Timely new book from Mayo author - Ireland’s Breaking Point
THREE weeks ago, the nation went to the polls in what many are calling the most contentious election in the history of the state. As the dust settles on the inauguration of President Catherine Connolly, the atmosphere across the country remains charged. The ballot box may have delivered a result, but it has not delivered unity.
Into this landscape drops a timely and vital new book: Ireland’s Breaking Point, by Mayo-based Brian Bakeberg.
Released just in time for the festive season, Bakeberg’s work feels less like a history book and more like an urgent diagnostic report on the very pulse of the nation. For those struggling to understand how the political landscape shifted this past month, this book offers the answers.
Bakeberg, a South African-born entrepreneur who made Ireland his home in 2018, offers a unique vantage point. Having witnessed the transition of a divided South Africa, he identifies uncomfortable parallels in modern Ireland - specifically the "cold house" created by the housing emergency and the widening chasm of inequality.
The book is structured in three parts: The Launch, The Storm, and The Landing.
It is in The Storm where readers will find the context for the recent election turmoil. Bakeberg dissects the "silent wars" of social control, the erosion of trust in public institutions (Chapter 19), and the rise of political polarisation (Chapter 16) that defined the recent campaign trails.
However, as President Connolly prepares to take office, it is the final section of the book, The Landing, that offers the most value. Bakeberg does not just list our failures; he provides a blueprint for how we fix them. He argues for a 'Deliberative Republic' - a new way of doing politics that moves beyond the tribalism seen in recent times to finding common ground on housing, climate, and justice.
“The breaking point through which we are living is not a verdict; it is a choice,” Bakeberg writes. “This is a moment for Ireland to reflect, listen, and act together.”
As families gather this Christmas - often around dinner tables where political opinions differ - Ireland’s Breaking Point serves as the perfect conversation starter. It is a book for the student locked out of the housing market, for the parents worried about healthcare, and for the citizen concerned about the future of Irish democracy.
SIGNED COPIES
In a special offer for the holiday season, the author has partnered with Irish retailer Buy the Book. Copies ordered via the platform will be personally signed by the author, making this an ideal gift for the history buff or political observer in your life.
The election is over, but the story of where Ireland goes next is just beginning. Ireland’s Breaking Point is the essential guide for that journey.
Order your signed copy today at Buythebook.ie or find it on Amazon.