O'Leary, Declan

Declan was educated by the Christian Brothers in Drimnagh, a working class area in South Dublin, where he grew up. Alienated by the inequality all around him, he became a socialist, playing a leading role in promoting left-wing politics while at college. Later he became disillusioned while on a trip to East Germany. Despite this, he returned a year later, falling in love with a beautiful Polish girl and starting married life in East Berlin. His memoir: "An Unfolding Love Story" tells the story of this passionate romance.