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In this sequel to the hugely-popular This Man’s Wee Boy, young Tony Doherty struggles to come to terms with the murder of his father, Paddy, on Bloody Sunday and the impact it has on his mother, Eileen, and his brothers and sisters. At nine years old, he knows a terrible wrong has been committed against his family but lacks the understanding or the means to do anything about it – yet. For his fractured family, life goes on, with Tony determined to preserve the memory of his father and the bond they shared, even as he becomes increasingly immersed in the violent conflict raging on Derry’s streets. As the 1970s unfold his father’s absence remains the backdrop to the teenage Tony’s newfound friendships and relationships, an ever-present ache amidst the craic and excitement of Sunday dances, first kisses and a trip to Butlins. Then, at seventeen, Tony decides it’s time to join the fight.

'A brilliant fusion of scholarly detective work and speculative fiction that will leave you questioning the nature of reality itself.' - John Ahern'There’s a lovely old-fashioned swagger to this novel, and there’s no doubt that contemporary Irish fiction needs more of this kind of risky, absurdist mischief-making, just to remind us what we’re capable of – it’s no coincidence that, before picking up Paradise Lost during a research trip to the library, Seán “looked at books by Seán Ó Ríordáin and Pádraic Ó Conaire, by Rabelais and many writers besides'. - Declan Burke, THE IRISH TIMESWhen Cork academic Seán kills an annoying fly and examines it under his flatmate's microscope, he makes a discovery that will shatter everything he believes about reality. What he sees in that tiny specimen launches him into a labyrinth of historical conspiracy, ancient texts, and dangerous secrets that powerful people have killed to protect.As Seán and his fellow researchers dive deeper, they uncover evidence that this same discovery was made centuries ago by some of Europe's greatest minds—Galileo, Milton, Newton — only to be ruthlessly suppressed.From the scientific academies of 17th-century Amsterdam and Paris to the corridors of power in Renaissance Rome, a hidden truth has been carefully buried, one that challenges our understanding of human civilisation itself. But knowledge this profound comes at a price. As the mystery deepens, Seán realises that some secrets have guardians who will stop at nothing to keep them hidden.In our age of deepfakes and social media deception, EL asks the most urgent question of our time: who controls reality?Part academic thriller, part historical mystery, EL is a mind-bending exploration of truth, faith and the price of knowledge that asks: what if everything we think we know about our place in the universe is wrong?Translated from Irish by the author, this award-winning work captures the authentic voice of contemporary Irish literature.This novel was first published in Irish by Coiscéim and was awarded Irish Language Novel of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards.

'Women of the Irish Revolution' tells the story of the role that women played both directly and indirectly in the Irish revolution. These women were vital to the revolutionary movement. They were part of a generation who made a conscious decision to stand up for not only their rights, but also the rights of future generations, at a time when society viewed the role of women as that of mother and wife. The independence movement could not have succeeded without their contribution, which saw them put themselves in great danger in order to help free their country. The book also tells the story of those who, though not directly involved, lost so much as a result of that conflict. For they were the wives, mothers, sisters and girlfriends of the men who fought for Irish freedom, and their story is one that needs to be told. History, they say, is written by the victors, and more often than not the victors are men. The women from this period are the forgotten generation and it is now time to remember them.

Dan Breen started the War of Independence. He was the leader of the Third Tipperary Brigade and he sustained 22 bullet wounds evading the British. After the War of Independence, he fought in the Civil War, taking the Republican side when it was obvious that the two sides could not be reconciled. Later, he moved to America where, at the height of prohibition, he ran a speakeasy, or illegal bar. Back in Ireland, he spent several years in Dail Eireann, tried to establish a native film industry and continued to pursue a dream of a thirty-two county Ireland. This is a revised and updated edition of the successful biography, which was first published in 1981.

When Séamus Ó Tuama inherited his father Diarmuid's incomplete manuscript – a history of the nationalist experience in Belfast over decades of upheaval – he set out to complete it, weaving in the family's own history and personal experiences.Béal Feirste: Belfast transforms Belfast's turbulent history into an intimate story spanning four generations – from Daniel Twomey, a post-Famine farm boy from the Cork-Kerry border who became an economic conscript in the British Army stationed in Victorian Belfast, to his great-grandson Diarmuid Ó Tuama's pioneering role in the city's Irish language renaissance.This family memoir places one community at the centre of Belfast's most defining moments: the plantation, the pogroms, the Troubles and the cultural revolution that followed.Béal Feirste: Belfast is never just one person's story – it is a community's struggle, told from the ground up, by people who lived it. Today, Belfast nurtures one of Ireland's most dynamic urban Gaeltachts, where the language now thrives in the thousands of young voices of a new generation. This is Belfast's story. One family's telling of it.

Killing at its Very Extreme takes the reader to theheart of Dublin from October 1917 to November 1920, effectively the firstphase of Dublin's War of Independence. It details pivotal aspects at theoutset, then the ramping up of the intelligence war, the upsurge in raids andassassinations. Vividly depicting mass hunger-strikes, general strikes, prisonescapes, and ruthless executions by the full-time IRA ‘Squad’, amid curfews andthe functioning of an audacious alternative government. Intensity builds asthe reader is embedded into Commandant Dick McKee’s Dublin Brigade to witnessrelentless actions and ambushes.The authors' unprecedented access lays bare many myths about keyplayers from both sides. The tempo escalates with deployment of the notoriousBlack and Tans and Auxiliaries, as well as a host of cunning political andpropaganda ploys. Desperate plights and horrific reprisals are portrayed, theeffects of mass sectarian pogroms and killings. Tthe sacking of Balbriggan, thekilling of Seán Treacy, the death of Terence MacSwiney, and the capture andexecution of teenager Kevin Barry. As in the authors' previous works the pulsating tension,elation, fear, desperation, hunger, the mercy and the enmity leap from thepages. The harrowing circumstances suffered by those whose sacrifices laid thebedrock for modern Ireland, and whose own words form the book’s primarysources, are recounted in unflinching detail.

The raw intensity of the Irish Civil War is brought to life in this gripping, fast-paced journey from July 1921 to July 1922 – a year of change and conflict. Dublin’s descent into violent unrest surpasses the turbulence of the Easter Rising. Treaty debates spark dissension, and as tensions mount, Dublin becomes a tinderbox of espionage, betrayal, and guerrilla warfare. Former allies who fought shoulder to shoulder in the IRA now find themselves divided and entrenched in an ideological struggle that threatens to tear Dublin and Ireland apart. More than a historical recount, 'Tomorrow With Bayonets' offers a visceral portrayal of a nation grappling with its identity and sovereignty, seen through the eyes of combatants, leaders, and civilians caught in the crossfire.The Provisional Government’s National Army and the IRA engage in sporadic but fierce clashes as unrelenting violence and chaos engulf the country. In Northern Ireland, there is growing disillusionment among IRA units due to the diminishing credibility of assurances from Michael Collins. Ongoing assaults on their communities, the nationalist population experiences a rising number of casualties due to rampant brutality from unionist militias. A suppression of inquiries into killings leads to a widespread feeling of abandonment by the Provisional Government.On June 4 1922, the Provisional Government implemented 'a policy of peaceful obstruction' towards the Belfast Government, explicitly forbidding any troops from the twenty-six counties from entering the six-county area. In an apocalyptic climax, Dublin is engulfed in explosions, assassinations and relentless urban warfare. This powerful account, not for the faint-hearted, leaves a lasting impact, resonating with the reader long after the final page.

The explosive conclusion to Ireland's revolutionary saga — where former comrades turn guns on each other in Dublin's blood-soaked streets and a nation's dream of freedom becomes a nightmare of civil war.Many of Our Best Lie There explores unforgettable characters and stories, such as the almost supernatural warnings ignored before Michael Collins, Ireland's most charismatic leader, met his tragic fate. Follow legendary figures like Harry Boland, Ernie O'Malley and Joe O'Connor as they navigate betrayal, capture and the psychological scars of revolution.Gripping military action unfolds from seaborne National Army landings to mass IRA prison escapes, as urban guerrilla warfare brings Dublin to its knees and former allies turn their guns on each other.Dark historical truths reveal 'The Terror' — the state-sanctioned brutality that averaged more than one frequently botched execution per day in January 1923, showing how revolutionary ideals corrupted under the pressure of civil war.No other series puts you this close to the action, in the trenches and safe houses with the actual participants. This isn't just military history — it's friendship betrayed, ideals corrupted and a nation's birth trauma that still echoes today. Think Game of Thrones, but it really happened — in Ireland's bloodiest year.This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how modern Ireland was truly born — not just in the glory of 1916–1921, but in the ashes of civil war.

In 'An Island Christmas - Nollaig Oileánach', celebrated Irish author Micheál Ó Conghaile takes readers on a heartfelt journey through his childhood memories of Christmas on the now-abandoned island of Connemara's Inis Treabhair.'An Island Christmas - Nollaig Oileánach' transcends the holiday season, weaving together tales of the simple joys of Christmas on the island with the broader tapestry of childhood memories, friendships, and the cherished personalities of the island community. Ó Conghaile reminisces about the unique traditions and customs of his island upbringing in the 1960s and 70s in this captivating memoir. Delving into the island's social history he paints a vivid picture of family life in an intimate portrait of island culture and a pre-electric era that will captivate readers of all ages.Though the island is no longer inhabited, Ó Conghaile's recollections serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring importance of family, community, and the magic of childhood. Whether you are a fan of Ó Conghaile's previous works or new to his writing, 'An Island Christmas - Nollaig Oileánach', offers a heartfelt and enchanting glimpse into a bygone era, making it a delightful read for any time of the year.An inspiring insight into the life of a passionate artist and powerhouse behind the resurgence of Irish language writing and publishing, witness Ó Conghaile's journey from an eager young boy tapping away on a typewriter to the founder of renowned publishing house Cló Iar-Chonnacht. Translated from the Irish by Mícheál Ó hAodha.

Although trains are unlikely to ever again run between Ennis and Kilkee, the legend of this little branch line of the southern railway system will live on as long as there are people who look back fondly on the past. Anyone with even a superficial acquaintance with Clare will know what a wealth of varied scenery it contains, together with abundant archaeological sites and historical remains spanning over 5,000 years of human habitation. Not least of these are the earthworks of the West and South Clare Railways. Eddie Lenihan believes that a time will come when parts of these lines will be preserved as national monuments, but until that happens their destruction will continue. For what was a railway is now a disjointed succession of pieces linking not just places but in a way two worlds: one unhurried and traditional, the other brash, frenzied and modern. In the Tracks of the West Clare Railway paints an evocative picture of a time when the railway breathed life into West Clare.

The Tailor and Ansty was banned soon after its first publication in 1942 and became the subject of much bitter controversy. It has become a modern Irish classic, promising to make immortal the Tailor and his irrepressible wife, Ansty. The Tailor never travelled further than Scotland, yet the breadth of the world could not contain the wealth of his humour and fantasy. All human life is here – marriages, inquests, matchmaking, wakes – and always the Tailor, his wife and their black cow.

A complete course in the construction and development of Celtic ornament with over 700 illustrations. A Handbook of Celtic Ornament takes basic symbols or ideographs and develops them into a systemised method of construction for most forms of Celtic decoration. Apart from its value as a drawing textbook, this book will be of immense value to all students of arts and crafts. The Merne method for the construction and development of Celtic ornament has not been surpassed and this book is a challenge both to the student and to the professional artist to take part of our tradition and make it their own, to use, to repeat, but most of all to develop.

John Millington Synge's classic work set in Mayo. A mysterious traveller, Christy Mahon, arrives in the village believing he has killed his father. He is looked upon as a hero by the locals and falls in love with one of them, Pegeen Mike, who agrees to marry him. But when Christy's 'murdered' father appears on the scene, Christy's fortune takes a downturn with comic and tragic result.The Playboy of the Western World is, undoubtedly, Synge’s masterpiece. It was produced at the Abbey Theatre in 1907 and provoked an immediate riot and continuing controversy. This edition of the play is introduced by renowned Kerry actor Éamonn Keane whose interpretation of the role of Christy Mahon ranks him with the greatest actors to have played this part.

Séamus Ó Grianna (Máire) was born in Rannafast in the Rosses of County Donegal. He wrote many novels and short stories about his native place which were treasured for their idioms and their picture of Donegal life at the turn of the century. His dislike for the nua-litriocht ensured that publication of his best work in paperback had to wait until after his death. Cith is Dealán was first published in 1927. This collection of short stories displays the best qualities in his writing – the rich poetical language of the Gaeltacht and the life of the people who lived there.

Discover the world of Irish folklore with Kevin Danaher's book, 'In Ireland Long Ago.' This narrative provides a look into traditional Irish folk life, from the comfort of the hearth to the stories and gossip that fill it, alongside the food and drink that define Irish tradition.This book explores the lifestyle of a past generation in Ireland, highlighting daily life and customs. It includes descriptions of household items, agricultural tools, and stories like that of the water diviner, bringing Irish folklore to life.You'll read about intense faction fights, Irish weddings, and rituals for the departed. This volume isn't just a book; it's a journey into Irish folk life and its stories and traditions.'In Ireland Long Ago' has been informing and surprising readers for over thirty years and is a significant book in Irish folklore literature. It offers an exploration of Irish heritage, culture, and folklore.With Danaher's storytelling and attention to detail, 'In Ireland Long Ago' is a valuable addition to your collection of Irish folklore books. The narratives transport you to a different time, showcasing Ireland's folklore-filled past.

This selection of letters from the Great Blasket, for the most part written by Eibhlís Ní Shúilleabháin of the island to George Chambers in London, covers a period of over twenty years. Beginning in 1931, when the island was still a place where one might marry and raise a family, the letters end in 1951 with the author herself in exile on the mainland and 'the old folk of the island scattering to their graves'. Through the eyes of Eibhlís, we see not the island of the summer visitor but one intimately known, loved and feared – and finally abandoned.

The Field is John B. Keane's fierce and tender study of the love a man can have for land and the ruthless lengths he will go to in order to obtain the object of his desire. It is dominated by Bull McCabe, one of the most famous characters in Irish writing today. An Oscar-nominated adaptation of The Field proved highly successful and popular worldwide, and starred Richard Harris, John Hurt, Brenda Fricker and Tom Berenger.

Ballykinlar Internment Camp was the first mass internment camp to be established by the British in Ireland during the War of Independence. Situated on the County Down coast and opened in December 1920, it became home to hundreds of Irish men arrested by the British, often on little more than the suspicion of involvement in the IRA. Held for up to a year, and subjected to often brutal treatment and poor quality food in an attempt to break them both physically and mentally, the interned men instead established a small community within the camp. The knowledge and skills possessed by the diverse inhabitants were used to teach classes, and other activities, such as sports, drama and music lessons, helped stave off boredom. In the midst of all these activities the internees also endeavoured to defy their captors with various plans for escape. The story of the Ballykinlar internment camp is on the one hand an account of suffering, espionage, murder and maltreatment, but it is also a chronicle of survival, comradeship and community.

On the morning of 15th May, 1922, over 1,000 recruits of the newly established Civic Guard suddenly broke ranks during Commissioner Michael Staines' TD address at Morning Parade in the training depot at Kildare Barracks. The recruits immediately set about raiding the armoury while Staines and his senior officers withdrew under armed protection and evacuated the barracks much to the annoyance of Michael Collins, the Chairman of the fledgling Provisional Government. For almost seven weeks, Collins and the mutineers struggled to reconcile their differences in the midst of the Irish Civil War. Both sides were unaware that their efforts to resolve the dispute were thwarted by a group of anti-Treaty Civic Guards intent on destroying the new force. This book investigates the reasons why the earliest recruits of the Civic Guard took up arms against their own masters and brought about a significant security risk that had direct implications for both the civil war and the future structure of the its successor, An Garda Síochána.

William Henry has trawled the archives to produce this meticulous account of the many raids, ambushes, murders and reprisals that took place in the 1919-21 period, and of those who were involved. He details the activities of the dreaded Black and Tans, and the role played by the RIC and the mainstream British Army who were stationed in the county. He also looks at how everyday life was affected by the ongoing war and how the attitude of the people changed as the brutality of the Tans intensified. He details hunger strikes in Galway jail and the general strike in the city that resulted as well as the boycotts of the british forces throughout the county. With fascinating and sometimes horrific details he brings the time to life.

Pearse's skill as an orator is indisputable. His fiery idealism was one of the key motivators that brought the rebels to the GPO in 1916. This collection of his wrting showcase's this skill, but also the complex philosophy that underpinned it. Ranging from his theories of education articulated in 'The Murder Machine' (1912), through his orations on the great Fenian leaders of the past: Wolfe Tone, Emmet and O'Donovan Rossa; to his writings on 'The Separtatist Idea', 'The Spiritual Nation' and 'The Sovereign People' in the months leading up to the rising; this is a crucial collection for the library of anyone with an interest in Irish history.

Sixteen men were executed in the aftermath of the Easter Rising in Ireland, 1916: fifteen were shot and one was hanged. Their deaths changed the course of Irish history. But who were these leaders who set in motion events that would lead to the creation of an independent Ireland? The executed leaders of the Easter Rising were a diverse group. This book contains fascinating accounts of the life stories of these men and recounts the events that brought each of them to rebellion in April 1916.

This book is full of the kind of information you need to run a small business successfully - whether you are just starting out, or you have an established business and you want to develop it and ensure its survival.Through a series of 'Killer Questions' the authors highlight all the important things you need to think about to make your business a success and ensure you are heading in the right direction. The book is divided into three sections: the first deals with the business owner themselves, the second addresses other people involved in the business, whether they are customers, suppliers, staff or consultants, and the third looks at the structure of and planning in the business.The informal approach and short chapters means that the book can either be read straight through or be dipped in and out of for easy reference. The authors have a combination of fifty years' business experience between them and are both currently involved in business training and coaching.

Where Mountainy Men have Sown gives a first-hand account of the fight for freedom in West Cork from 1916–21. It chronicles the social and military aspects of the War of Independence and describes the IRA's activities in the area, from Macroom to as far west as Ballingeary and Coolea, and covering Inchigeelagh to Ballyvourney and the Derrynasaggart Mountains. Micheál Ó Súilleabháin joined the armed struggle for freedom in his local area of Kilnamartyra at the age of thirteen and describes attacks on armed police patrols, barracks and a large-scale engagement against the elite of Britain's specially recruited fighting forces in Ireland – the infamous Auxiliaries – all ex-commissioned officers and decorated veterans of the First World War. This is a personal record of ambushes, etc., carried out by young Volunteers, who did not wait to be confronted, but went on the attack against better armed and trained men, and emerged victorious.

Arthur Quinn has defeated the World Serpent. He's come face-to-face with the Fenris Wolf. But now he faces Loki's most powerful child, Hell's Keeper. With his friends Ash, Ellie and Ex, Arthur sets out to stop this new menace. But Loki has a trick up his sleeve, a trick that changes everything. Arthur must confront Loki for a final showdown. But faced with a terrible secret and enemies at every turn, can Arthur find the courage he needs to defeat the god once and for all, or has Loki finally won?

Peadar O'Donnell became involved in Irish republicanism through his initial involvement in socialism as an organiser for the ITGWU. When he was unsuccessful in establishing a branch of the Irish Citizen Army in Derry he joined the IRA and led guerrilla activities in Donegal and Derry during the War of Independence. He was a member of the Executive of the anti-Treaty IRA and was in the Four Courts when it was attacked by Free State forces. He was arrested shortly afterwards and was involved in organising a hunger strike among the anti-Treaty Republicans which lasted 41 days. While in prison he began writing 'to escape the bare walls of the prison cell'. This is a story of prison life in the midst of Civil War in Ireland that combines glimpses of humour with moments of tragic poignancy as the author describes games of handball and bridge with men who faced the firing squad within twenty-four hours.O'Donnell was one of the last survivors of the Independence struggle in Ireland, retaining his radicalism and idealism right up to his death in 1986 at the age of 93.

First published in 1949, 'Guerilla Days in Ireland' is an extraordinary story of the Irish War of Independence and the fight between two unequal forces, which ended in the withdrawal of the British from twenty-six counties. Seven weeks before the Truce of July 1921, the British presence in County Cork consisted of a total of over 12,500 men. Against these British forces stood the Irish Republican Army whose flying columns never exceeded 310 riflemen in the whole of the county. These flying columns were small groups of dedicated Volunteers, severely commanded and disciplined. Constantly on the move, their paramount objective was merely to exist, to strike when conditions were favourable and to avoid disaster at all costs. In 'Guerilla Days in Ireland' Tom Barry describes the setting up of the West Cork flying column, its training and the plan of campaign, which he implemented. In particular he gives his account of the Kilmichael ambush, one of the most controversial episodes of the War of Independence.

The deaths in and around Dunmanway in 1922 have always been shrouded in rumour and supposition. This book seeks to get to the bottom of them. One thing is certain: Captain Herbert Woods shot Commandant Michael O’Neill of the IRA on the stairs of Ballygroman House at 2.30a.m. on the 26th April and killed him. Who was Herbert Woods and why did shoot an unarmed man? Who was Michael O’Neill and what was he doing inside the house at that hour of the morning? What connection had this event to the killing of ten Protestants in West Cork over the next three nights? Are they connected with the killing of four British soldiers in Macroom on the same day? What was the effect on the local Protestant minority? What happened after Herbert Woods and his Hornibrook relations were arrested by the Irish Republican Police and disappeared?This book attempts to answer all these questions. Using previously overlooked evidence it proves that the real story is a simple one of revenge. It directly challenges claims of sectarianism and British involvement presenting a true story of these appalling events.

Jamie Moynihan had the unique distinction of being officer commanding the group of Volunteers who carried out the FIRST armed attack on crown forces in Ireland during the War of Independence, at the Mouth of the Glen, in Muskerry, on 7 July 1918, and also of the volunteers who carried out the LAST armed attack of that war, at Céim Carraige, Carriganima, at 3pm on the day of the Truce, 11 July 1921. This is a gripping and detailed account of the War of Independence in Muskerry and in the Mid-Cork area that will capture the imagination of the reader. It covers many events not detailed elsewhere, including the hijacking of 'Sliabh na mBan' – the armoured car in which Michael Collins was later shot – and the Battle of Ballyvourney, the Rath attack and the burning of the courthouse. It also includes a detailed account of Cumann na mBan in the region, several statements by some of the key participants in events of the time and details of the intelligence and communication systems and chain of command used by the rebels.It has been compiled from Moynihan's extensive records of the time and will be of huge interest to anyone wanting to find out more about this turbulent time in Ireland's history.