Eamon Delaney (born 14 July 1962) is an Irish newspaper columnist,[1] author, editor,[2] novelist,[3] journalist[4] and former diplomat.
[12][13] Irish journalist Thomas O'Dwyer describes Delaney's wit as "wicked" and his 2001 book An Accidental Diplomat as having been, "a runaway bestseller.
Singer Gavin Friday lent Delaney the name and service details of his own grandfather, an actual veteran of 1921, to serve as the fictional O'Shaughnessy's commanding officer in the application.
Delaney cited sufficient plausible historic detail in the application which attracted the personal attention of Taoiseach Charles Haughey.
Haughey asked Secretary of Defense Michael J. Noonan to review the case, and three months later the government sent Delaney the appropriate service medals and approved the pension.