That’s Life – Marty Whelan’s Memoir: A Life through Music

From Norman Wisdom to Eurovision and everything in between, a lively and entertaining memoir from one of Ireland’s best-loved personalities.

Throughout the highs and lows of a 30-year career as one of Ireland’s best-loved radio and television personalities, Marty Whelan has always remained upbeat, with a determination for survival and an enthusiasm for life.

In this warm and witty memoir, Marty takes inspiration from the songs that have had meaning in his life as he explores some 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 Madama Butterfly.

Although he is one of Ireland’s national treasures, Marty has never stopped being a fan himself. That’s Life describes his many wonderful adventures, up close and personal with his own heroes: getting to bring his beloved mum to tea with her idol Norman Wisdom, forgetting how to speak on coming face-to-face with Al Pacino, entertaining Spike Milligan and dancing in the dark with Bruce Springsteen.

And yet at the heart of the book is the story of the man himself, from growing up as an only child to his brief spell in a band (that couldn’t write any songs), from dating in Dublin in the seventies to leaving his insurance job during lunch hour for his first broadcasting gigs on pirate radio, and on to the many family highs and occasional heartaches.

A great man for the tangent – you’ll find you have to stop off a few times for the odd joke – Marty will take you on a whirlwind journey through a life fully lived, but most of all a life filled with love, laughter, family and friendship.