from http://www.iol.ie/resource/ga/archive/1996/Jun13/news/12.html

By Charlie McBride

There was plenty of excitement at Keohane's Bookshop last Friday as the inimitable Peter O'Toole, no stranger to this part of the world, arrived for the launch of 'Loitering with Intent: the Apprentice', the second volume of his memoirs. Michael D. supplied the introductory speech and it was amusing to be asked afterwards by one punter, 'Who was that guy?'

No danger of anyone wondering who the other guy was, as O'Toole still possesses great presence, even if the hell-raising years have left their stamp upon him, making him look frailer than his 64 years.

Whatever of his physical health, the brio and vibrancy of his prose bespeak a spirit and imagination of enviable zestfulness. Clocking in at over 400 pages, 'Loitering with Intent' covers O'Toole's period of study at RADA, and it's a teeming, tumultuous and colourful canvas indeed.

O'Toole's writing is a rich and heady concoction; sentences of eighty-plus words are not uncommon, and he rarely uses one adjective where he can lavish five or six instead. At first, I must admit, I found it overly extravagant, but as you read on it becomes, first, disarming and then quite irresistible. Places and people - the bars and streetscapes of London, fellow-students like Albert Finney, assorted RADA teachers - are invoked with larger-than-life vividness and passion. There's also some lovely moments of lyricism; reminiscing about the boyhood pal who taught him to swim, O'Toole remarks: 'Thanks Tom. May your heaven stream with bright rivers and you tumble into every one.' All in all, a roistering good read.