Unfulfilled Promise is a new book remembering Donogh O'Malley on the 40th anniversary of his sudden death.

Monday, 10 March 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the death of Donogh O'Malley, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick East and Minister for Education, who died suddenly at the age of just forty-seven. Never has an Irish minister made such an enduring impact, although O'Malley served in the Department of Education for only fourteen months. The free secondary education and school transport scheme he introduced in 1966-7 brought massive change to Ireland, easing the financial, social and psychological burdens of poorer families, both urban and rural. His reforms in education assuredly paved the way for the economic success of the Celtic Tiger a generation later.

A charismatic, brash, self-confident politician, DOM refused to be intimidated by a complacent civil service or by domineering Catholic Church figures. He was a man of vision, who preferred to push legislation through quickly - at times recklessly - when he believed it was for the benefit of the nation. Although a member of the wealthy O'Malley family in Limerick, he was revered by the poor in the city and found his greatest satisfaction in working on their behalf.

The tragedy for Limerick and for Ireland was that Donogh O'Malley died before fulfilling his political potential, leaving a wife, née Hilda Moriarty, and two teenage children. Had he lived, and become Taoiseach, the history of Ireland would have been substantially different.

Based on a series of interviews with those who knew O'Malley, Unfulfilled Promise reveals a thoughtful, generous and mischievous minister and the loneliness and apprehension of O'Malley in his final days. Among those interviewed about their relationship with O'Malley are Tony O'Dalaigh, who was O'Malley's private secretary, Michael Mills, politcial columnist and former ombudsman, Patrick Hillery, Senator Joe O'Toole, Desmond O'Malley, Con Houlihan and Donogh's actor son Daragh O'Malley.

Unfulfilled Promise: Memories of Donogh O'Malley will be published on Monday, 10 March 2008 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of his death.