Just Garret: Tales from the Political Front Line

In this personal memoir, the twice former Taoiseach speaks candidly of his family life, his experience and his estimation of the many national and international figures he has encountered through his long and distinguished career.

Dr. FitzGerald writes frankly about his upbringing, his parents, his involvement in the Independence movement, their disagreements about the Treaty, his early years in school and college and his gradual entry into politics. He reflects honestly on his time as minister for Foreign Affairs, and later on his tenure as Taoiseach.

The book includes new material and opinion on key figures such as Charles Haughey, Margaret Thatcher and John Major, as well as his role in the emerging peace in Northern Ireland, Ireland's role in the EU and Garret's advocacy in the referendas on the European Union also feature. His memoir gently lifts the layers of his public life back to reveal a much-cherished family life and the huge influence his wife Joan had on his career, rendering a portrait of an informal, humane and witty person who was an ever compelling voice in Irish public affairs right up until his passing in May, 2011.

Dr Garret FitzGerald was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1973 to 1977, was twice Taoiseach, from June 1981 to March 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987, and was a driving force behind the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. Dr FitzGerald, a graduate in History, French and Spanish, and a barrister, taught in the Political Economy Department at UCD for fourteen years, having spent the earlier part of his career in Aer Lingus. Until recently Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, he has sat on the boards of several major public and private organisations. In addition to delivering lectures and acting as a consultant all over the world, he has been a columnist for the Irish Times since 1954 and a regular contributor to various journals and political magazines.