Welcome to the Michael Murphy Website

This is the homepage of Michael Murphy, author of At Five in the Afternoon. I hope you will enjoy exploring this site where you can read an extract from my book, learn more about me, find out what the media and the public are saying about the book and keep up to date on news and events taking place.

If you have any comments about the book I would love to hear from you. Please visit the contact page where you will find details on how you can get in touch.

Michael Murphy

At five in the afternoon

“At Five in the Afternoon is] a beautiful, layered work about the importance of saying, about putting the world of the imagination into words that are true. The welcome home in [Michael’s] book is for all whose lives have been touched by the many forms of cancer. It is a true house of the gathering, where the strands and themes of his narrative congregate to offer hope and a way forward out of the darkness that surrounds.”

Mary Robinson first woman President of Ireland and former United Nations High commissioner for Human Rights, currently President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative

Latest News

Michael is in the process of completing his second book “The House of Pure Being”. It was his late publisher, Steve MacDonogh of Brandon, who asked him for “more of the same!” So Michael has brought forward the life-affirming stories of some of the characters who appeared in his memoir, and he has included many new poems as well, such as “The Poppy”, which drew such a heartfelt response from listeners to the John Murray Show on RTE Radio 1.

My publisher, Steve MacDonogh of Brandon Books, died suddenly on Wednesday, 17 November. He was 61. “At Five in the Afternoon” is his production. Terry and I, and my literary agent Emma, have been deeply saddened by his loss, and we extend our sympathies to Máire at Brandon, to the editor and the typesetter and all the publishing team who worked so closely with Steve. He is survived by his wife Meryam, their daughter Lilya, his mother Barbara, sister Deirdre and brother Terry, whom we met at his funeral in Dingle, Co Kerry.

Michael’s book was shortlisted for the John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice Award at the Irish National Book Awards on Nov. 25. “At Five in the Afternoon” was also shortlisted for the Argosy Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award.

Here is a short video of Michael reading his poem "The Poppy" on the John Murray Show, Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Michael was interviewed on the Joe Duffy’s Spirit Level on Sunday, 28 November.
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Michael was interviewed on TV3 Midweek with Colette Fitzpatrick on Wednesday 28 October 2009.
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Michael was interviewed on the Late Late show on RTE One on Friday 11th September 2009.
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