Fearless! : Vincent Browne's Magill and Ireland in the 1980s

How one fearless magazine told the story of modern Ireland.

This book is not just the story of a magazine. It’s the history of a crucial and contentious decade in Irish life. The 1980s were years of political turbulence, economic decline and bitter referendums on abortion and divorce. Magill and its founding editor, Vincent Browne, was at the heart of all these stories. Kevin Rafter uncovers the drama behind Magill from its launch in 1977 to becoming the magazine that the Sunday Times said dragged Irish journalism out of its ‘comfortable, questioning dullness’. Magill was home to great writing and explosive investigations. Many exceptional journalists made an impression on the pages of the magazine including Colm Tóibín, Fintan O’Toole, Brian Trench and John Waters, who each filled the editor’s seat at different times in these rollercoaster years. Drawing on extensive interviews and rich archival material, Fearless! reveals a society in upheaval and one magazine’s ambition to hold those in power to account for Ireland’s future.  ‘Magill excited, and there was great loyalty. It was never just a job.’ - Colm Tóibín‘People saw the magazine as having authority.’ - Fintan O’Toole‘Magill was fashionable and it had Vincent Browne.’ - Eamon Dunphy‘Are there words to describe Vincent Browne?’ - Olivia O’Leary‘He was a dictator.’ - John Waters‘It was an investigative magazine that held to account people in power, the Church, people in politics, in business and in the media. We tried to do that. Sometimes we did it well.’ - Vincent Browne