This is Charlie Bird

Charlie Bird has been at the heart of every big news event over the last twenty-five years, breaking exclusive stories and interviewing presidents and prime ministers. In his autobiography he tells his own story and reveals how he has become one of Ireland's best-known journalists.

Charlie Bird has made his name as a front-of-camera reporter covering the news as it happens, from wherever it happens. During his career as a news journalist he reported on the upheavals of the Haughey / FitzGerald years through to the governments of Albert Reynolds, John Bruton and Bertie Ahern.

Charlie Bird was RTE's contact with the IRA and now for the first time he reveals the background to his meetings with leading republicans in the lead-up to the 1994 and 1997 ceasefire declarations.

He also recalls the investigation which exposed wrong-doing at National Irish Bank and the resulting stress of being involved in Ireland s longest libel case.

He gives an insight into his foreign travels including the trial of Father Niall O Brien in the Philippines, the release of Brian Keenan, meeting Nelson Mandela when he voted in the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa, and the Asian tsunami in 2004.

Today Charlie is one of the best-known faces on Irish TV. In telling his story, he goes beyond the news agenda to tell his own personal story, his family background and Dublin childhood as well as the difficulties that have arisen when he became part of the media story himself.

It s well worth a read Irish Times

Real contemporary history, told from the man who articulated and therefore shaped the history as it happened Irish Examiner

***** RTE Guide

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