Leo: A Very Modern Taoiseach

By Philip Ryan and Niall O'Connor

Leo Varadkar’s rise to the office of Taoiseach is a remarkable tale from any perspective, taking in personal struggle and political intrigue. The son of an Indian immigrant, this outspoken young politician came out as gay amid the full glare of Ireland’s media, before orchestrating a secret two-year campaign to become leader of the country. Along the way, he put his political career on the line to defend police whistleblowers and survived an internal party purge after backing the loser in a failed leadership heave against Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

Now, in this first full-length biography, journalists Philip Ryan and Niall O’Connor provide the definitive account of the most talked-about Irish politician in decades. Family, friends and colleagues have provided exclusive behind-the-scenes detail on Varadkar’s meteoric rise to power, painting an intimate portrait of the man shaping Ireland’s future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Biteback Publishing
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781785903724

Philip Ryan

Philip Ryan is political correspondent for the Sunday independent, Irish Independent, Herald and independent.ie.