In Bed with the Blueshirts

(Paperback, Main)

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Description

Cabinet minister Shane Ross reveals the bitter internal battles fought with the old Blueshirts the crises when the coalition came close to collapse and the sometimes fraught personal relationships between the fifteen figures who made up the last government.

He recounts how a group of Independents risked everything to form a government that was expected to last for only months but which ran for more than four years under two Taoisigh with utterly different styles. With great humour and charm Ross reveals the skulduggery the secret deals the drama of how Irish football was rescued and lympic chief Pat Hickey toppled showing us what really happens behind the closed doors of Ireland's government.

Reviews

In the small anecdotes and pen pictures, he achieves what a most skilled diarist should - subtle illustration of the
momentous through the seemingly trivial. And, of course, it is all highly entertaining...As Irish political memoirs go, Ross sets a new high bar here.

* Irish Mail on Sunday *
[E]ntertaining, honest and truly reflective. Shane Ross has shone a light on many dusty corners of Irish political life, and throughout the pages his humour, his acceptance and his acumen shine through. -- Mary O'Rourke * Galway Advertiser *
In his racy and entertaining memoir...Ross blasts open the door into the inner workings of Cabinet * Irish Examiner *
...a breezy and engaging account of his four years at the Cabinet table. It covers his failures, successes and multiple slip-ups, and provides laugh-out-loud moments for any reader. -- David Murphy * RTE Culture *
In Bed With The Blueshirts may not enhance your confidence in Irish politics, but it will lighten the gloom of the pandemic. -- Pat Rabbitte * Sunday Business Post *
This is a well-written book that moves along at a good pace. It is a personal memoir that does not seek to vilify those who opposed Ross, nor to claim infallibility for his own views. He may portray himself as the outsider, but ultimately he shows a great liking for his colleagues of all hues. -- Richard Bruton * Irish Independent *
This is a book worth reading...well written and entertaining * The Phoenix *
He has written one of the best Irish political memoirs, bulging with casually shared nuggets and indiscretions, chiefly but not exclusively his own. * Village magazine *

Author Bio

Shane Ross was born in Dublin, educated at St Stephen's School Dundrum, Rugby School in England and Trinity College Dublin. He has been a stockbroker, a journalist, a politician and an author. He wrote the number-one bestseller The Bankers and co-authored, with journalist Nick Webb, Wasters and The Untouchables. Shane was Business Editor of the Sunday Independent for over sixteen years, winning the Journalist of the Year award in 2009. He was a member of the Seanad for 29 years before taking a Dil seat in 2011. In 2016, he became Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, serving in government for over four years. He lost his Dil seat in the 2020 election.