Life in Dublin today is so different from when I grew up there in the 1950s when my every thought and action was controlled by the church, the school, and my parents. Early indoctrination had led me to believe that these three pillars of society had my best interests at heart. Nothing could have been further from the truth and this devastating reality slowly revealed itself in the most painful ways.

I yearned for love and acceptance and, in my naivety, I became the quintessential people pleaser, hoping that this would endear me to people. But my efforts were in vain and, in the cruelest of ways, those closest to me took advantage of my willingness to please. But for a steadfast belief in myself and the dream that life could and would be better, I think I would have gone mad.

This is the story of a boy who would not allow his spirit be broken. The story of a man determined to break free.