Neil Tully: The Visit

Neil Tully’s debut novel The Visit is set in June 1963, at the time of John F Kennedy’s momentous visit to New Ross. Against a backdrop of a country on the verge of profound social change and the magic that Kennedy’s visit creates, the novel explores themes of shame and redemption, love and marriage, progress, and what happens to those that progress leaves behind. The Visit has been published to great critical acclaim with Colm Tóibín calling it ‘brilliant and intriguing’. 

Sergeant Jim Field feels a guilty paternalism for Patrick Hatten, a young man struggling to find a job, a life and a purpose in a small-town Wexford community. Both are used to being on the fringes but while Jim is a romantic with bad health and regret, Patrick is full of anger and action, and his actions could have devastating effects. 

Neil will be in conversation with Jackie Lynam.