Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is a satirical fictional Irish character, a wealthy South County Dublin rugby union jock created by journalist Paul Howard.Interview with Paul Howard, Robert Ryan, Oxygen.ie, retrieved 18 January 2010 The character first appeared in a January 1998 column in the Sunday Tribune newspaper and later transferred to The Irish Times. The series comprises twenty-one novels, three plays, a CD, two other books, a weekly podcast, and the newspaper column, as of 2023.
Works in the series Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - Books - Keeping Up with the Kalashnikovs MediumTitleReleasePlotNewspaper columnRoss O'Carroll-KellySunday Tribune, January 1998 – July 2007The life and loves of RossThe Irish Times, 1 September 2007 – presentNovelThe Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly(revised edition titled The Miseducation Years)Sunday Tribune, 2000Ross's last two years at Castlerock College and his Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup victoryNovelRoysh Here, Roysh Now… The Teenage Dirtbag Years(revised edition titled The Teenage Dirtbag Years)Sunday Tribune, 2001Ross's first year at UCD and holiday in the USNovelThe Orange Mocha-Chip Frappuccino YearsThe O'Brien Press, March 2003Ross's parents force him to fend for himself as an estate agentNovelPS, I Scored the BridesmaidsThe O'Brien Press, April 2005Ross and Sorcha get marriedSpoken-word albumThe Twelve Days of ChristmasMagpie Productions Ltd, November 2005A comedy album about the lead-up to Ross's ChristmasNovelThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightdressPenguin Books, June 2006Ross discovers that he is a fatherNovelShould Have Got Off at Sydney ParadePenguin Books, May 2007Sorcha falls pregnantPlayThe Last Days of the Celtic TigerPremiered at the Olympia Theatre, November 2007Plot is similar to that of This Champagne Mojito Is The Last Thing I OwnMock travel guideRoss O'Carroll-Kelly's Guide to (South) Dublin: How To Get By On, Like, €10,000 A DayPenguin Books, May 2008A mock-travel guide to "SoCoDu."NovelThis Champagne Mojito Is the Last Thing I OwnPenguin Books, June 2008Ross's father is imprisoned and his assets seized.NovelMr S and the Secrets of Andorra's BoxPenguin Books, October 2008Ross becomes coach of the Andorra national rugby union team.CompilationRoss O'Carroll-Kelly and the Temple of AcademePenguin Books, February 2009Contains The Miseducation Years and The Teenage Dirtbag YearsBook of mock-interviewsWe Need to Talk About RossPenguin Books, June 2009A book of mock-interviews in which characters from the series discuss the protagonist.NovelRhino What You Did Last SummerPenguin Books, September 2009Ross goes Stateside to win Sorcha back. While there, he ends up starring in a reality TV show.NovelThe Oh My God DelusionPenguin Books, 7 October 2010Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - Home Ross faces genuine poverty as the Irish economy nosedives.PlayBetween Foxrock and a Hard PlacePremiered at the Olympia Theatre, 15 October 2010 Ross's parents sell their house, and the O'Carroll-Kelly family fall victim to a tiger kidnapping.NovelNAMA Mia!Penguin Books, 6 October 2011Ross sees a turning point in the recession, for himself at least.NovelThe Shelbourne UltimatumPenguin Books, 27 September 2012Ross refuses to change his ways, while all around him are affected by the Recession.NovelDownturn AbbeyPenguin Books, 26 September 2013 Ross becomes a grandfather; Honor shows she's Ross's daughter.PlayBreaking DadPremiered at the Gaiety Theatre, 25 April 2014 The year 2022. Ross is horrified upon meeting Honor's new boyfriend, who is very similar to a young Ross.NovelKeeping Up with the KalashnikovsPenguin Books, 11 September 2014 Sorcha is pregnant again and Ross must come to Fionn's rescue.NovelSeedless in SeattlePenguin Books, 15 September 2015 Ross is forced to get neutered.NovelGame of Throw-insPenguin Books, 8 September 2016 Ross plays for a struggling Seapoint rugby team.NovelOperation TrumpsformationPenguin Books, 21 September 2017 Charles aims to emulate Donald Trump; the triplets take up soccer.PlayPostcards from the LedgePremiered at the Gaiety Theatre, 25 October 2017 In 2029, Ross revisits his childhood home and old memories.NovelDancing with the TsarsPenguin Books, 13 September 2018 Ross and Honor aim to win a dance contest.NovelSchmidt HappensPenguin Books, 9 September 2019 Ross is unexpectedly contacted by the national team coach.NovelBraywatchSandycove, 3 September 2020 Ross is hired to coach a school in Bray.CompilationRO'CK of AgesSandycove, 1 April 2021 Compilation of Irish Times columns, 2007 to 2020.NovelNormal SheepleSandycove, 19 August 2021 Honor goes to the Gaeltacht; Ross takes up Gaelic football; Charles as Taoiseach attempts to seize even more power.NovelOnce Upon a Time in… DonnybrookSandycove, 1 September 2022 Ross becomes manager of the Ireland women's rugby team.NovelCamino RoyaleSandycove, 17 August 2023 Ross and his rugby teammates walk the Camino de Santiago; Sorcha wants a divorce; Sorcha's sister may be pregnant with Ross' baby.NovelDon't Look Back in OngarSandycove, 22 August 2024 Ross returns from the Camino with Sorcha seeking a divorce and Ronan working for Hennessy.
Characters
Cultural impact Ross O'Carroll-Kelly was something of a craze in Ireland, and his name has become a byword for all that is perceived to be wrong in Celtic Tiger Ireland. Though it is largely viewed as satire, there are those who view Ross O'Carroll-Kelly as a role model or an idol. Paul Howard has claimed some people have imitated Ross's friends pastime of driving through disadvantaged areas in expensive cars, shouting "Affluence!" at passers-by and throwing €5 notes out the window.Spawning a bundle of 'Rosser' wannabes, top snob takes to stage, Irish Independent, 31 August 2007, retrieved 9 April 2009 Following Ross's move to The Irish Times, the Irish Independent began a similar column, OMG! featuring a female counterpart to Ross, in its Weekend supplement on 22 September 2007.
References
External links Official site