News
On this page you can read some of the great reviews for "In the Shadow of Men". You can also watch television appearances that were aired during the course of promoting the book. Radio interviews featuring "In the Shadow of Men" were also aired on LFM, EastCoast Radio, Country Mix, Newstalk, 4FM and Dublins 98 FM.
Girls Talk Back - Dublin City 103.2 FM, New Talent in Dublin
July 2010 - http://girlstalkback.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-talent-in-dublin.html
Dungarven Leader - March 2010 - In the Shadow of Men
Dungarven Observer - March 2010 - In the Shadow of Men
Sunday Times - 28 February 2010 - Review of In the Shadow of Men
Late Late Show - 29 January 2010 - Catch Valerie's appearance on the Last segment
http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/
The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin - 24th Febuary 2010
Catch Valerie's appearance
http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=19767&IocID=1.65.370
In the Shadow of Men details Valerie O'Brien's experiences in the Irish army. As one of the first female combat soldiers in the Irish infantry, she was horrified to discover just how much of a man's world the army was. The training was excruciating, and she had to fight hard to be seen as an equal. But Valerie, whose father and grandfather both had served in the army, passed with flying colours. Along the way, she married another soldier, Andy, and they had two children. When Valerie went on tours of duty to Lebanon and Eritrea, she first began to feel she had made a big mistake. She was exposed to sexual harassment, pornography, hate mail and intimidation. The struggle to be a mother and keep up her army career took its toll on her health and she developed an eating disorder, while her marriage also broke up. Finally, it became too much, and she left the army in 2007.
Is the Army any Place for a woman?
Valerie O’Brien was horrified to discover just how much of a “man’s world” the army was. As one of the first female combat soldiers in the Irish infantry, she suffered sexual harassment, isolation and depression. Behind her blonde façade lay a complex woman driven to succeed against the odds in a macho environment. Ultimately, her ambition would cost her dearly. Little did she know what she was letting herself in for. The training was excruciating, and she had to fight hard to be seen as an equal with the men. But she passed with flying colours. Along the way, she met and married Andy, another soldier, and they had two children. Being separated from her young son, Alex, for six months during her trip to Eritrea was also heartbreaking for her. The struggle to be a mother and keep up her army career took its toll on her health and she developed an eating disorder, viral encephalitis and fibromyalgia (ME), while her marriage also broke up. Finally, it became too much, and she left the army in 2007. She is now a qualified beautician – a far cry from army fatigues, punishing training and the shadow of men.
Review from Irish Independent
A Debate on Sexism and Feminism - The Working Girl featuring Valerie O'Brien
The Cork News Issue. no21
Irish Independent - In the Shadow of Men
www.independent.ie/.../breaking-ranks-on-dark-side-of-army-life-2052011.html
Stellar Magazine - Review "In the Shadow of Men"
April 2010 edition