| Collins Book Deal |
Collins book-deal with one of Ireland’s most popular broadcasters. Collins’ Jenny Heller has agreed a two-book deal with the Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy of RTE Radio One and RTE One Television. Jenny Heller, Editorial Director for Collins bought the book for a six-figure sum from Noel Kelly, CMS Management. The first book is scheduled for publication autumn 2010 and will cover John F Kennedy’s final visit to Ireland, which he famously described as the best four days of his life.Heller says: “Collins is absolutely thrilled to be publishing Ryan Tubridy. He’s not only one of Ireland’s most popular broadcasters, he has that magic combination of intellect, curiosity and a common touch which reaches out to an incredibly broad audience. I can’t imagine anyone better to translate this important and exciting event in Irish history into a compelling, engaging read.” Ryan Tubridy says: “Kennedy breathed life and colour into a sterile and bleak island. He was ‘change’, he was the future and he was ‘ours’.” Kennedy visited Ireland in June 1963 when he came to see the country of his forefathers and meet the relatives with whom he felt a strong connection. Ireland was more than just a geographical entity in the mind of JFK, and the Irish connection was powerful and important to him. Tubridy, who also has close familial associations with the Kennedy family, describes the visit as the closest Ireland came to Beatlemania. Nobody predicted the effect that a visit to the so-called ‘home country’ would have on the guest and so lastingly on the hosts. The book will not only encompass Kennedy's visit, but will paint the backdrop for the social, political and economic climate of the time, the hope of a generation, and an Irish public who were striving for a better life and who found generations’ worth of inspiration in their American cousin. For more information, please contact Stina Smemo on stina.smemo@harpercollins.co.uk |
Ryan Tubridy
 |
Ryan Tubridy is a television and radio presenter on Radio Telefis Eireann in Ireland. Read More |
Log in
John F Kennedy
June 28th, 1963
"I am grateful for your welcome and for that of your countrymen...."
Irish Parliment Speech