Michael Smurfit hit the jackpot by never giving up

The food was simple, but the wine was top-drawer. Outside the window, Monaco glittered below in the darkness. Michael Smurfit reached for his decanter to top up his glass in his luxurious apartment.

I was there to discuss Smurfit’s autobiography, which chronicled the rise of a remarkable family – a family that was prepared to dare and dream big in an Irish business environment and society that was much more closeted and insular ...