From the age of eighteen he was a compulsive writer. It was not until 1956 that the merits of his style and content were recognised when The Irish Times accepted a number of travel articles from him. Later when he was offered the opportunity to review books for that paper John Broderick had, perhaps, found his true vocation. As a book reviewer John had few equals - he was certainly in the first rank of Irish reviewers. John Broderick's first book 'The Pilgrimage' was published in 1961 and The Censorship Board quickly banned it. In the United States it was published as 'The Chameleons.' It was also translated into French and published as 'Le Pelerinage'. John Broderick went on to write a dozen novels four of which were translated into French. 'An Apology for Roses' was the most successful in terms of sales but stylistically 'The Waking of Willie Ryan' was perhaps his most accomplished novel.

The first John Broderick Weekend was held in Athlone in 1999 when the highlight was the dedication of a street to him. In naming this new street linking Sean Costello Street with Golden Island Athlone U.D.C. became one of the first local authorities in Ireland to honour a twentieth century literary figure. Apart from his novels John Broderick has been the subject of a biography: Madeline Kingston's 'Something in the head: the life and work of John Broderick' which was published by The Lilliput Press in 2004 and an excellent volume of his selected writings 'Stimulus of sin' edited by Madeline Kingston and published by The Lilliput Press in 2007.

John Broderick was proud of his Connaught Street connections, he would be equally proud of the rejuvenation of the family business premises which now trades as 'A Slice of Life'.

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