Doreen McBride – författare

How did a spider change the course of history? What would a body in the chimney want with a lonely old woman? And what terrible deed could make a Celtic warrior cry? North of Ireland Folk Tales for Children is full of mermaids and pishogues, haunted dolmens and plenty of ghosts, rude Celts and bloodthirsty warriors. This collection of weird, wonderful and irreverently told tales from award-winning storyteller Doreen McBride is not for the faint of heart – and certainly not appropriate for adults.

How did a tiny wren manage to be crowned King of the Birds? Why did giant Finn McCool’s favourite dogs change into mountains? What happened to turn a friendly cat into a cruel fiend who plotted to destroy mankind? Irish Animal Tales for Children is packed with ghostly goings-on, weird characters and wonderful animals. Irreverently told by award-winning storyteller Doreen McBride, these stories are not for the faint of heart!

Did you know?The world’s worst novelist, Amanda McKittrick Ros, was born near Ballynahinch. The entire Kilkeel fishing fleet was sunk by a German U-boat on 30 May 1918 without the loss of a single life. Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection formed the foundation of the British Museum, was born in Killyleagh. The Little Book of County Down is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this ancient county of Northern Ireland. Here you will find out about Co. Down’s history, its literary heritage, its churches and castles, its festivals and fairs, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women.A reliable and quirky guide, this little reference book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this fascinating county.

Northern Ireland is a fascinating, stunningly beautiful province with a recorded history dating back to the ancient Celts. It may be the smallest country in the UK, but it has three Nobel Prizes for English Literature connected to it as well as many world-class musicians, artists and scientists.It is a land where the craic is mighty, where every tree, every flower, every rock tells a story.The A-Z of Curious Northern Ireland explores the quirks and peculiarities of the country's talented people and the interesting places they call home. Recorded in a reliable, readable, often humorous style, it is a handy reference guide that can be dipped into and enjoyed over and over again.

Did You KnowVan Morrison wrote ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ on a piano in Derrygonnelly Paddy Monaghan, from Ederney, befriended Mohammad Ali and became known as Paddy-Ali St Molaise brought soil containing blood from early Christian martyrs from the Colosseum in Rome and placed it on Devonian Island Natives of Fermanagh had boats called cots, which were shaped like spoons without handles. They are the only boats in the world to be preserved during winter by being scuttled The Little Book of Fermanagh is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about County Fermanagh.Here you will find out about the county’s industrial past, its proud sporting heritage, its arts and culture and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this book takes the reader on a journey through County Fermanagh and its vibrant past.A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this colourful county.

The people of Tyrone have the reputation for having 'open hearts and a desire to please' and their folk tales are as varied as their landscape. There are the tales of the amazing feats of the giant Finn McCool and the derring-do of the Red Hand of Ulster as well as the dramatic story of Half-Hung MacNaughton and the hilarious tale of Dixon from Dungannon and his meeting with royalty. All these stories and more are featured in this collection of tales which will take you on an oral tour across the country from the Sperrin Mountains in the west to the flat peatlands of the east.