about telling her story to the public. "In truth I am nervous about telling my story - it's probably why it took me so long to write it. All I can hope is that people will read it and find it interesting, authentic, entertaining and hopeful."
Patricia Deevy, Deputy Publisher at Sandycove, said: "I am thrilled and honoured Miriam chose Sandycove as the home for her wonderful memoir.
"She is a one-off as a journalist, broadcaster and all-round legend, and her book is a one-off too. It has been a joy working with her on it.
"As the subtitle says, 'Miriam' covers life, work and everything in between. Having finally decided to tell her story, Miriam approached it with characteristic wholeheartedness, and she writes with such candour, intelligence and generosity that readers will be totally captivated."
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