Irish Life Stories

by Katriona O'Sullivan

€16.99

Hungry is the powerful new memoir from Number One bestselling author Katriona O'Sullivan - a raw, courageous exploration of survival, identity and the lifelong search for self-acceptance. Raised in a home marked by poverty, addiction and abuse, Katriona defied the odds: from teenage motherhood struggling with her own addictions to becoming a university professor and successful author. But beneath the achievements lay a more private struggle - with her body, her worth, and the unrelenting drive to be enough. In this fiercely honest memoir, she interrogates how trauma, class and gender shape the way women see themselves - and how society teaches them to measure their value. Told with stunning courage and vulnerability, Hungry is both a personal reckoning and a powerful reclaiming of body, voice and self. It is one woman's story - and a rallying cry for every woman who has ever felt she had to shrink to survive.   Ideal for readers who: Seek memoirs that confront trauma, class and self-worth with real honesty. Are interested in the lifelong relationship between identity and the body. Want contemporary Irish life, survival and reinvention explored without flinching. Prefer emotionally direct nonfiction that is brave, searching and humane.

by Katriona O'Sullivan

€10.99

EASON FAVOURITE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 The No. 1 Bestseller, Biography of the Year, Irish Book Awards 2023 The Last Word Listeners' Choice Award, Irish Book Awards 2023 "One of the best [books] I have read about the complexities of poverty... one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet" – Guardian Like young girls everywhere, Katriona O'Sullivan grew up bright, enthusiastic, and curious. But she was also surrounded by abject poverty and chaos, and after becoming pregnant and homeless at 15, she spent five years barely surviving. Today, Katriona is an award-winning academic whose work explores barriers to education for girls like her. In Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan, she shares what set her on this unexpected path: the mentors and supporters who truly saw her. Teachers who showed her how to wash in the school toilets or visited her home to convince her to sit at least one GCSE exam. A community worker who encouraged her to apply for training schemes. A friend who introduced her to Trinity College’s access program while she was a cleaner. Simple acts that helped her turn her life around. Told with warmth, clarity, and compassion—for her parents, her younger self, and others—Poor is both a powerful personal testimony and an impassioned plea for the future of our children. Praise for Poor and Katriona O’Sullivan: "Powerful—Katriona is a legend." —Barry Keoghan "Raw, passionate, and resolutely honest—I’ll never forget it." —Annie Mac "Full of insight... so important." —Fi Glover, Times Radio "I read Poor in one sitting. It’s compelling, moving, uplifting, brave, heroic." —Nuala McGovern, Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio Four "Moving, funny, brave, and original—absolutely incredible." —Róisín Ingle, Irish Times Women’s Podcast "One of the books of the year." —Patrick Kielty, Late Late Show, RTÉ One "One of the most important books I have ever read—a beautiful story of determination despite the odds." —Lynn Ruane, Irish Times "Fearless, funny, and searingly honest." —Adil Ray OBE "Raw and remarkable." —Irish Independent "A book of empowerment and hope." —Patricia Scanlan "Remarkable... a vivid retelling of Katriona flourishing, despite her beginnings." —BBC News West Midlands Ideal for readers who: Read memoirs about poverty, education and social mobility in Ireland. Are interested in how small acts of support can change a life. Would value a firsthand story shaped by homelessness, young motherhood and academia. Prefer powerful, compassionate non-fiction that stays with you.

by Ciara Mageean

€21.99

Few Irish track athletes are as universally loved as Ciara Mageean, who has remained endearingly down-to-earth, candid and optimistic despite the dramatic twists and turns of her world-class career. In 2024 she finally won a European title, crossing the line to secure that gold medal in a moment of pure euphoria. Two months later, at the peak of her power, an excruciating injury derailed her once again, forcing an eleventh-hour withdrawal from the Paris Olympics. In the City of Love she went, overnight, from competitor to heartbroken tourist. Nothing, she thought, will ever be as bad as this … and then she got the worst news of her life. My Greatest Race is a sports memoir like no other, a devastating contrast between the elite athlete road that so few get to travel and the all-too-familiar cancer journey that so many do. Ideal for readers who: Look to sports memoirs for identity, resilience and purpose beyond medals. Follow triumphs, injuries and emotional honesty through an elite racing life. See Olympic heartbreak as part of the story, not its whole definition. Value athletes as whole people, not just performances on the track.

by Leo Varadkar

€12.99

THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER Shortlisted for Biography of The Year, Irish Book Awards 2025 'Refreshingly honest' Guardian 'Whatever your views on Varadkar and his political legacy, you'll be gripped by these stories.' Sunday Independent 'There is gossip, revealing text exchanges and entertaining titbits … the reader gets a good sense of the pressures of serving as taoiseach.' Irish Times --- Leo Varadkar shares his fascinating experience as Irish prime minister at a time of much change and turbulence, in this remarkably honest memoir. Leo Varadkar was an unlikely Taoiseach - the youngest on taking office in 2017, the first Taoiseach to be gay, and the first person of colour to be Taoiseach. Equally unlikely was his decision to bow out of politics in his mid-forties. Now, liberated from the constraints of office, he tells his fascinating story with characteristic courage and candour, and provides a unique insight into the formation and evolution of a senior politician. In Speaking My Mind Leo Varadkar shares his pride in helping to bring about transformational changes, such as marriage equality. He describes experiences that only a prime minister could have - speaking frankly to Pope Francis on the legacy of church abuses, connecting with Barack Obama about both being the 'tall, dark guy with the funny name', navigating challenges such as the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit. And he writes honestly about the costs that go with the immense privilege of holding high office. Speaking My Mind is a revealing, intimate and important memoir from a singular public figure. --- 'A great read ... fascinating insights' Brendan O'Connor, RTÉ Radio 1 'Candid … engagingly honest' Financial Times 'A lively and easy read and can help in future examinations of a very fast-changing Ireland' Irish Independent 'He is easy, cosmopolitan company, judiciously bitchy, but never cruel. I own a lot of books written by and about Irish politicians and this one is the most human in its telling' The Times 'Brings to life some of the behind-the-scenes moments of what has been a transformative period in Irish and global politics' Sunday Independent 'Highly illuminating on the relationship between self-suppression and the reactionary social conservatism he once espoused . . . There's real life and real insight in these passages' The Observer 'Fascinating insights into his own thinking and the behaviour of others' Irish Daily Mail 'A fluid account . . . engaging' Irish Examiner Ideal for readers who: Seek a compelling, first-hand Taoiseach memoir that offers genuine political access. Are interested in modern political leadership, personal identity, public pressure and a changing Ireland. Want to revisit major Brexit and pandemic decisions through a highly personal lens. Look for sharp political insight delivered with refreshing candour, context and honesty about the personal cost.

by David Keohan

€17.99

‘Fascinating, strange, groundbreaking research in an area that intersects folklore, history, mythology and strength training’ THE BLINDBOY PODCAST A compelling and heartwarming journey across Ireland to revive the lost tradition of stone lifting. When world kettlebell lifting champion David Keohan heard about old tales of stone lifting, he was captivated. So he set off on a quest to see if he could rediscover any of these famous stones, and whether he could match the feats of the heroes of the past by lifting them to allow the wind beneath the stone once more. Helped by a 1930s archive in which schoolchildren shared their local folklore, Keohan began to travel the country in search of the stones. They were often to be found hidden away in quiet villages or cemeteries, their purpose almost forgotten. But, as he journeyed round Ireland, he met those who recalled the stories of the stones, and the legends attached to them. Soon, others were joining him as he took on the challenge of lifting these pieces of history, the heaviest of which weighed well over 200 kilograms. As Keohan’s efforts gathered more and more attention, he came to realise that this was more than a personal challenge. Stone lifting had become a way for Irish people to reclaim their lost heritage and to come together to celebrate what made their homeland special. The Wind Beneath the Stone is an inspirational story of hope, togetherness and community, revealing how a simple challenge can take on a life of its own.

by Liam O'Connor

€17.99

Every family has a story … for Liam O’Connor that story goes back to his great-grandparents, William and Norry Kennedy. Using the threads of his family’s past to weave a tapestry that is at once personal yet somehow universal, this family memoir gives the reader an eye-witness perspective on the tumultuous lives of the landless, labouring class of nineteenth-century Ireland. Tales of William’s youthful adventures with the Royal navy and serving in HM Coastguard are contrasted with Norry’s early years of domestic servitude, as their lives through these years were set against the backdrop of Britain’s near-global empire and the Big Houses of local landlords, of wars abroad and social turmoil at home, before giving way post-marriage to the priority of surviving and raising a family no matter the circumstances. Beautifully crafted with fact and fiction both playing their role, The Sailor and the Seamstress is a tender tale of joy and sorrow, life and loss and a courage and strength that endures no matter what

by Doireann Ní Ghríofa

€14.99

From the author of A Ghost in the Throat , an unforgettable book - both history and ghost story - that will leave you gasping by its final page. In the city of Cork, a derelict Victorian mental hospital is being converted into modern apartments. One passerby has always flinched as she passes the place. Had her birth occurred in another decade, she too might have lived within those walls. Now, she notices a sign: FOR SALE. It is the first of many signs. Following them, she finds herself drawn into an irresistible river of forgotten voices, those of the women who knew this place best: insistent, vivid and true. They murmur from archives and old records; they whisper from stairwells and walls. Among them – and in one figure in particular -- she may find meaning, solace, rage; her own salvation, perhaps, or her own vanishing? A work of sublime intensity and tenderness, Said the Dead breaks the boundaries between worlds -- past and present, imagined and real -- to make something lasting and new: an experience full of danger, full of love and full of truth. Praise for Said the Dead : There’s magic in this one - a hauntingly beautiful and vivid and necessary book. Kevin Barry                         A haunting, visionary act of witness; this book will be read for decades to come. Anne Enright Said the Dead is one of those rare books where a reader encounters the writer and her characters at a dazzling and bewitching height, at a place where essence meets essence. A piercingly beautiful book that is wounding sometimes and consoling at others, the work, in the end, is life confirming: encompassed in the volume is the unparalleled expansiveness and depth of human minds and hearts. Yiyun Li Doireann ní Ghríofa goes to a place where the veil thins and the worlds meet, and crosses over, and returns, again and again, with living stories of the dead. You can feel the bravery of these acts of psychic trespass, and their sincerity makes for a mysterious and beautiful and thoroughly absorbing book, which continues to reverberate long after you finish it. Lucy Caldwell Doireann Ní Ghríofa is one of the finest writers of non-fiction I know. Said the Dead is an entrancing book -- lyrical and propulsive, it sounds out the echoes of history and finds voices and images that are moving and indelible. Reading this book is like being put under a spell Seán Hewitt Ideal for Readers Who… Loved A Ghost in the Throat — Said the Dead is Doireann Ní Ghríofa's return to the form-dissolving, time-traversing prose that made her debut unlike anything published before it. The same extraordinary attention is here, turned now towards Cork's Victorian asylum and the women the walls remember. Are drawn to Irish women's history that refuses to stay buried — this is a book about the women who were locked away, misdiagnosed, and forgotten. It recovers their voices from archives and casebooks and gives them back to us, vivid and insistent, across more than a century of silence. Want a ghost story that is also something else entirely — Said the Dead is haunted without being horror, historical without being academic, and personal without being memoir. If you find genre labels insufficient, this book was written for you. Read and loved Maggie O'Farrell, Carmen Maria Machado, or Hilary Mantel — readers who respond to prose that holds historical research and personal obsession in the same sentence, and who want their fiction to feel like an act of recovery, will find exactly that here. Have a connection to Cork — or to any place whose walls remember more than people say — the derelict Victorian asylum at the heart of this book is a real place, and Ní Ghríofa writes about it as someone who has walked past it and felt what many people feel: that certain buildings hold their histories differently, and that some of those histories are not finished yet. Believe that reading is its own form of haunting — the narrator of Said the Dead is a reader, pursuing forgotten women through archives and old records. As she reads their lives, we read hers. The experience of reading this book becomes part of its subject matter — which is either the most disorienting thing you can do to a reader, or the most generous.

by Lesley Bond

€17.99

‘Like those who came before me, I arrived as an outsider, but the island does not allow one to remain separate for long. It takes root and leaves a mark you cannot shake.’ Lesley Bond and her partner Gordon were the first couple to embark on the six-month caretaking residency on the Great Blasket Island, one of Ireland’s most remote and historically rich locations. With no electricity, hot water or modern conveniences, their daily existence was like nothing they had experienced, and echoes of the past remained ever-present. As well as chronicling their encounters, Lesley delves into the lives of the island’s last inhabitants and the circumstances that led to their evacuation in the 1950s. A unique blend of personal reflection and historical context, Blasket Bound reveals how the past continues to shape the present. It is an exploration of identity, illustrating how the environments we inhabit and the histories we inherit leave an indelible mark. Ideal for readers who: Seek evocative Irish memoirs dealing with solitude, caretaking and wild island life. Are fascinated by a life of daily grit and quiet belonging on Great Blasket. Admire remote Irish heritage brought to life through weather, silence and practical care. Prefer beautifully reflective nature writing mixed with humour, humility and a strong sense of place.

by Dara Waldron

€12.99

The New York Times bestseller After the sudden death of his father, Dara Waldron became disoriented in a world that had once filled him with wonder. A year later, he meets an abandoned border collie called Oscar hiding on a derelict farm in County Clare. When Dara brings him home, he believes he's committing an act of rescue. Oscar's submissive behaviour hints at a difficult upbringing and, determined to earn his trust, Dara cares for him, walks with him and learns all he can about one of Ireland's most beloved working breeds. As their unexpected companionship brings comfort to their troubled lives, Dara realises that Oscar might be the one doing the rescuing. Set against the beauty of rural Ireland, A Sheepdog Named Oscar is a moving memoir about grief, healing and the incredible bond between humans and dogs. Beautifully written and rich with Waldron's experience, Dara blends nature writing with a deeply personal story of recovery, revealing how small acts of loyalty can lead us back from darkness into life. 'This book will do great good, and bring light to many lives' Donal Ryan, author of The Spinning HeartDara Waldron, New York Times bestseller, September 2025 Ideal for readers who: Find comfort in memoirs where grief softens through animal companionship. Are moved by the bond between Dara Waldron and an abandoned sheepdog. Care about Irish landscapes, working dogs and emotional recovery. Appreciate gentle non-fiction where tenderness and trust slowly rebuild.

by Marie Gleeson

€18.99

‘The one thing you can’t fully control in a ship is the water all around you, so part of your plan is always reading and analysing the currents and the tides. You have a clear image in your head of how you think the ship will perform in the prevailing conditions. But this time something isn't going the way we had planned it …’ As a farmer’s daughter in the country’s largest landlocked county, Marie Gleeson’s unusual career choice took her into uncharted waters. Working her way up from gruelling bootcamp training to leading a drug interdiction operation seizing €700 million of cocaine from a yacht off the Kerry coast, she was a leader among men and rose to every challenge. Developing a love of the sea, Marie learned that to be at one with it required agility, and a willingness to change, to go with the wind – not against it. These lessons prepared her for operating without a life raft when her personal life threw her the greatest challenge of all. Be Like the Sea is the inspiring story of what happens when we overcome our own self-imposed physical, mental and emotional limitations, and a blueprint for charting our own unique path in life. Ideal for readers who: Reach for inspiring memoirs centred on authentic leadership, public service and high-stakes resilience. Value true, powerful stories of women breaking new ground in traditionally demanding careers. Seek fascinating details about the Irish Navy, command pressure and the realities of life at sea. Appreciate practical, deeply reflective writing about adapting and finding strength through personal crisis.

by John Connell

€12.99

A thoughtful, illuminating rumination on the life lessons we can take from those who work the land and the millennia of wisdom they draw upon when they go about their day, making a living by turning light and time into money. As with his previous bestsellers, John Connell skilfully synthesises philosophy, art, literature and spirituality to bolster his thoughts on such topics as stoicism, the food chain and the role of community, leaving the reader convinced of the importance of connecting with their own inner farmer. Ideal for readers who: Are drawn to beautifully written nature writing grounded in hard work, the land and rural community. See the practice of farming as a unique lens on stoicism, global food chains, time and practical wisdom. Enjoy connecting rural lifestyle themes with classic philosophy, art, literature and deep spirituality. Prefer reflective, essay-style books that feel profoundly humane, calming and quietly useful.

by Alan Shipnuck

€16.99

The definitive biography of Rory McIlroy, the most important, popular and confounding player of the post-Tiger era, Rory McIlroy contains multitudes. He can overwhelm a golf course with his transcendent talent and then, at the next tournament, look utterly lost. McIlroy is golf's most eloquent ambassador and a trash-talking troll, sometimes in the same press conference. The child of a working-class family from a small town in a war-torn homeland now commutes to work in his own private jet and counts billionaires as confidants. A dozen years ago, McIlroy asked Alan Shipnuck a question about the player he had modeled himself after, Tiger Woods: 'What's he really like?' As McIlroy enters the last act of his highly eventful career, this book is a chance to redirect that old question and try to understand a man of deep complexity and contradictions. McIlroy's victory at the 2025 Masters packed such an emotional punch because he is golf's most vulnerable superstar. Across two decades as a pro he has been the anti-Tiger, letting fans into his heart and into his world. When McIlroy collapsed onto the final green at Augusta National, having at last completed the career Grand Slam, golf fans cried along with him because so many saw themselves in his struggles. But there is much that the public does not know about McIlroy. With reporting chops honed across thirty years on the golf beat, Shipnuck traces McIlroy's evolution from a young phenom in Northern Ireland to a game-changing force on and off the golf course. Shipnuck has shadowed McIlroy throughout his career, and he brings to life all the heartbreaks and triumphs with thrilling immediacy and unparalleled access. Tabloid romance, bitter business disputes, divisive politicking - it is all part of this portrait of a man in full. Shipnuck has long been known as the most fearless writer on the golf beat, and he goes deep into McIlroy's personal history at a time when the spotlight on Rory has never been brighter. Ideal for readers who: Follow elite sports biographies that look beyond trophies into the realities of pressure, form and character. Wish to explore Rory McIlroy’s rapid rise, fascinating contradictions and long chase for the career Grand Slam. Connect modern golf history with Northern Ireland, Augusta National and the competitive post-Tiger era. Appreciate high-quality sports writing offering insider access, emotional vulnerability and intense match detail.

by Nikita Hand

€17.99

December, 2018. The aftermath of a night of revelry. The promise of a party. And then, a journey into darkness that would change the course of Nikita Hand’s life – as she endured a brutal assault where she believed she would die. Here, in her own words, Nikita tells her unforgettable story. From the bleak days that followed, reeling in shock and fear, to the long hours as she gave her Garda statement, trusting the truth would be enough. Then months holding her breath, only to discover there would be no prosecution. When she took the decision that would define her future, Nikita Hand stepped into the glare of a civil case against one of the world’s most powerful athletes, Conor McGregor, knowing exactly what it would cost her – but certain she had no choice. Through panic attacks, sleepless nights, a terrifying home invasion that shattered any remaining sense of safety, she kept going. On into the courtroom, where she faced her perpetrator at arm’s length – and spent four gruelling days in the witness box. The judgment would make headlines. The backlash would nearly break her. Not the Perfect Victim is the electrifying, courageous story of a woman reclaiming her power. An account of survival, defiance and the hard-won rebuilding of a life no one could take from her. Ideal for readers who: Are ready for a survivor memoir told with directness, courage and anger at injustice. Value stories that challenge the idea of the perfect victim. Are trying to understand the personal cost of reporting, civil action and public backlash. Connect with non-fiction about reclaiming power after trauma without softening the truth.

by Joe Duffy

€22.99

For nearly three decades, Joe Duffy sat behind the mic as host of RTÉ's Liveline, the radio show that became Ireland's national sounding board. In this walk down memory lane, Joe takes readers inside the studio and beyond, sharing the stories, voices and moments that defined a generation. From Celtic Tiger boom to crash, from marriage equality to menopause, Liveline was where Ireland came to talk - and often to change. It was the place where scandals broke, injustices were exposed, and ordinary people made headlines - and where issues from maternity care to abuses in schools and institutions were brought into the national conversation. With warmth, honesty and trademark wit, Joe reflects on the privilege and responsibility of platforming the nation's voice, through heartbreak, humour, anger and hope. Talk to Joe is more than a memoir: it's a chronicle of Ireland in transition, told by the man who listened hardest - and made talking feel easy.

by Kyla Cobbler

€17.99

When I was twenty-one, I met a woman who introduced me to five magic words that changed my life: Happy, Thank You. More, Please.' Kyla Cobbler's path to self-love hasn't run smoothly. From questionable dating decisions, to using booze to quell her constant Irish state of mortification, to getting wrongly arrested for drug smuggling - sometimes it's been hard to believe that the universe has her back. But when Kyla began opening herself up to gratitude - for the tiny victories, not just the big firework moments - and learned to trust her instincts, she began to realise that she had the power to create her own happiness. With raw honesty and wit, Happy, thank you. More, please., chronicles Kyla's journey from performing as the person she thought she should be, to discovering the chaotic, complicated, unapologetically imperfect woman she actually is. This is a book about falling in love with your real self - not because you've fixed everything, but because you've finally stopped trying to. Ideal for readers who: Follow memoirs that turn mortification, messy choices and self-discovery into sharp comedy. Lean towards gratitude stories that feel honest, imperfect and lived-in rather than polished. Warm to Irish voices that can be funny and vulnerable in the same breath. Favour a candid reminder that happiness can begin before everything is fixed.

by Louise O'Neill

€17.99

A deliciously honest memoir about dating, desire and the radical act of wanting more. At 38, Louise O’Neill had the life she thought she wanted—until her long-term relationship ended, taking with it the home, future, and sense of certainty she’d built. Heartbroken but defiant, she made a radical decision: to say yes to everything, to take risks, and to reclaim her life—on her own terms. What followed was a dating experiment that took her across Paris, London, New York, and beyond. Through the men she meets and the moments in between, Louise begins to challenge everything she’s been taught to settle for – in life, love, and in herself. Part memoir, part manifesto, A Bigger Life is a candid, courageous exploration of modern womanhood, sexual freedom, and the myths we’re sold about what makes a life worthwhile. It’s about embracing uncertainty, finding joy after heartbreak, and creating space for the version of yourself that doesn’t play small. Louise invites us to laugh, wince, and reflect as she asks the question at the heart of the book: What does it really mean to live a bigger life? Ideal for readers who: Connect with memoirs about dating, desire and rebuilding after heartbreak. Prefer frank reflections on wanting more from love, sex and adulthood. Warm to self-discovery told through travel, risk-taking, candour and wit. Cherish feminist honesty about refusing to shrink or settle.

by James McClean

€22.99

This is the raw untold story of a footballer from Creggan, a complex and deprived area of his beloved Derry, who defied the odds to reach the summit of his profession. James McClean grew up in the staunchly republican Creggan area of Derry where he came under the influence of Martin McGuinness, the IRA commander/Sinn Fein leader, amongst others. His decision to shun alcohol and other temptations from an early age meant that he could concentrate on his sporting talent and his dream of becoming a professional footballer. His breakthrough came with his local club, Derry City, who don't play in the Northern Ireland league, but in the Rep of Ireland, before he was capped for an underage Northern Ireland team. He then dramatically switched his allegiance to the Rep of Ireland. He played 103 times for Ireland. He signed for Sunderland in the Premiership and went on to play for Wigan, West Brom and Stoke before a return to Wigan and ending up most recently at Wrexham. His English playing career could be termed more 'journeyman' than star, but his life off the field was far from dull, most notably his decision not to wear a poppy when clubs started to print it on their jerseys. His decision meant he has been both condemned and supported. The BBC said in 2015 that McClean's decision not to wear the poppy was one of the top 5 reasons people stated they wouldn't wear one. After the refusal he was subjected to sectarian abuse and loyalist threats, including death threats. Ideal for readers who… Have followed James McClean's career and want his own account of it  - McClean has spent fifteen years in English football, earned a century of caps for the Republic of Ireland, and has just returned to his hometown club, Derry City. The Walls is his account of that career, in his own words. Are interested in the relationship between football, identity, and Northern Ireland's history  - McClean has spoken publicly for over a decade about his reasons for not wearing a poppy, rooted in his connection to Derry and Bloody Sunday. This memoir gives the fuller context behind a position he has had to explain repeatedly throughout his career. Want to understand what it has meant, day to day, to hold a public position that draws sustained criticism  - McClean has spoken about the abuse he has received over many years. This book is an opportunity to hear, in detail and in his own words, what that experience has actually involved. Are from Derry, Creggan, or follow League of Ireland football  - McClean began his career at Derry City and has now returned there. For readers with a connection to the club or the city, this is the story of one of their own, told from the beginning. Read sports memoirs for more than the sport  - The Walls sits alongside other recent Irish sporting memoirs that use a career in sport as a way into a much larger personal and political story.

by Simon Zebo

€21.99

The electrifying story of a rugby icon who changed the game - and the face of Irish sport. From the streets of Cork to the grand stages of Thomond Park, the Stade Yves-duManoir and beyond, Simon Zebo's journey is one of flair, fire and fearless individuality. In this candid and captivating memoir, Zebo opens up about his life, from his record-breaking feats with Munster and Ireland to his trailblazing role as the first black man to wear the green jersey. With trademark wit and warmth, Zebo reflects on the highs and lows of a career that spanned continents, including his unforgettable stint with Racing 92, his Lions tour memories, the moments that made him a fan favourite, and his insightful, exuberant punditry. Co-written with acclaimed rugby journalist Gerry Thornley, Zeebs is more than a sports memoir: it's a celebration of self-expression, resilience and the joy of playing the game your way. Ideal for readers who: Reach for candid rugby memoirs about flair, identity and breaking new ground. Follow Zebo’s Munster, Ireland and Racing 92 career told with affection. Return to sports autobiographies with warmth, humour and behind-the-scenes honesty. Prefer stories of resilience, self-expression and changing what Irish rugby can look like.

by Peter O'Mahony

€24.99

Pre-order now from Easons to secure a signed copy while stocks last. During a golden era of success for Irish rugby, Peter O'Mahony stood out as the player who most fully embodied the traditional values of the game. Now, in his autobiography, Peter gives us a brilliantly detailed and frank account of the forces that made him who he is: his parents, his beloved grandmother, his club, his school, and the magnificent rugby pedigree of his province. And he brings us through the years that saw him rise to the captaincy of Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, and earn a reputation as a master of the silky and brutal arts of back-row play. This book is everything that Peter was as a player: frank, combative, wholehearted and first-rate. Ideal for readers who: Favour frank rugby autobiography rooted in Munster, Ireland and Lions leadership. Recognise grit, standards and an uncompromising back-row presence. Respond to sports memoirs shaped by family, club loyalty and elite culture. Return for candid, combative life stories with match-day intensity.

by Gary Murphy

€21.99

An insightful, searing and clear-eyed account of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his time as leader of the country during Ireland's greatest crisis From the author of the bestselling Haughey, Gary Murphy returns with a major reassessment of Ireland's most turbulent political era. In this richly textured account of Brian Cowen's inexorable rise to the office of Taoiseach and his dramatic fall, Murphy offers a ground-breaking portrait of a man and an era that defined modern Ireland. This rigorously researched study examines the decisions, pressures and circumstances that shaped Brian Cowen's 1,036 days as Taoiseach, a period that coincided with the collapse of Ireland's banking system and the state's entry into an EU-IMF programme. Drawing on extensive interviews, documentation and contemporaneous accounts, Murphy explores the context surrounding the bank guarantee, the loss of economic autonomy and the path that led to external intervention. Balanced, detailed and accessible, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of how government, institutions and global forces interacted during a crisis that transformed modern Ireland.

by Frank Shovlin

€26.99

The definitive biography of Ireland's greatest post-war writer: 'the most important Irish novelist since Samuel Beckett' (Guardian) that 'everyone should read'; (Colm Tibn); 'one of the greatest writers of our era' (Hilary Mantel). The definitive biography of Ireland's greatest post-war writer, rich in dramatic revelations bringing to life the world that inspired his masterpieces. On his death in 2006, John McGahern was hailed as 'the most important Irish novelist since Samuel Beckett' (Guardian) that ‘everyone should read’ (Colm Tóibín) and ‘one of the greatest writers of our era’ (Hilary Mantel). But who was the enigmatic man behind the literary myth? McGahern became famous in 1965 when his novel The Dark - exposing child abuse in the rural Irish community - was banned for its ‘pornographic content’. But his private life before and after has been shrouded in mystery. One of seven children on a farm ruled by his militant father, McGahern’s universe was shattered by the death of his mother when he was nine. After studying at University College Dublin, his early marriage failed - and once dismissed from his position as a teacher after the censorship scandal, his turmoiled love affairs as an exile in London lead to the secret birth of a son. But it was the moment he met his future wife, Madeline Green – his partner for the rest of his life – that defined his future existence of literary creativity. After decades of research, Frank Shovlin has crafted a magisterial portrait of this elusive figure, drawing on hours of new interviews and unseen archival material to illuminate a cultural legend. Ideal for readers who: Make time for a definitive biography of John McGahern and the Ireland that shaped him. Appreciate literary lives told through family history, censorship and private contradictions. Are interested in the person behind a major national writer. Lean towards Irish cultural history with drama, research and emotional depth.

by Rory Carroll

€15.99

The new book from the author of the critically acclaimed KILLING THATCHER An extraordinary story that explores a pivotal moment in Anglo-Irish history that has implications for Europe and the wider world A narrative non-fiction that reads like a novel by an author at the top of his game Uses first class research to crate a page-turning history with a vast array of characters KILLING THATCHER was hailed as ‘non-fiction that reads like a first class thriller’ by Jonathan Freedland – and Rory’s new book promises to be a similarly exciting work of propulsive historical non-fiction From the master storyteller behind 2023’s critically acclaimed KILLING THATCHER A Rebel and a Traitor is the story of a rogue imperial consul who sought to forge a new nation in the middle of a war – and the mercurial spy chief who sought to destroy him by any means. The rogue consul was Sir Roger Casement, a decorated diplomat who turned his back on the British empire and instead joined the rising Irish cause at the turn of the 20th century. At the book’s centre is the manhunt for Casement led by intelligence officer Reginald ‘Blinker’ Hall, the legendary British spy chief who pioneered codebreaking, early mass surveillance and media manipulation. As he did for the critically acclaimed Killing Thatcher, master storyteller Rory Carroll has combed diaries, letters, police reports, memoirs, court transcripts, secret service archives and declassified government files in the US, Britain, Ireland and Germany to create a page-turning history, and a story that still echoes through Anglo-Irish relations. A Rebel and a Traitor raises profound questions about honour, courage and the price of patriotism. Ideal for readers who: Appreciate narrative non-fiction on Irish independence, empire and espionage. Follow a fugitive manhunt with political betrayal at its centre. Are interested in Anglo-Irish history shaped by spies, courts and wartime loyalties. Value meticulous research with the pace and tension of a thriller.

by Jacqueline Connolly

€11.99

NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025, AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS 'Vital' Sunday Independent 'Compelling' Irish Times 'Riveting' Irish Independent 'Chilling' Irish Mail on Sunday 'Every woman in Ireland needs to read Deadly Silence' The Sunday Times The heart-breaking account of a search for the truth behind the brutal killings that shocked a nation. Jacqueline Connolly's world was shattered when she learned that her sister Clodagh and three young nephews - Liam, Niall and Ryan - had been killed by Alan Hawe in August 2016. Thus began a heart-breaking journey to piece together the circumstances leading up to these tragic events. Here she tells that story, revealing the coercive control and manipulation that shaped her sister's final years, the profound failures in the initial garda investigation, and the shocking findings from the Garda Serious Crime Review, which starkly exposed the terrible darkness of a cold-blooded murder-suicide planned for a year in advance. Deadly Silence is a powerful account that challenges our understanding of domestic violence and family annihilators, a testament to sisterly love, and a deeply inspiring personal journey of healing from severe trauma and loss. Ideal for readers who: Are drawn to gripping Irish true crime that prioritises victim voices, family perspectives and systemic accountability. Wish to follow Jacqueline Connolly’s courageous search for the truth behind the tragic Hawe family killings. Want to explore how silence, community reputation and gender-based violence culminated in a national tragedy. Value meticulously researched non-fiction that remains deeply powerful without ever feeling exploitative.

by Sarah Corbett Lynch

€11.99

BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2025 - AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS A shocking true story of heartbreak and survival by Sarah Corbett Lynch, daughter of Jason Corbett - an Irish Times Number 1 bestseller and the subject of NETFLIX documentary A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE. 'Honest and compelling' Sunday Independent 'Powerful, heartbreaking' Irish Times 'An enthralling read' Irish Daily Mail 'A powerful and poignant memoir that transforms loss into a legacy of love and hope' Katriona O'Sullivan, bestselling author of Poor 'This book is a must-read' Irish Independent At approximately 3.15 a.m. on 2 August 2015, eight-year-old Sarah Corbett Lynch was lifted from her bed by a police officer and carried downstairs, shielded from the chaos that had broken out in her North Carolina home. Hours passed before she learned that her beloved father Jason was dead. And the people who had killed him were Sarah's stepmother Molly Martens and her father Tom. In A Time for Truth, Sarah reveals the startling truth of life behind closed doors in her family's home, controlled by Molly - the only mother she had ever known. And Sarah describes the traumatic aftermath as she and her brother Jack fought for justice for their father from the safety of their loving new home with Jason's family in Ireland. A Time for Truth is a unique testimony of devastation, survival and hope, against the odds.

by Miriam O'Callaghan

€10.99

THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER Shortlisted for Biography of the Year, Irish Book Awards 2025 'Hugely uplifting. My mood was completely altered in a really lovely way by it. She is remarkable - really relatable and really kind. I would recommend this very much' Marian Keyes 'Beautiful … fascinating insights … authentic and open' Her. ie 'This book is great' Patrick Kielty, The Late Late Show 'Fast-paced and enjoyable' Irish Times --- The fascinating new memoir from one of Ireland's most celebrated and singular broadcasters I started writing this book as an exclusively work memoir but the work and the personal kept overlapping. I don't know if that's because I'm a woman or a mother or both, or none of those reasons. I just know that for my story to be authentic and truthful, I couldn't simply focus on the work side of my life. Miriam O'Callaghan is one of Ireland's best-known broadcasters, covering every election, referendum, major controversy and important public event for TV, and hosting an award-winning radio show. Combining career success, high-octane glamour and being a mother-of-eight makes her a truly unique figure in Irish public life. In her absorbing memoir, Miriam shares touching stories from her personal life - from the life-changing impact of losing her beloved sister and father in a matter of months, and the end of her first marriage that same year, to the joys and challenges of bringing eight children into the world and juggling a frenetically busy life ('give up on perfection' is her wise advice! ). Miriam includes fascinating insights into a career that has given her a ringside seat to a changing Ireland. Like attending Bobby Sands' wake even before she was a journalist, and life coming full circle when she championed John Hume to be declared the greatest figure in Irish history. She describes extraordinary debates, important and heart-breaking conversations with people in the eye of a media storm, and how she goes after and prepares for the big interviews - as well as what happens when things go wrong. Miriam also addresses the recent RTÉ controversies that cast a shadow over its high-profile presenters, not least herself. Miriam is an exceptionally honest and personal memoir from one of Ireland's most esteemed broadcasters 'Candid and intimate' Irish Independent

by Vogue Williams

€10.99

Like hanging with your funniest, sunniest, most sound, wise friend.' Marian Keyes Everything good, bad and downright mad that has shaped Vogue's life and career is laid bare in Big Mouth. So get ready for sharply observed, hilarious and very personal insights into divorce, anxiety, family life, and showbiz, alongside important life lessons, such as how to sellotape a bottle of vodka to your inner thigh on a night out and why you should never be friends with a celebrity. Growing up in her beloved Howth, a seaside town in Co Dublin, Vogue's life had its ups and downs. Her parents separated when she was five, a time in Ireland when priests were still ranting against broken marriages from the pulpit. Bouncing between the routine of her mum Sandra's house and the pub for a few years (her dad, Freddie, was 'fond of the drink'), everything changed overnight when Sandra (a complete ride) met Scottish businessman Neil and they moved to the big house on the cliff. In the school halls of Santa Sabina, Vogue made friends for life and spent her teenage years hanging out around off-licences, playing Beat the Slapper and getting kicked out of home. After school, she was packed off to Aberdeen by Neil to begin her short career as a builder but soon jacked it in when she was cast in reality TV show Fade Street. What follows is a behind-the-scenes peek at a rollercoaster life full of highs, lows, marriages, mistakes, misdemeanors and triumphs. Loudly, Vogue tells her whole story, moles and all, for the first time in this candid and funny dive into her hyperactive life. Join Vogue for a rollercoaster of marriages, mishaps, mischief and mayhem in her heartwarming memoir. Ideal for readers who: Enjoy candid celebrity memoirs, Irish comedy, and unfiltered autobiographical storytelling. Are hooked by a chaotic life story covering showbiz highs, divorces, blended family dynamics, and reality television fame. Appreciate the nostalgic cultural context of growing up in a coastal Irish town in the nineties and navigating early adulthood. Crave a hilarious, boisterous, and sharply observed reading experience that feels like chatting with a wise, witty friend.

by Randal Plunkett

€13.19

'Randal's voice dares to diverge in a world built on conformity and tradition. I genuinely revelled in every moment. This book is raw, heartfelt, brave and just utterly alive' - Seán Ronayne, author of Nature Boy At the age of 28, Randal Plunkett inherited the title of Baron Dunsany, alongside Dunsany Castle and the 1,600-acre estate and found himself at a crossroads. A reluctant aristocrat, he now lets nature run wild on grounds his ancestors farmed for centuries. What Randal had was a vision of Dunsany given back to nature. A memoir-with-a-message, Wild Thing showcases how this poisoned chalice - a cold, leaky, needy castle, with all the responsibilities to the generations before - inspired a personal journey toward fulfilment, a vital mission toward a better, more sustainable, future, and a call to arms for the environment, and the people who live in it.

by Seán Ronayne

€11.99

'Seán's sensitivity to the natural world captivates the reader' Manchán Magan 'Earnest and uplifting' Irish Times 'Informative, inspiring and insightful' Anja Murray Seán Ronayne always knew he was different. Nicknamed 'nature boy' by the other kids, as a child he regularly escaped to the woods and coastlines around his home in Cork. The natural world was his happy place and where he discovered his true passion - identifying and understanding birds through their sound and song. This passion would see him find his calling as an ornithologist. From a near-death experience as a teenager, to his adventures in the Sahara Desert and the jungles of Nepal, coming to terms with an autism diagnosis at the age of thirty‑two and his mission to sound record all the regularly occurring bird species in Ireland (resulting in acclaimed documentary Birdsong), here in Nature Boy Seán takes us on a journey of discovery and wonder. 'Powerful, impassioned and deeply moving, please read this book, now!' Niall Hatch, BirdWatch Ireland

by Oisin Murphy

€10.99

'A GRIPPING AND INCREDIBLY HONEST INSIGHT INTO OUR SPORT, FROM ONE OF RACING'S MOST EXCITING TALENTS' FRANKIE DETTORI 'AN ASTONISHINGLY HONEST ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY.' DAILY TELEGRAPH THE THRILLING AND SEARINGLY HONEST MEMOIR FROM FIVE-TIME CHAMPION JOCKEY OISIN MURPHY. Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy's life has always been one of struggle. From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle. Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing's most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport has required a high-wire dance that continues to push his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite four champion jockey crowns, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours have overshadowed his racing. Fast paced and searingly honest, Sacrifice lays bare Oisin's personal struggles and immerses readers in the daily life of a jockey throughout an entire season. From the countless unseen hours of horse work to the psychological turmoil of racing, the private agony of wasting, and the vital community of the weighing room, it pulls back the curtain and examines the fine line between elite performance and personal destruction in a sport that demands nothing less than total obsession. Part-autobiography, part-diary written in real-time, this incredible and immersive memoir charts Oisin Murphy's year in the saddle, laying bare the pressures of life at the pinnacle of horse-racing. 'ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ ALL YEAR. UTTERLY COMPELLING.' BRENDAN O'CONNOR

by Ciarán Murphy

€12.99

'No matter if you're a die-hard hurling fanatic or you've never seen a match, Old Parish is well worth a read. ' Hot Press 'Entertaining and thoughtful' Irish Independent --- Hurling is Ireland's national game - a source of fascination and pride, even to people who have never played it. Ciarán Murphy, a lifelong club footballer, used to be one of those people. Then he spent a summer trying to play hurling with a tiny club in the West Waterford Gaeltacht. Along the way he embarked on a quest to understand the history, geography and mystique of this extraordinary sport. Old Parish is the club of Ciarán's father, a club where relatives of his are still deeply involved, and possibly the only place brave (or stupid) enough to take on a forty-one-year-old newcomer to the game. Predictably (and at times hilariously), Ciarán finds out just how difficult a sport hurling is to pick up when you're in your sporting dotage, up against men who've played it since childhood. Ciarán also explores why hurling is played in only half the country; he investigates the origins of hurling clubs' antipathy to football and the difficulties of establishing hurling in new areas; he looks into the mysteries of hurley-making; and he seeks to understand why, when a hurling legend refers to the sport as 'the greatest game ever played by any man', he has to be taken seriously. Anyone who has ever watched hurling knows that it is something unique and extraordinary. Old Parish explains why.

by Conor Murray

€10.00

Ideal for readers who: Enjoy rugby memoir and modern sporting biography Are interested in the career, mindset and legacy of Conor Murray Want a book that moves from Thomond Park to the international stage Like sports life writing with reflection, perspective and honesty No matter how these things are judged—longevity, impact or silverware—Conor Murray has more than earned his place in the pantheon of Irish rugby gods. Both at Thomond Park and on the international stage, Murray has stood out even whilst surrounded by other Ireland and Munster names who will themselves go down in history. As a Munster player, Murray has two United Rugby Championship titles to his name and his performances since his debut in 2010 saw Murray also selected in the World Rugby Men’s 15 Team of the Decade, 2010–2019. First capped for his country all the way back in 2011 with his debut showing against France, the Munster scrum-half has also been at the heart of Ireland’s astonishing success in the years since. With 5 Six Nations titles including 2 Grand Slams and well over 100 caps for Ireland — as well as being a 3-time tourist with the British & Irish Lions amassing 8 test caps along the way — Murray has seen it all, played them all, fought back from injury, enjoying huge victories and suffering devastating losses. And now, having announced he is retiring from international rugby, he is telling his own unique story in his own unique way. A hugely respected and revered figure across the world of rugby, and Irish sport in particular, Murray is leaving no stone unturned as he describes the ups and downs, the mental and physical challenges and the fun he had during a rugby career that will forever be regarded as competitive and captivating.

by Eddie Jordan

€12.99

‘A testament to the success of Eddie’s life’ DAMON HILL Full Throttle is a high-octane guide to business, leadership and resilience – told through the extraordinary life and lessons of Formula One legend Eddie Jordan. A maverick team boss and fearless entrepreneur, Eddie built Jordan Grand Prix from scratch, discovered world champions like Michael Schumacher, and turned bold risks into billion-pound successes. Along the way, he inspired everyone around him to back themselves and defy convention. At its heart lies The Jordan Code – 25 powerful principles for entrepreneurs, leaders and ambitious thinkers who want to win against the odds. Each is brought to life through stories and reflections from Eddie’s friends and peers, including Bono, Richard Branson, David Coulthard, Jake Humphrey, Roger Taylor, Mark Webber, and many more. Perfect for business leaders, founders and innovators, Full Throttle shows how courage, instinct and creativity can fuel lasting success. All author profits go directly to The Eddie Jordan Foundation, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, athletes and changemakers. Ideal for readers who… follow Formula One and want the story behind Eddie Jordan’s fearless approach to racing. are interested in Jordan Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher, and the business of motorsport. like leadership books built around practical principles, bold decisions, and real career stories. want an Irish sports biography with energy, mischief, and lessons for ambitious readers. are buying for entrepreneurs, founders, F1 fans, or anyone drawn to risk and resilience.

by Eamon Sweeney

€12.99

'A BOOK THAT ENTERS THE GAA CANON' THE 42 'A MAGICAL-MYSTERY TOUR OF A GAA SEASON' IRISH INDEPENDENT 'A cracking read ... a championship season as redemption song.' MICHAEL CLIFFORD "All the tension of a tight knockout encounter ... one of the books of the year." MIKE McCORMACK Twenty‑one years on from his bestselling The Road to Croker, sportswriter Eamonn Sweeney set out to follow the All‑Ireland championships around the country once again. But there was one problem. To make the journey, he would have to confront a secret fear that had quietly shaped his life. On the pitch, The Last Ditch captures the drama of a hurling season for the ages and a football championship that tested even the most loyal supporters - a landscape of unlikely triumphs, renaissances, shocks, cliffhangers and heartbreak. Off the field, it becomes something deeper: one man's reckoning with middle age, masculinity and a crippling travel phobia that for two decades had dictated the span of his quiet, rural existence. As he moves through towns, terraces and conversations, Sweeney discovers not just the unifying spirit of the GAA, but the possibility of reclaiming a life he thought he'd lost. Both an unforgettable sporting odyssey and a profoundly human memoir, The Last Ditch is a testament to how in Ireland, when all else fails, the GAA brings us home again.

by Jackie McCarthy O'Brien

€11.99

'Compelling, heartfelt and inspiring. I found this book so real. so honest. It has taught me about drive, ambition, persistence and love. And what it means to be really Irish! A triumphant story of achievement in a world made for men!' - Katriona O'Sullivan, author of Poor Jackie McCarthy O'Brien has led a truly remarkable life, from being born in 1961 to an Irish mother and Jamaican father (whom she never met) in Birmingham to growing up in Limerick. She was put in an industrial school as a baby by a priest for being an "illegitimate" black child and not recovered by her mother until she was five. As a teen she excelled at sport and played for Ireland in soccer, but when she was sexually harassed by a coach she changed to Irish rugby team. She got married at 21 before accepting her sexual feelings for women, and leaving the marriage with her three young children. Always a hilarious raconteur, this memoir tells her extraordinary story up until becoming a TikTok star and LGBTQ+ icon in her sixties.

by Brian Carroll

€13.99

THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER THE SHOCKING TRUE CRIME THAT SHOCKED IRELAND From a producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary, A Deadly American Marriage 'Extraordinary and compelling' Pat Kenny, Newstalk 'There is quite a twist in this' Martin King, Ireland AM How Molly Martens' obsession with her stepchildren cost her husband Jason his life and legacy, from the producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary, A Deadly American Marriage When Limerick widower Jason Corbett hired a wholesome young American, Molly Martens, to care for his eighteen-month-old daughter and three and-a-half-year-old son, he could not have known that she was a troubled woman whose obsession with his children would end in his death. Three years after meeting, Jason and Molly married and settled in North Carolina. Four years later, Jason was beaten to death in their marital bedroom. Molly and her father, Tom, a former FBI agent, admitted to killing Jason but claimed self-defence. A Deadly Marriage reveals new information about this shocking case including the strange text Molly sent to Jason's brother less than two hours after his death, how Jason told a friend he was planning to return to Ireland for good just two weeks before he died and Tom Martens' pattern of cleaning up Molly's mess. This is the story of how a wealthy and well-connected American family framed the victim as the aggressor in a horrific killing, blackened his name and served minimal jail time. Journalist Brian Carroll reported on the Martens' court hearings for the Irish Times and is a co-producer of the Netflix documentary A Deadly American Marriage. He has thoroughly investigated the case, including conducting fresh reporting in North Carolina, to write the definitive account of a shattering story. --- 'Goes into the case in far more detail in a much more illuminating way' Matt Cooper, Today FM 'Read this and you'll get quite the education' Elaine Crowley, Ireland AM Ideal for readers who: Read true crime where family, obsession and loss collide. Look beyond the headlines of the Jason Corbett case. Follow Irish cases where documentary detail meets legal aftermath. Value crime non-fiction that keeps human consequence at the centre.

by Laurence Falconer

€18.99

Top of the Morgen! charts the adventures of Laurence Falconer, a craic-loving Dubliner, as he tries to get to grips with a new life in Germany. In his hilarious, heart-warming and self-deprecating style, Laurence explores and celebrates the similarities between the Irish and the Germans (smashing pints) and some of the vast cultural differences (pretty much everything else). From attempts at raucous busking in a quaint and quiet German village to the conversational pitfalls that come about when ‘grand’ is your answer to most questions, Laurence hilariously details the blunders and escapades that thrive in the bewildering cultural gap between the Irish and the Germans. An insightful and funny love letter to two very different cultures, Top of the Morgen! is a fascinating and riotous memoir of finding love and humour in a home very far from home. Ideal for readers who: Connect with an Irish fish-out-of-water memoir about starting over in Germany. Warm to cultural comedy about language, love, blunders and belonging abroad. Cherish self-deprecating storytelling with plenty of Dublin wit. Favour expat stories that find home in unexpected places.

by Matt Cooper

€10.00

SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025 The real story behind Dunnes Stores, the most quintessentially Irish shop of all, and the family drama behind it This is the story of the extraordinary family behind one of Ireland's most famous businesses, Dunnes Stores, over three generations and covering nearly 80 years of retailing but going back as far as the 19th century. With drama worthy of the popular TV drama Succession, a real-life Irish family drama shows the children of a dominant founder argue as to who should run the supermarket empire after his death and take the money from it, and how they dealt or not, with addictions and ill health, including alcoholism. This is the story of excess, success and failure. Ideal for readers who: See Irish business through the lens of family drama. Unpack succession, legacy and private power behind a public brand. Know Dunnes Stores as part of modern Irish retail history. Expect non-fiction that feels revealing, pacy and culturally sharp.

by Nikita Hand

€17.99

December, 2018. The aftermath of a night of revelry. The promise of a party. And then, a journey into darkness that would change the course of Nikita Hand’s life – as she endured a brutal assault where she believed she would die. Here, in her own words, Nikita tells her unforgettable story. From the bleak days that followed, reeling in shock and fear, to the long hours as she gave her Garda statement, trusting the truth would be enough. Then months holding her breath, only to discover there would be no prosecution. When she took the decision that would define her future, Nikita Hand stepped into the glare of a civil case against one of the world’s most powerful athletes, Conor McGregor, knowing exactly what it would cost her – but certain she had no choice. Through panic attacks, sleepless nights, a terrifying home invasion that shattered any remaining sense of safety, she kept going. On into the courtroom, where she faced her perpetrator at arm’s length – and spent four gruelling days in the witness box. The judgment would make headlines. The backlash would nearly break her. Not the Perfect Victim is the electrifying, courageous story of a woman reclaiming her power. An account of survival, defiance and the hard-won rebuilding of a life no one could take from her. Ideal for readers who: Are ready for a survivor memoir told with directness, courage and anger at injustice. Value stories that challenge the idea of the perfect victim. Are trying to understand the personal cost of reporting, civil action and public backlash. Connect with non-fiction about reclaiming power after trauma without softening the truth.

by David McGowan

€12.99

THE IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER When death is a way of life . . . In A Life Among the Dead, David McGowan, Ireland's best known Funeral Director, and subject of the Award-winning Netflix documentary The Funeral Director, guides us through the business, the science and the unexplained elements of death. Alongside exploring the unique approach of Irish culture when it comes to grief and death, David seeks to demystify the process of dying and what happens to the body afterward. The only certainty when we come into this life is that we are going to leave it, and yet it's something most people are reluctant to discuss or allow themselves to think about. David's mission is to open up conversations and encourage people to have an understanding of their loved ones wishes as well as their own. Poignant, humorous and educational, this is an account of a life lived with purpose in the service of the dead.

by Niall Harbison

€10.99

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND IRISH TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER. THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. Hope taught me the meaning of life, Tina taught me the meaning of love. It's not every day you meet a golden retriever in Thailand. When Niall came across a dog shackled to a short chain and in a poor state of health, something reminded him of his personal battle with addiction. He knew he had to rescue her immediately - golden retrievers are rare in Thailand - but there was just something about this dog in particular that told him she was destined for more. He named her Tina, and what she did next is an incredible tale of survival, hope and love. Despite her terrible treatment at the hands of humans, she refused to distrust them or feel sorry for herself, and only opened her heart wider - always with a grin (yes, dogs can smile) and a reassuring wag of her shaggy yellow tail. From the minute Tina was free of her chains, she got on with what needed to be done, inspiring a dog hospital to be built and named after her and helping dogs from all over the world - whether they're street dogs from Thailand or rescue pups in Montana. The movement behind Tina has not stopped. This is her story.

by Harry Barry

€11.99

'Filled with grit, joy, laughter and sacrifice' Irish Times 'A beautiful and compelling memoir ... a manual for life' Ryan Tubridy 'This book provides unique insights into the life and work of one of Ireland's most influential doctors' SR STAN KENNEDY DR HARRY BARRY's life and career has been shaped by defining events: a solitary childhood with chronic illness, a traumatic experience in school, and family tragedies that set him on a course of dedicating his life to medicine and healing. Beneath the Surface tells that remarkable story. From the halls of University College Dublin in the 1970s, to a remote hospital in Tanzania where he would meet someone who was to have a transformative effect on his approach to health, and on through decades on the front line of Irish general practice, culminating in a life-altering realisation that would see him change the course of his career. This thought-provoking and inspiring memoir shows us how, by embracing compassion and love, we can transform not only our own lives but the world around us.

by Ronan McGreevy

€18.99

The unheard voice of Seán Lemass - 22 hours of lost interviews reveal the private thoughts of Ireland's most transformative taoiseach Lemass never left any papers or an autobiography. Instead, he gave 22 hours of interviews to an Irish businessman Dermot Ryan in 1967 and 1968. The transcripts were given to The Irish Times and extracts from these interviews were published as a supplement in May 2018. They laid bare tensions in his relationship with long standing Taoiseach de Valera, his disdain for the IRA, his complicated relationship with Great Britain and much more. Anyone who reads this landmark publication will put it down feeling they know the father of modern Ireland significantly better. The Irish Times This book captures the intellect and vision of a truly remarkable man who laid the foundations for our modern state. Micheál Martin Ideal for readers who: Enjoy archival non-fiction that reveals a major public figure in his own words Are drawn to lost interviews with one of Ireland’s most transformative taoisigh Want modern Ireland seen through politics, nation-building and hindsight Like thoughtful, revealing books about Irish public life and leadership

by Johnny Sexton

€11.99

'Sexton will go down as Ireland's greatest ever player' Gordon D'Arcy, Irish Times No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win. The Sexton era was marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams), a series win in New Zealand, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world, and the World Player of the Year award. Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his seemingly inauspicious early experiences in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game. Obsessed is more than just a brilliantly detailed account of a legendary playing career. It is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties. Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby. 'The best ever Irish player to play the game' Andy Farrell 'Sexton is on that rarefied plane of athlete where even his mere presence can feel quietly decisive.' Jonathan Liew, Guardian

by Conor Niland

€10.99

The Racket is the story of pro tennis's 99%: the players who roam the globe in hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments. It brings us into a world where a few dozen super-rich players - travelling with coaches and physios - share a stage with lonely touring pros whose earnings barely cover their expenses. Painting a vivid picture of the social dynamics on tour, the economics of the game, and the shadows cast by gambling and doping, The Racket is a witty and revealing underdog's memoir and a unique look inside a fascinating hidden world. Ideal for readers who… want an insider tennis memoir focused on rankings, travel, and the reality of making a living. are curious about the sport’s economics beyond the superstar level and Grand Slam glamour. like sports writing that mixes personal experience with behind-the-scenes tour culture. are interested in the pressures around gambling and doping in modern professional sport. enjoy underdog stories about ambition, setbacks, and the fine margins of elite competition.

by Bono

€13.99

An updated and abridged edition of Bono's bestselling memoir, including a new introduction by the author, Stories of Surrender is an unforgettable love story, a tribute to fatherhood, friendship, faith and music. Honest, irreverent, and intimate, it's a backstage pass to a frontman's remarkable life, from Bono's childhood in Dublin to the rise of U2. A companion to the Apple Original Film of his critically acclaimed solo theatre show, Stories of Surrender is a luminous autobiography of one of the great voices of our time. Bono: Stories of Surrender, An Apple Original Film is streaming on Apple TV+ this May. 'Bono - the guy that wants to save the world. One of the Dubliners. Rock star poet. Lovable rogue. You have to appreciate his commitment to social causes - always pushing for change, always trying to fix things. Good for him. Most people don't even bother. Trying to change the world and maybe transcend it. Singing for a world too obsessed with noise to listen. Searching for redemption like all of us are - and he seems to be aware of the depths of that search. He knows the distance between the soul and the public square. He's got guts that guy. Bravo Bono.' Bob Dylan 'A brilliant, very funny, very revealing, autobiography-through-music. Maybe the best book ever written about being a rockstar.' Caitlin Moran 'Surrender is a rich and honest book, rich because of its honesty. If you want to know the man behind the shades, read this book. He's worth getting to know.' Salman Rushdie

by Seamus O'Rourke

€13.99

'We hadn't a clue 'til we got the telly and then we wanted to be like Dallas. We were never happy, that we knew of. We were always longing for something else, so we kept doing the same. What we wouldn't do to go back and give ourselves a good boot up the backside.'   When actor, playwright and comedian Seamus O'Rourke first published Standing in Gaps in 2020 it found a wide audience amongst readers in rural Ireland. With a distinct talent for seeing the absurd in the ordinary, mundane lives of people who 'had nothing better to be at' and making it hilarious, Standing in Gaps manages to turn back time and transport the reader to a place where everything moved slowly - and in the Leitrim of the '60s, '70s and '80s, that means really slowly. In this memoir about family, people and time, O'Rourke finds diamond-tipped-needles in bales of really bad hay, providing laughter and stories of mayhem for his many fans.

by Seamus O'Rourke

€19.99

In the sequel to Seamus O'Rourke's popular first memoir, Standing in Gaps, this innocent Leitrim lad finally flees the nest, briefly sampling life in New York, Dublin and London - before inevitably returning to his beloved, duller than dishwater existence at home - a life which now includes alcohol, Doctor Hook and some low-budget romance. But man does not live on romance alone and Seamus needs to get to the bottom of his general uselessness, spurred on as always by his ever-the-realist father, who prophesised his mediocrity from an early age. Seamus continues to underachieve whilst struggling to interpret his auld lad's advice and watered-down compliments - 'You weren't as bad as I often saw ya', 'They must be badly stuck, if they asked you', and the classic 'What kind of an eejit are ya?' - all while capturing the innocence and the absurdity of rural life in 1980s and 1990s Ireland. As always, O'Rourke finds diamond-tipped-needles in bales of really bad hay, providing more laughter and stories of mayhem for fans. 'A gifted actor, writer and storyteller produces a memoir that is simply - gifted' Joe Duffy

by Michael P. Harding

€12.99

"Harding's prose style is fluid and fluent... unflinching, merciless honesty." — Sunday Independent To mark his 70th birthday, Michael Harding travelled to Spain to walk part of the Camino de Santiago . But as he set off on his pilgrimage, he realised he wasn’t alone. Accompanying him was the ghost of his long-dead father—a distant, aloof figure whom he lost at the age of twenty-two. With searing honesty and beautifully crafted prose, Harding explores how this man, gone nearly half a century, could still cast such a long shadow over his life. From the Ireland of his youth to the moment of his father’s death, and to the holy wells and pubs he later visited in a search for connection, I Loved Him From the Day He Died is a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the desire to understand those we lose too soon. This deeply personal memoir is a moving meditation on forgiveness, healing, and letting go—told with Harding’s signature vulnerability and profound insight. Praise for Michael Harding’s books: "Hilarious and tender... beautifully written." —Kevin Barry "A beautiful book of great tenderness, love of life, and wisdom." —Joseph O’Connor "Compelling." — Sunday Times

by Niall Harbison

€11.99

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Most people think I save dogs, but really they saved me. Niall Harbison is a dog hero based in Thailand. He spends his days feeding, caring for and rescuing the many street dogs he comes across. With every rescue there's a story. Like the sweet gentle McMuffin who was found with many tumours and hours from death, only to be nursed back to health. She now lives with Niall and is a popular member of the pack. Then there is King Whacker - who escaped a vicious attack and is now ruling the nest living up to his name as the king of the all good dogs. And who could resist the puppy eyes of little Rodney, the beautiful dog with big paws who is melting millions of hearts around the world.Originally from Dublin, Niall was the owner of a successful advertising company. After selling it, he moved to Thailand where his addictions - drugs and alcohol - almost got the better of him. One day he woke up in hospital, close to death, and realised that something had to change. And that was what spurred him on to start saving and helping street dogs. His aim is to help 10,000 street dogs.This is his story.

by Ciarán Murphy

€12.76

A provocative look at how grassroots GAA interacts with life in Ireland, from the wittiest Gaelic games pundit at work today The GAA is Ireland's largest civil society organisation, woven into the fabric of families and communities - and yet most books about Gaelic games focus on the greatest players and inter-county teams. This is the Life is a book about the 99%: a witty and provocative look at grassroots GAA from the most intelligent and interesting Gaelic games pundit at work today. Ciarán Murphy - of Second Captains and the Irish Times - has an unmatched feel for the timeless elements of this world and a finger on the pulse of change. He looks at the plight of rural clubs that are losing their players to the cities - and he does so not only as a journalist but as a footballer who made the same move himself. He writes about working as an assistant in the clothing shop owned by the family of Jarlath Fallon - both Ciarán's sporting hero and the local postman. And he looks a things we usually prefer not to talk about, like the role of social class in the GAA. This is the Life is a book about the places the GAA comes from, the places it can take a person, and the things that make a local club worth fighting for. 'There is a deep understanding of the way the GAA works at every level … a brilliant read from start to finish' Paul Rouse, The Irish Examiner

by Eoghan Murphy

€20.39

A wonderfully engaging, honest and witty portrait of the humiliations, idealism, nobility and banality of democratic life' - Rory Stewart, author of Politics on the Edge' Wryly self-deprecating, but also informative and illuminating' - Matt Cooper As Ireland's Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy took on one of the toughest brief in government, one that continues to be a challenge today. Looking back at his life in the build-up to parliamentary office and at his time in the cabinet, Eoghan brings a self-lacerating and deeply personal view of the life of a modern politician trying - and often failing - to make the positive change he hoped to deliver. Brutal and sometimes harrowing, Eoghan's tale is also surprisingly funny, though the humour is only ever at the author's expense. If, in the end, all political careers end in failure, why didn't anyone tell the author that? There are no heroes or villains here, just a person facing their own limitations as they navigate the unfamiliar world of campaigns, elected office and government responsibility. Bringing refreshing candour to the pressures and absurdity of politics, this book shows us who our politicians really are when there's nothing left to spin and no one there to spin it to.

by Marie Cassidy

€15.08

The Number One bestselling memoir from Ireland's former state pathologistIn 1997, Dr Marie Cassidy arrived in Dublin from Glasgow. There to discuss a possible deputy state pathologist post with Professor John Harbison, instead she was whisked by police escort to a Grangegorman murder scene. There was no turning back.She became Ireland's State Pathologist from 2004 until 2018, her image synonymous with breaking news of high-profile cases - a trusted figure in turbulent times.Here, with the scalpel-like precision and calm authority of her trade, Marie shares her remarkable personal journey from working-class Scotland into the world of forensic pathology, describing in candid detail the intricate processes central to solving modern crime.She recounts her work following the tragic deaths of Rachel O'Reilly, Siobhan Kearney, Robert Holohan, Tom O'Gorman and others - along with the Stardust exhumations and lesser known cases from her long career - outlining the subtle methods by which pathology and the justice system meet.Beyond the Tape is a unique behind-the-scenes journey into the mysteries of unexplained and sudden death - by turns poignant, stark and deeply compelling.

by Marian Broderick

€14.99

From every county in Ireland Bold, Brilliant & Bad draws together the stories of over 120 amazing Irish women. Marian Broderick is back to explore the histories of remarkable Irish Women in history. From creative craftswomen to singing sensations, poets to sporting champions.  From Lilian Bland to Maeve Binchy and from Anne O'Brien to Professor Sheila Tinney, these women paved the way for the future and made massive changes in their various fields. Meet the women from history who went against the grain and challenged the expectations of the world. There were and are a force to be reckoned with.  

by Marian Broderick

€13.49

From patriots to pirates, warriors to writers, and mistresses to male impersonators, this book looks at the unorthodox lives of inspiring Irish women. In times when women were expected to marry and have children, they travelled the world and sought out adventures; in times when women were expected to be seen and not heard, they spoke out in loud voices against oppression; in times when women were expected to have no interest in politics, literature, art, or the world outside the home, they used every creative means available to give expression to their thoughts, ideas and beliefs. In a series of succinct and often amusing biographies, Marian Broderick tells the life stories of these exceptional Irish women.

by Nicola Pierce

€19.99

Throughout history, the stories of women's lives and work have been overshadowed by those of men. Wives, especially, disappear, unacknowledged as patrons and champions of their husband's work, as collaborators, muses, carers and managers of the family domain. Great Irish Wives shines a spotlight on ten such wives: Matilda Tone, Mary O'Connell, Constance Wilde, Charlotte Shaw, Emily Shackleton, Annette Carson, Sinéad de Valera, Margaret Clarke, George Yeats and Beatrice Behan. The men in this book are household names, from Wolfe Tone and Daniel O'Connell to Oscar Wilde and Brendan Behan, and they all have one thing in common: they married women who enabled them to pursue their dreams, even if that meant courting death or outrage. Nicola Pierce tells the stories of these truly remarkable women. Ideal for readers who: Want Irish history that brings overlooked women back into view. Are interested in the lives behind famous names and public achievements. Care about marriage, partnership and the hidden labour behind political and literary history. Prefer accessible biography that is thoughtful, revealing and easy to read.

by Patsy McGarry

€20.69

As the Religious Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times from 1997, Patsy McGarry reported on some of the most troubling scandals to have rocked both Catholic and Protestant Churches in the last few decades. In Well, Holy God, he looks back not only on his time in journalism, recalling some of the most distressing stories he has had to cover, but also his own history with Catholicism and of a faith lost when the stark realities of being part of that Church became apparent to him. This book covers the gamut of his career, from the horrors of the various clerical child sex abuse cases, the vilification of Bishop Eamonn Casey and the muted reaction the Church of Ireland to the violence at Drumcree, to the role of women in the Catholic Church and the tragedies of the Mother and Baby Homes and the Magdalene laundries. Alongside accounts of such seismic events, there are lighter anecdotes, including the perils of travelling with a pope, some characters he's met along the way and a look at the good that those with a true calling can do. Well, Holy God is a memoir brimming with personality, charting the highs and lows of a truly fascinating career.

by Liam Brady

€12.76

The perfect Father's Day sports book gift 'A brilliant insight into Liam's life in football' - Kevin Moran 'Insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining. I loved it' - Roddy Doyle 'One of our country's great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful' - John Giles After being expelled from school for playing football for his country, fifteen-year-old Liam Brady travelled to London to join Arsenal, and soon became an indispensable part of their glorious 1970s team. Rightly considered one of the Republic of Ireland's best-ever footballers, he went on to enjoy successes with Juventus, Sampdoria and West Ham, as well as managing Celtic and Brighton and Hove, and becoming assistant manager of his national team. Today he is best known for his much-respected TV punditry and searingly intelligent insights into the game he adores. Full of honest insights, amusing anecdotes and recollections of extraordinary times, Born to be a Footballer delivers a compelling story of a fifty-year career that is unparalleled in Irish sport. Born to be a Footballer was shortlisted for the Eason Sports Book of the Year Award at the Irish Book Awards on 22nd November 2023

by Páraic Kerrigan

€16.95

Marking 50 years of the founding of an LGBTQ rights movement in Ireland, REELING IN THE QUEERS explores the lesser-known stories of the fight for LGBTQ rights . . . beyond decriminalization and Marriage Equality. Uncovering fourteen key moments that reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of Ireland, this book tells the story of the collective gains, losses, devastation and community rising from the ashes of defeat. These stories, from across the island of Ireland - and beyond! - will celebrate a strong community and its allies, providing an exchange across generations. It is a hugely enjoyable and insightful read for those who lived through this history and for those who enjoy its benefits today. Bringing even more to life the great big gay tapestry in Ireland, to enable young queer Irish people to access their own important history, the light, the dark and the brilliance of all of it.

by Tony Holohan

€12.76

Dr Tony Holohan served as Chief Medical Officer in Ireland for 14 years, but only really became known to the public during the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time his remarkable leadership skills came to the fore and he became the public face of the pandemic, helping to steer the nation through the biggest public health crisis in Ireland's modern history. However, while dealing with the most serious pandemic in a century in his professional life, he was also enduring challenges at home. His beloved wife of 25 years, Emer, was battling cancer, and died in February 2021. This remarkable book reflects on these experiences and inspires us to have those difficult conversations that ultimately make life more meaningful.

by Peter Murtagh

€19.99

Aged 69, Peter Murtagh decided it was time to embark on ‘the great retirement project’ – riding a motorbike from Tierra del Fuego, at the very southern tip of South America, to the most northerly point in Alaska, alone and without the pressure of any deadline: just a tent, a bike and a sleeping bag. En route, Peter explored magical, wonderful and extraordinarily out-of-the-way parts of our bruised world, met incredible people from all walks of life and observed a great swathe of the planet. Travelling alone on the 45,000 km journey allowed him a rare opportunity to disconnect from hectic daily life and to embrace the solitude, challenge and peace-of-mind of the road less travelled. From Tip to Top is a story of optimism and hope, an adventure of a lifetime and a ground-level portrait of the Americas as we rarely see them.

by Eimear Ryan

€13.19

'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán Murphy What is it like to be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay. And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls? In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport. Praise for The Grass Ceiling 'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times 'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times 'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner 'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish Times

by Charlie Bird

€11.60

A poignant and introspective memoir from Irish journalist and broadcaster Charlie Bird.In 2021, Charlie Bird was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a man whose voice was so synonymous with his career faced losing it completely. Yet knowing he had just a short time left with family and friends, what emerged was a great sense of resilience and motivation to take advantage of every moment.Here, Charlie reflects on his life and phenomenal broadcast career through the lense of his diagnosis, as he ponders the big questions and takes stock of the small moments that we so often overlook.Written over the course of 2022 as his health deteriorated, with the help of long-time friend and fellow journalist Ray Burke, this is a candid and unforgettable story about the triumph of the human spirit and, ultimately, what it means to be alive.

by Sinéad O'Connor

€11.99

THE LANDMARK MEMOIR OF A GLOBAL MUSIC ICON SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2021 Sinéad O'Connor's voice and trademark shaved head made her famous by the age of twenty-one. Her recording of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' made her a global icon. She outraged millions when she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on American television. O'Connor was unapologetic and impossible to ignore, calling out hypocrisy wherever she saw it. She remained that way for over three decades. In her acclaimed No 1 bestselling memoir Rememberings, O'Connor told her story - the heartache of growing up in a family falling apart; her early forays into the Dublin music scene; her adventures and misadventures in the world of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll; the fulfilment of being a mother; her ongoing spiritual quest - and through it all, her abiding passion for music. Rememberings is intimate, replete with candid anecdotes and full of hard-won insights. It is a unique and remarkable chronicle by a unique and remarkable artist. ***** 'Inspiring, liberating, hilarious and fascinating' Irish Times 'Beautifully observed ... lyrical, funny and anguished' Guardian 'Her voice on the page is as fearless, riveting and unforgettable as her voice in song. The cadence alone is hypnotic, her story essential. Rememberings is a must-read' Michael Stipe 'So good, you'll want to read it twice' Sunday Independent 'A soul-bearing, brutally honest account of an extraordinary life' BBC Online 'Tremendous . . . fierce and funny' Sunday Times Books of the Year

by Edna O'Brien

€15.08

The iconic memoir from the Irish author of the legendary The Country Girls trilogy. 'Get ready to applaud, ladies and gentlemen, because there is no one like her.' Anne Enright 'One of the last great lights of the golden age of Irish literature.' Eimear McBride 'Glittering energy.' Colm Tóibìn I thought of life's many bounties, to have known the extremities of joy and sorrow, love, crossed love and unrequited love, success and failure, fame and slaughter ... Born in Ireland in 1930 and driven into exile after publication of her controversial first novel, The Country Girls, was burned in public, Edna O'Brien is now hailed as one of the most majestic writers of her era - and Country Girl is her fabulous memoir. Born in rural Ireland, O'Brien weaves the tale of her life from convent school to elopement, divorce, single-motherhood, moving on to the wild parties of 1960s bohemian in London, encounters with Hollywood giants, pop stars, and literary titans, love and unrequited love, and glamorous trips to America as a celebrity writer. Country Girl is a rich and heady accounting of the events, people, emotions, and landscape that have forged a legendary author. O'Brien recasts her life with the imaginative alchemy of a poet, and the result is a memoir of sparkling wisdom and honesty.

by Jim McGuinness

€14.99

Bord Gáis Energy Sports Books of the Year  'Sports Book of the Year' The Sunday Times 'McGuinness' story is remarkable.' The Irish Independent 'A powerful blend of defiance and vulnerability … memorable and distinctive.' The Irish Times Before Jim McGuinness took over as manager of the Donegal senior football team in the summer of 2010, they were in GAA wilderness. When he stepped down just over four years later, the same group of players had won three Ulster championships, the All-Ireland title of 2012 and succeeded in overturning a century-old perception of how Gaelic football should be played. His departure also marked the end of a personal odyssey, which had begun almost three decades earlier and weathered the aftermath of two family tragedies. A sports classic, Until Victory Always is both an unforgettable account of McGuinness's years at the helm of the Donegal team and a moving testament to the power of sport to sustain us in our darkest moments. 'A story about how the rawness of grief could end up inspiring not just a man but a county. The story is good; the prose is better.' The Sunday Times 'This compulsively readable, deeply involving book transcends the sports genre by vividly portraying a fiercely passionate, hugely ambitious and utterly uncompromising figure.'  The Sunday Business Post 'A story of inspiration, dedication and courage.' The Sunday Independent

by Tommie Gorman

€12.76

The warm, rich and fascinating memoir of beloved broadcaster Tommie Gorman. When Tommie Gorman was growing up in Sligo in the 1960s, struggle was never far away but his household had a surplus of love and warmth. From modest beginnings as a local reporter at the Western Journal, where his deadlines were dependent on the bus schedule, Tommie landed at RT�, taking up the post of North-West correspondent in 1980. Over the next four decades he became a familiar presence in Irish homes, known for his coverage of Europe and Northern Ireland, as well as his unforgettable interviews with controversial figures including Gerry Adams, Roy Keane, Ian Paisley and Arlene Foster. While revelling in his life as a journalist, he was also coping with the cancer diagnosis he received in 1994 and seeking ways to access life-saving treatments for patients who shared his rare form of the disease. In this insightful and generous book, Tommie takes readers behind the scenes and shares some of his memories from Sligo to Stormont, via Brussels and Sweden, as he recounts forty extraordinary years of Irish history from his front-row seat and looks at what may lie ahead for the island.

by Ray Lane

€16.99

On a grey Sunday afternoon in the depths of the Troubles, bomb disposal officer Ray Lane, in his first ever deployment, was tasked with defusing an IRA 1,000kg bomb planted on the Border. It was the dangerous start to an extraordinary career that would take him to the frontlines of some of the world's most perilous conflicts. From beer kegs packed with explosives to ingenious homemade devices designed to maim and kill, Ray's job was the very definition of danger. With nerves of steel and unmatched skills in wartime diplomacy, Ray dove into some of the world's most hostile environments: Bosnia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Every mission brought him face-to-face with the atrocities of war and left their scars-both physical and emotional. A memoir that is riveting in nature, this takes the readers from the darkest depths of humanity to the heights of bravery. Ray reflects on mental strength and courage-deep inside-to override every human instinct and walk toward a bomb, knowing the risks yet choosing duty over fear.

by Nuala O'Faolain

€13.46

Nuala O'Faolain's first memoir Are You Somebody? became a literary sensation and an international bestseller when it was first published by New Island Books in 1996. It launched a new life for its author, at a time when she had long since let go of expectations that anything new could dislodge patterns of regret and solitude.  A pioneering work of literary memoir, Almost There opens at that moment when O'Faolain's life began to change. It tells the story of a life in subtle, radical, and unforeseen renewal. It is a tale of good fortune chasing out bad - of an accidental harvest of happiness. But it is also a provocative examination of one woman's experience of the 'crucible of middle age' - a time of life that faces in two directions, that forges the shape of the years to come, and also clarifies and solidifies one's relationships to friends and lovers, family and self.  Nuala O'Faolain's final memoir, Almost There chronicles the pursuit of artistic and personal integrity, and what it is to be a woman in contemporary society, with the signature style and raw candidness of her personal writing.

by Stuart Barker

€12.76

With a foreword by Carl Fogarty 'A worthy and fitting tribute to the King of the Roads' - Irish News Joey Dunlop's story is one of towering triumphs and desperate tragedies in almost equal measure. Born poor - dirt poor - with no running water, no electricity, he was the definition of the everyman hero, in what must be considered one of the world's most extreme sports - motorcycle road racing. He remains the most loved and most successful road racer of all time. Joey Dunlop won the hearts and minds of millions during his thirty-one-year career, culminating in the year 2000 at the Isle of Man TT when, grey-haired and bespectacled, he cemented his reputation as the greatest TT rider in history by regaining the F1 crown for the first time in twelve years. But in road racing, tragedy is never very far away. Joey lost his life in an accident in July of 2000. It was just weeks after his final TT victory. More than 60,000 people attended Joey's funeral. Over twenty years on, the sport has never truly recovered. Every motorcycling lover knows the legend of Joey Dunlop but now, for the first time, they can get to know the man himself. This definitive new biography is by turns hilarious, triumphant and tragic; it is Dunlop's story as it has never been told before - by those who were part of it.

by Vicky Phelan

€10.43

Sunday Times Memoir of the Year 2019 An Post Irish Book of the Year 2019 When Vicky Phelan delivered an emotionally charged statement from the steps of the Four Courts in April 2018 - having refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement in the settlement of her action against the HSE - she unearthed the medical and political scandal of our times. It would emerge that, like Vicky, 220 other women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer were not informed that a clinical audit -carried out by the national screen programme CervicalCheck - had revised their earlier, negative smear tests. Their cancers could possibly have been preventable. Since then, Vicky has become women's voice for justice on the issue, and her system-changing activism has made her a household name. In her memoir Overcoming, Vicky shares her remarkable personal story, from a life-threatening accident in early adulthood through to motherhood, a battle with depression, her devastating later discovery that her cancer had returned in shocking circumstances - and the ensuing detective-like scrutiny of events that led the charge for her history-making legal action. An inspiring story of rare resilience and power, Overcoming is an account of how one woman can move mountains - even when she is fighting for her own life - and of finding happiness and strength in the toughest of times. 'Calls to mind the work of Emilie Pine, or the memoir by Maggie O'Farrell, I Am, I Am, I Am ... Overcoming is more than the retelling of an extraordinary life. Its pacing and gentleness leaves plenty of room for tears and for reflection' Irish Independent

by Frank McCourt

€12.75

Stunning reissue of the phenomenal worldwide bestseller: Frank McCourt's sad, funny, bittersweet memoir of growing up in New York in the 30s and in Ireland in the 40s.It is a story of extreme hardship and suffering, in Brooklyn tenements and Limerick slums - too many children, too little money, his mother Angela barely coping as his father Malachy's drinking bouts constantly brings the family to the brink of disaster. It is a story of courage and survival against apparently overwhelming odds.Written with the vitality and resonance of a work of fiction, and with a remarkable absence of sentimentality, 'Angela's Ashes' is imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's distinctive humour and compassion. Out of terrible circumstances, he has created a glorious book in the tradition of Ireland's literary masters, which bears all the marks of a great classic.

by Richard Killeen

€5.39

The year 2022 sees the 100th anniversary of the death of solider and politician Michael Collins, the legendary leader of Irish republicanism. Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, in 1890, Collins joined Sinn Féin at age 18 and later took part in the 1916 Rising. In the 1918 General Election he won a seat for Sinn Féin in South Cork and was later appointed Minister of Finance in the newly formed Dáil Eireann in 1919. Following the War of Independence, in which he played an effective if at times ruthless role, Collins led the Irish delegation in London to negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which resulted in the partitioning of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. The Treaty would ignite civil war in Ireland, ultimately leading to Collins's assassination on 22 August 1922. Today, Collins is still seen as the man who has done more than any other to secure 'the freedom to achieve freedom' of Ireland. This is a compelling and accessible introduction to the legendary political hero.

by Ray Goggins

€12.99

'The path I have travelled, the things I have done and the people I have met in crisis situations have given me a window into those qualities that make us perform. My military training created a mindset, an outlook and skills that can be channelled into any situation.' From the hills of south Lebanon to the monsoon jungles of Southern Asia, Ray Goggins has operated in a life-and-death world. In the suffocating humidity of Liberia, the mountains of  Afghanistan and the snow-covered Balkans, Ray has seen the best and worst qualities in himself and others. From conflict zones to terrorist attacks and hostage rescues, Ray has learned the greatest life lessons: how to control fear, how to react calmly and positively, and how to create a strong baseline from which to take action. After a life spent on the front line with the Irish Defence Forces, Ray now trains others to foster a mindset to handle whatever madness life has in store. In this remarkable book, he takes us on an exhilarating journey through his incredible career and draws on the valuable lessons to help all of us deal better with life, whatever the situation. 'One of the most talked about books of the year' TV Now   'Ray's experiences are broken down into core values we can all apply to our everyday lives' Peter Stringer   'A great read' Claire Byrne, RTÉ Radio 1