It's a Long Way from Penny Apples

Bill Cullen was born in Dublin in 1942 and grew up in the inner city slums of Dublin's Summerhill tenements. A street seller from the age of six, Bill left school at thirteen to make a living. In 1956 he got a job in a Dublin Ford car dealership and by 1964, as a twenty-two-year-old, he was appointed director general of the dealership. In 1986 he took over the troubled Renault car distribution franchise and turned it into a success. Bill Cullen is a director of the Irish Youth Foundation and in 1998 was a recipient of the Lord Mayor's Award for his work with the disadvantaged young people of Dublin.

'This life-enhancing journey from poverty-stricken hardship to opulence is full of humour, resilience and generosity. A genuine feel-good read.' -- Daily Express 'This is a racy portrait of Catholic community solidarity and a family that refused to be ground down by poverty.' -- The Sunday Times 20021117 'Refreshing, unsentimental, honest, optimistic and wise; and funny, too. This voice out of Ireland is the best one for years.' -- Libby Purves 20021117 'The story of a Dubliner reflecting with stunning honesty on his city and his past. With characters that leap off the page, it combines blunt realism with the everyday humour of Northside Dublin life. An incredible book that will soon rank as a best-seller.' -- An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD 20021117 'Unashamedly feel-good ... Cullen's story is an impressive one.' -- Publishing News 20020823 '... the perfect antidote to ANGELA'S ASHES ... He captures the spirit of the place with a sharp eye for detail and a quick ear for dialogue' -- Home & Country 20020823 'Uplifting' -- Dorset Evening Echo 20020823 'A fascinating read, an absorbing and compelling human story. I felt I was part of the Cullen family as they struggled in the inner city slums of Dublin, yet one is left with an abiding sense of the human spirit's ability to survive and to triumph. As Molly Darcy said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, so make the most of today". This book is an inspiration.' -- Paidi O Se. 20020823