Personals

Originally from County Clare, but living in Cork, Brian O'Connell is a multi-award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, best known for his work on Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTE Radio 1. He has a particular passion for social issues and human-interest stories and is known for tackling often difficult and diverse subjects. His previous book Wasted addressed Ireland's relationship with alcohol.

Nominated for the Irish Book Awards’ Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year. ‘In this quirky, insightful adventure, Brian O’Connell finds the humanity behind the typeface.’– Ryan Tubridy‘A fantastic collection’ – The Today Show with Sean O’Rourke, RTE Radio 1‘It’s good to know that the classifieds continue to thrive, because, as O’Connell shows, that is where history with a lower-case h will always be found, one small ad at a time.’ – Irish Times‘Charming and often moving … The Personals is full of great stories – from sad to quirky to funny to, the odd time, baffling – as Brian tracks down the back-story to such unusual items-for-sale as a pair of monkeys, Leaving Cert notes, a cross-dressing dress-up service, German Army helmets from World War I and a bulletproof car, among more mundane objects. In other words, life in all its madness and glory.’ – RTE Guide‘A charming and moving look at the world of personal ads.’ – Martin Doyle, Irish Times‘A great read, full of moving, often funny, stories.’ – Irish Examiner‘Warm, wry and insightful’ Sunday Times Ireland edition‘Entertaining and poignant reading’– Echo‘An utterly lovely gift idea.’ – Woman’s Way