His novel "The Hard Life" is a semi autobiographical depiction of his experiences at the Synge Street Christian Brothers School. The Christian Brothers in Ireland had an unenviable reputation for often extraordinary brutality, which frequently left lifelong psychological scars on their pupils. Blackrock, where his education continued, was run by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (known as the 'Holy Ghost Fathers'), considered more intellectual and less violent to their pupils. Blackrock was and remains a very prominent school in Ireland, having educated many members of the post independence establishment, including presidents, taoisigh (prime ministers), government ministers, businessmen and swathes of the Irish establishment as well as their children.