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Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Irish Times
A Joycean mystery is mapped out in London as Bloomsday looms
The delightfully-British historian and author Dominic Selwood threw it in at the end of our interview. We had been discussing his country's national identity. 'One more thing,' he said with a sheepish little chuckle. 'My father-in-law won't forgive me unless I mention it to The Irish Times. You see, he found this rather interesting atlas.' I didn't know what to expect when, a few weeks later, I arrived at his father-in-law Tim Johnson's house on the leafy north London road to which I had been directed. As I walked up the garden path, I hoped this wasn't a metaphor for my trip. As it turned out, it wasn't. He really had found a rather interesting atlas. If only Joyceans , as they prepare for Bloomsday next week, would agree. READ MORE I sat for tea with Johnson, a pioneering Fleet Street technology journalist in the 1960s, and his wife Patricia. Their fine old house was adorned with books and art, but in a quaint, restrained fashion: more wisdom than ostentation on display. I liked its English charm. Johnson's atlas, meanwhile, was imbued with literary Irishness. He acquired it when the couple were on holidays in Dublin in 2019. Johnson, in keeping with his bookish mores, decided to read James Joyce's meandering opus, Ulysses, while on the trip. Not exactly light holiday fare, but apposite all the same. [ I re-read Ulysses after 45 years. It did not go well Opens in new window ] The couple took a trip on the Dart out to Sandycove to see its museum and James Joyce Tower. Staff gave them some Joycean tips and sent them up the hill to Fitzgerald's pub. After lunch, Johnson spotted Eamonn's Bookshop across the road. As a collector of old maps, he wandered in to see if it had any. 'Just the one,' said the shopkeeper. He pulled down an old imperial atlas from 1903 and sold it to Johnson for €5. He flipped through its various map plates on the Dart back to town. He noticed little marks in certain places – not unusual in such an old document. When he flipped to a map of ancient Italy, he saw marks on places such as Tarentum and Asculum, site of a famous battle in the Pyrrhic wars mentioned early in Ulysses. Johnson later discovered dozens more marks on places he felt could be linked to Joyce and Ulysses. Several seaside towns were marked on the map of England in blue crayon; Joyce was known for using crayon when he worked. He wrote a letter in 1904, the year after the atlas was printed, about his wish to make a tour of English coastal towns. Johnson found a crayon mark on the Tipperary town of Cappoquin, mentioned in Ulysses as the home of Molly Bloom's first lover. Others were on places in Afghanistan that he linked to soliloquies in Ulysses. Who could have made these old marks? A fan of Joyce's work? With little else to do during the pandemic, Johnson took a deep dive into the elite world of Joycean scholarship. He wrote a journal paper on the possibility that Joyce, who briefly taught in Dalkey's Clifton School near Sandycove in 1904, may have used the atlas himself. The timing fits; Joyce was known to study the world; and the bookshop conceded it was possible it acquired the atlas after a clear-out by someone linked to a nearby school. It isn't easy to link the marks to the writing of Ulysses – Joyce didn't start on it for another decade. Johnson believes he may have used the atlas to mark spots that interested him, later recalling them as a 'mother of memory' when writing the book. 'Here is Joyce, in my view, sitting down and thinking 'what am I going to do with my life?'' he said. An interesting theory that is, as he concedes, possibly unprovable. It cannot be disproved either, he said with a glint in his eye. Johnson returned to Dublin in 2023 to film interviews with sceptical scholars, including a lovely meeting with former senator and über-Joycean, David Norris. He agreed it could have been the kind of imperial atlas used at Clifton. Yet when Johnson suggested Joyce may have marked it himself, Norris looked at him like he might be faintly mad. The story of the map, its marks, how Johnson found it and his theories are detailed in a new website – – launched in time for Bloomsday on Monday. Johnson hopes to spark debate among Joyceans about what he believes is an exciting find. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Maybe that's not the point at all. Joyce was a purveyor of stories. The best stories have that little hint of mystery. Later, I looked a little further in Johnson's story. He told me he was a consultant after he quit journalism. He didn't say he had set up several successful businesses, including research firm Ovum, later bought by Datamonitor for £42 million. That surely made a few investors happy. [ Ulysses and me – Frank McNally and his long relationship with Joyce's greatest book Opens in new window ] We all go on journeys. Joyce had his. Johnson, when he should have his feet up, seems to be enjoying yet another.
Dublin Live
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Miriam O'Callaghan to tell of 'worst year of life' as she releases first memoir
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Miriam O'Callaghan to tell of 'worst year of life' as she releases first memoir
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."
The Irish Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘I am nervous about telling my story' says RTE icon as she prepares to launch long-awaited memoir
RTE legend Miriam O'Callaghan has announced that she is finally set to release her long-awaited memoir. The popular presenter will lift the lid on her outstanding life and career in her new book Miriam: Life, Work, Everything, which is set to hit shelves on October 30, 2025. 2 Miriam is finally set to release her long-awaited memoir 2 The book is being published in October The book is being published by Sandycove, an imprint of Penguin Random House and it'll be available in print, e-book and audio. The 65-year-old also hosts an award-winning radio show Sunday With Miriam on RTE Combining career success, glamour and being a mother-of-eight is what makes Miriam a truly unique figure in Irish public life. READ MORE ON MIRIAM In her absorbing memoir, Miriam shares touching stories from her personal life and fascinating insights into a career that has given her a ringside seat to a changing Ireland. Opening up about the new book, she said: "I have written my memoir, I can't believe I am saying that." The radio star revealed that it's been more than 20 years since Sandycove first sent her a contract. She said: "Let's just say, it's taken a while. I thank them for their patience, persistence and belief in my story." MOST READ IN THE IRSIH SUN Miriam admitted that she has always lived life in "fast forward" and never thought she'd stop long enough to "look back and reflect". She said: "I also wondered if anyone would be interested", but that changed when she received a prompt from editor Patricia Deevey. Miriam O'Callaghan shares snaps from Paddy's Day celebrations The Miriam initially thought the book would just focus on her work but she quickly realised that her professional and personal lives couldn't be separated. She said: "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." Over a four decade career, Miriam has fronted some of the biggest stories in Irish history. 'NERVOUS' She said: "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 RTE, and at times it has been emotional looking back." Among her "major career moments" are presenting on the days of both the Good Friday Agreements and the 2015 Marriage Referendum. She also recalled interviewing Leo Varadkar in the same year he became the first cabinet minister in Ireland to come out as gay, as well as campaigning for John Hume to become 'Ireland's Greatest' in 2010. But it hasn't all been positive for Miriam as she admitted: "I also reflect on the worst year of my life, 1995, my BC and AD — the year that forced me to rethink everything." The mum-of-eight revealed she's often approached by members of the public and it's not always to talk about politics or interviews. She explained: "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." Despite decades in the spotlight, Miriam has said: "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."
RTÉ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Miriam O'Callaghan to publish her memoir this October
Journalist and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan has said she is "really nervous" about telling her life story as she announced the publication of her memoir later this year. The 65-year-old Dubliner will publish Life, Work Everything with Penguin Books Ireland on 30 October. In a post on her Instagram account, the Prime Time and Sunday with Miriam presenter said: "So this is happening. I can't actually believe I have written my book. Let's just say it's taken a while, I first got a contract from @penguinbooksireland Sandycove twenty years ago. "I was always so busy, I still am, but with a prompt from my ace Sandycove editor Patricia Deevy, I decided to do it. If not now, when I thought. Initially planned as a look back at her journalism career, Miriam soon realised "it was impossible to separate the personal and professional parts of my life". The memoir will explore key moments from her life and career - from covering elections, referendums and national tragedies on Prime Time, to her family life as a mother of eight.
