Cathal McCarron, left, has recently launched his autobiography about his struggles with addiction

In his opening shot column this week, John Hughes suggests that Cathal McCarron may have made a poor decision in publishing a book at this stage in his career.

Hughes says that the book ‘burns bridges’.

“Bravado is part of the way that Cathal carries himself. I imagine that embracing the project with total brute frankness was just an extension of that part of his persona.

“However, it’s hard to ignore the conclusion that the tendency to go all or nothing which has caused him and those close to him so much trouble is manifested in this book, in a different and less easily recoverable way.

“Put bluntly, I don’t think he has done himself any favours in this book.”

Read the entire article in the current issue of Gaelic Life. Get the online edition here