Conor Cruise O'Brien had a high opinion of his own abilities. He was an honours student and a brillaint diplomat. He was seconded to the United Nations in the Congo in 1960. The situation in Katanga was bad and O'Brien was blamed for part of the situation. He refused to do so ans felt abandoned by Dag Hammarskjod and his own Government. He wrote 'To Katanga and Back' . He then became an international academic in Ghana nd New York. He later entered Irish politics and achived ministerial office. He was very contriversial being very criticial of Irish nationalism. He wroter many brilliant books and remained controversial.