JONATHAN Irwin, who is now best known nationwide as the man who, following the tragic death of his son Jack at 22 months old, set up the Jack & Jill Foundation so that other parents would not have to go through the hardship his family did to nurse their sick child at home.

The story of Jonathan’s life has now been published by Mercier Press with the title Jack & Jill: The Story of Jonathan Irwin. This chronicles the author’s early life and background and then moves onto coverage of his 35 successful years in the racing industry and includes a testimonial from John Magnier on Irwin’s innovative drive including his involvement with the Cartier Million. As can be imagined, the book is full of colour as Irwin’s involvement with the early days of Ryanair, with Goffs, including at the time of the kidnapping of Shergar, his time as head of the Dublin Sports Council, instrumental in bringing the Tour de France to Ireland for the first time in 1997, are all rattled off in his bon vivant style.