Never shy of voicing his controversial opinions, Kevin Myers, The Irish Times columnist, has braved the critics - and outed himself as an old romantic.
His first novel Banks of Green Willow was launched last night at The Dublin Bookshop, on Grafton Street. The novel moves between the bedlam of the Bracken family in Ireland, small town life in Louisiana and the horrors of life for a young journalist in the Bosnian war. The author describes it as "an ode to love".
Treasa Coady, owner of the Irish publisher, Town House, said: "With Kevin the truth will always out. He is a highly opinionated columnist and there has to be a degree of bravery in putting a novel out there."
"He is a very brave journalist" said Bruce Arnold, retired literary editor of the Irish Independent. Novelist Peter Cunningham said: "I think the book is brilliant. It is very moving and it is a great achievement for him."
The novel is published by Simon & Schuster/Town House in hardback at £12.99p.