This is a delightful account of Sir John’s 90 years on this earth so far, written in his own inimitable way and illustrated from his scrap books. The son of a Irish Nationalist and an American beauty, Sir John or Jack as he’s known, was born in New York in 1916 and came to Ireland aged three. On his mother’s side, he was connected to American’s most influential and wealthy people including the Vanderbilts and Roosevelts; on his father’s he’s related to the Spencers, Wellingtons and Churchills.
As a young man, Jack had big ambitions including being Viceroy of India. But war interrupted his social whirl of debutante balls and house parties. He joined the Irish Guards but was captured and spent five years in German P.O.W. camps.
After the war, Jack returned to America starting with the New York society before hitchhiking across the continent. Rather than return to Castle Leslie, he moved to an old part of Rome to restore 16th Century houses and the Badia di San Sebastiano di Alatri – thought to be the oldest surviving monastery in Europe.
At the age of 78, he came home to Castle Leslie where just to keep things interesting, he took up night clubbing - even going to Ibiza for his 85th birthday. In 2002, his face was flashed across the world when he unwittingly commented on the planned wedding of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills by saying “It’s on Tuesday, but it’s a secret”.
To purchase a Jack's book 'Never a dull moment', click here to complete the enquiry form or call +353 (0)47 88100. It can also be purchased on www.amazon.co.uk