George Fitzgerald
| George Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 Ballymun,[citation needed] Dublin, Ireland |
| 💼 Occupation | Author, musician, filmmaker |
| Known for | D11 Runners, autobiographical books |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Sandra Fitzgerald[citation needed] |
| 👶 Children | 2 |
George Fitzgerald (born 1964) is an Irish author, musician, and filmmaker from the Ballymun and Finglas areas of Dublin in Ireland. He is best known for his autobiographical books and as a founding member of the 1980s soul/funk band D11 Runners.
Raised in Ballymun and later Finglas South, Fitzgerald began his creative career as a boxer[clarification needed] before turning to music with his twin brother Joseph, the band's lead singer. The D11 Runners achieved national success with singles such as "I Surrender" and "Yeah! Yeah!",[clarification needed] and were reputedly an inspiration for the book by Roddy Doyle The Commitments (novel).
Following his brother's death in 2012, Fitzgerald shifted his focus to writing and filmmaking, publishing autobiographical and fiction works including We Lived in the Sky, The Ticking Clock, Somebody Up There Likes Me Too, and The Promise Maker. His work often draws from his upbringing in Dublin’s inner city. He has also produced historical documentaries and a series of audiobooks, blending personal history with wider social commentary.[citation needed]
D11 Runners
The D11 Runners were a Dublin-based soul and funk band formed in the mid-1980s, featuring George Fitzgerald and his twin brother Joseph. The band was managed by Louis Walsh, and they were friends with Christy Dignam, the lead singer of the Irish rock band Aslan.[citation needed]
They are widely believed[by whom?] to have inspired Roddy Doyle's novel The Commitments (novel), which was later adapted into a film of the same name The Commitments (film) directed by Alan Parker. George Fitzgerald and his brother met with Roddy Doyle in a café to share the story of how they started the band. Doyle used their story as the foundation for his book, which was published a year later, followed by the film adaptation the year after.[citation needed]
At their peak, the D11 Runners were on the cusp of major success, with a record deal reportedly on the table with EMI.[citation needed] They enjoyed considerable popularity, performing for audiences as large as 80,000 people in Phoenix Park, and scored hit singles in both Ireland and the UK.[citation needed]
However, after the release of The Commitments—a film inspired by the D11 Runners' story—the band’s momentum suffered.[original research?] They became overshadowed, often relegated to opening or side acts for the Commitments band during tours. While the movie brought widespread attention to the genre and story, it inadvertently diminished the buzz around the actual band, stalling their rise despite their early promise.[original research?]
Religious conversion and evangelism
As a young man, George Fitzgerald experienced a religious conversion while working as a plasterer at St. Mark's Church in Dublin on Pearse Street.[tone] According to Fitzgerald, a member of the church approached him and offered to pray for him, which he later described as a life-changing moment, saying, "It was like heaven opened up". Following this experience, Fitzgerald became sober and began devoting his life to Christian ministry.[citation needed]
He became a street evangelist, active in some of Dublin’s most deprived and dangerous neighborhoods.[citation needed] He entered drug dens and broken-down flats, confronting addicts and gang members, and encouraging them to attend church. Many[who?] of those he reached experienced lasting personal transformation.[citation needed] At one point, it was said that a significant portion of the congregation at St. Mark's Church consisted of working-class Dubliners, former criminals, and recovered addicts, many of whom[citation needed] had encountered Fitzgerald during his outreach work.[citation needed]
Writer
Fitzgerald's literary career spans autobiographical works, historical fiction, and reflective memoirs.
His debut book, Somebody Up There Likes Me Too (2005), is an autobiography, providing insight into his early life and personal experiences.
From The Manuscripts (2009) through Frankie's Little Miss Madser (2023), Fitzgerald wrote a series of fictional novels set in an older Dublin, exploring the city's social and cultural life from the time of the Monto to the modern day. These works combine historical settings with contemporary themes, often reflecting the nuances of Dublin’s neighborhoods and communities.
Beginning with We Lived In the Sky (2024), Fitzgerald returned to memoir and reflective writing, chronicling different epochs of his life. Titles such as From up In the Sky to Down on the Ground (2024), My Name is George Don't Call Me Twinny (2024), and Growing up in Finglas In The Seventies (2024) continue this pattern, offering insight into his personal growth, experiences, and observations. Subsequent works, including The Bumble Bee In a Book Shop (2024), My Very Special Friend (2025), Don't You Know Apples Only Grow In Finglas (2025), Coming of Age (2025), I Have an Idea Joe (2025), Did I Ever Tell You About Frankie? (2025), A Butterfly on Wellington Quay (2025), and Weeping Moore Street (2025), maintain this reflective and autobiographical focus.[citation needed]
Radio career
In addition to his work as an author and musician, George Fitzgerald has made notable[according to whom?] contributions to Irish radio. He was the presenter of Motivational Journeys, a program on 92.5 Phoenix FM. The show is described as an hour-long segment featuring stories "from darkness to light and craft to creation", focusing on the empowerment of personalities and life-changing tales.[citation needed]
Fitzgerald has been featured on various programmes, including D15 Today, where he discussed his audiobooks and contributions to publications like Little Village.[citation needed]
Additionally, he has appeared on Getting To Know You, a show on 92.5 Phoenix FM, where he shared insights into his background and creative endeavours. [citation needed]
Through these platforms, Fitzgerald has engaged with a broader audience, sharing his experiences and perspectives on personal growth, community, and the arts.[tone]
Bibliography
| Year | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Somebody Up There Likes Me Too | George Fitzgerald |
| 2009 | The Manuscripts | George Fitzgerald |
| 2012 | The Ticking Clock | George Fitzgerald |
| 2016 | The Secret Life of Ashley Brown | George Fitzgerald |
| 2019 | The Promise Maker | George Fitzgerald |
| 2023 | Frankie's Little Miss Madser | George Fitzgerald |
| 2024 | We Lived In the Sky | George Fitzgerald |
| 2024 | From up In the Sky to Down on the Ground | George Fitzgerald |
| 2024 | My Name is George Don't Call Me Twinny | George Fitzgerald |
| 2024 | Growing up in Finglas In The Seventies | George Fitzgerald |
| 2024 | The Bumble Bee In a Book Shop | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | My Very Special Friend | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | Don't You Know Apples Only Grow In Finglas | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | Coming of Age | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | I Have an Idea Joe | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | Did I Ever Tell You About Frankie? | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | A Butterfly on Wellington Quay | George Fitzgerald |
| 2025 | Weaping Moore Street | George Fitzgerald |
Sources
References
- ↑ "We Lived in the Sky tells story of boys growing up in flats". Echo.ie. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "George Fitzgerald The Ticking Clock author". Dublin Gazette. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Author page". Amazon. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Finglas ebook D11". Dublin Gazette. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Fitzgerald strikes gold again in third book in Ashley Brown series". NewsFour.ie. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "The Finglas writer whose band was reputedly the model for The Commitments". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Short documentary created to focus on the history of Wicklow". Irish Independent. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "D11 Runners". Irish Rock Discography. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "New documentary by founding member of popular Dublin band delves into one of Wexford's biggest battles". Irish Independent. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "A Coming-of-Age Tale of Severe Hardship". Dundalk Democrat. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Writer with his roots in Swords remembers rising relative". Community Locals. September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Irish Daily Mirror article". Irish Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "D11 Runners profile". Irish Music DB. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
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