At Five in the Afternoon - Michael Murphy

Michael was born and raised in Castlebar, Co. Mayo and was educated at St. Patrick’s Primary School in Castlebar and then the Dominican College Secondary School in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

Most of us of know Michael Murphy as the award winning RTE producer/director and newscaster but Michael is also a psychoanalyst with a busy practice in Dublin. He has lectured in psychoanalysis at St.Vincent’s University Hospital and University College,Dublin. "At Five in the Afternoon" may be his first novel but it's not his first written work. In 1990 he wrote Reading the Poems for Desmond Egan – the Poet and his Work, edited by Professor Hugh Kenner. Again in 1998 he wrote a book-length study, The Road to the World, a Lacanian analysis of Desmond Egan’s collection, A Song for My Father.

The book was begun in St. Vincent’s University Hospital, within days of Michael’s prostatectomy operation in January, 2007. Writing the book, over the course of his recuperation, he says helped Michael with his difficult recovery. The book explores the themes of traumatic assault, mortality, endurance and redemption. "At Five in the Afternoon" is also full to the brim with interesting personalities in particular the women in Michael's life - it is as much their story as it is Michael's.

It took six-months to write "At Five in the Afternoon" but it would take nearly two years and 14 publishers for his memoir to find the right publishing house.

Michael lives in Dublin with his partner of 24 years, Terry O’Sullivan. He currently working on a follow up book to "At Five in the Afternoon".

At Five in the Afternoon is on sale in all good bookshops or to borrow in your local library.