Marty Whelan to Share his Magic Moments in his Memoir, 'That’s Life', this Autumn

Take a sneak peek behind the scenes at Marty’s book cover shoot with Barry McCall!

Marty Whelan is to join a long list of household names such as Mary O’Rourke, Gay Byrne, Des O’Malley, Jimmy Magee, Nöel Browne, Charlie Bird, Garret Fitzgerald and Éamon de Buitléar, by publishing his memoirs with Gill Books this October.

Marty signed the deal last Christmas, and in between his early morning show on RTÉ Lyric FM, Winning Streak and Eurovision madness, he has been looking back over his life, recalling the highs and lows of his high profile career and the defining moments in his life. But his book is not going to be an ordinary, chronological autobiography. Marty is taking inspiration from the songs that have had meaning in his life.

His publisher at Gill Books, Nicki Howard, says:

‘This book explores the big themes: love, heroes, family, friendship, music, childhood and spirituality, by way of Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney, The Three Degrees, Frank Sinatra and Andrea Bocelli. As we all know, Marty is a great man for the tangent, and this warm and funny memoir will take you from Sinatra to Nixon, from Montrose to Madame Butterfly, from Norman Wisdom to Eurovision, but it will always bring you back home again, through the eyes of one of our national treasures.’

The inspiration for the title comes from one of Marty’s all-time favourite songs, That’s Life by Frank Sinatra of which he says:

‘Frank Sinatra sang:

I’ve been a I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,
A poet, a pawn and a king
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing:
Each time I find myself layin’ flat on my face,
I just pick myself up and get back in the race.

‘Now that’s something I can relate to! I think readers will see me in a new light and I’ve been surprised by the emotions the writing process has stirred up in me. When you reflect back on your life, despite the ups and downs, it’s always the same things that get you through: love, family and friendship - and I never take any of that for granted. I didn’t think I would enjoy the writing process as much as I have and as we get near the final stages, I feel I’ll miss it somehow. Though it’s going to be great fun to get out and about the country meeting the readers.’

Marty Whelan was born in Dublin in 1956. Frequently seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, he has presented a variety of shows including Open House, Winning Streak and for 15 years in a row the Eurovision Song Contest. His popular weekday Lyric FM show, Marty in the Morning, features an upbeat mix of craic, banter, risqué jokes and great music to put a spring in your step. He lives in Malahide, Co Dublin with his wife, Maria, and two children, Jessica and Thomas.

Gill Books is a division of M.H. Gill & Co. Unlimited Company, Ireland’s largest publisher. Publishers of outstanding non-fiction in biography, cookery, history, current affairs, MBS, gift books, reference and lifestyle, its substantial list of successful authors includes Francis Brennan, Dermot Bannon, Darina Allen, Neven Maguire, Susan Jane White, Tony Bates and Dr Eva Orsmond. Significant publications include Soundings, The Extra Virgin Kitchen, Strumpet City, The Encyclopaedia of Ireland, The Irish Countrywomen’s Association series The Pope’s Children and Chapter One. Its origins date back to 1856 when MH Gill & Son, whose portfolio included printing and bookselling, was founded in Dublin. The bookshop, which stood on Dublin’s O’Connell Street for 123 years and is referenced in James Joyce’s Ulysses, can now be found online at www.gillbooks.ie.

That’s Life will be published by Gill Books in October 2015, priced at €22.99. For further information please contact Emma Lynam, Publicity Executive, Gill Books, 01 500 9506, elynam@gill.ie.