Dear Sebastian

Dear Sebastian is a book published by Hodder Headline Ireland it takes the form of a collection of letters from notable people in Irish society to a young boy who lost his father to cancer.

The books editor was Jordan Ferguson from Glounthaune, Co Cork. In March 2008, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told he had only months to live.

He died in June 2008, at the age of 35. He had one son, Sebastian, who was aged nine when his father died. Mr. Ferguson's decided to write a letter to Sebastian with advice to help him when he was growing up. But the father of one had the idea to extend the idea.

He gathered together letters from a number of Irish people - writers, politicians, artists, clergy, sports stars, musicians and business people - all of whom have succeeded in life. That was how 'Dear Sebastian' came about.

The letters which make up the book came from a host of well-known names including Brian Cowen, Tony O'Reilly, Christy Moore, John Waters, Pat Kenny, Brian O'Driscoll, Peter Sutherland, Ronan O'Gara, John Magnier, Mary Harney, Daniel O'Donnell, Christy O'Connor Jnr, Patrick Kielty, JP McManus, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Michael Smurfit, Eddie Hobbs, Shay Given, Darina Allen, Gay Byrne, Dermot Desmond and many more.

Mr. Ferguson died on June 27, 2008 before completing the book. In his final days, he asked his mother Christine to finish it.

Dear Sebastian ISBN 9780340994801