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The GAA is more than a game. It’s a cornerstone of Irish identity – woven into parishes, families and the national psyche. But behind the passion and pride lies a question that has never really been asked. Where is the GAA goin? n this revealing and timely book, acclaimed journalist Michael Moynihan explores how the GAA is changing, and what it means for the Ireland it serves. Is it still a grassroots, amateur participation movement? Is it a delivery system for elite sport? Is it a real estate organisation with thousands of premises? With sharp insight and deep research, Moynihan tackles the big questions – from unregulated payments to stadium sponsorships, broadcasting controversies, and postponed games for pop concerts. Moynihan lifts the lid on the inner workings of the GAA at a crossroads. At once thoughtful, balanced and bold, Moynihan shows us the organisation behind the headlines – and why its future matters to us all.

Beneath our feet, in our hedgerows, trees and under our seas lies a complex community of beings that goes unseen and unheard by us humans. Soil is the stuff of life itself, bustling with microbes, fungi, beetles and earthworms that soften seeds, nurture saplings and provide all the potential for spring’s bounty. Ferns, primroses, wild violet and canopy leaves of overhead trees are the framework for the hidden power behind a butterfly wing or the singing of a wren. Here, Anja Murray fills us with wonder for the wonderful world of Ireland’s wild plants and animals through the seasons.  From fungi to the origins of feral pigeons, primroses to sea turtles, each piece contains elements of science, history and folklore. Witness the extraordinary mating rituals of frogs and hares. Discover the incredible secret language of mice in their epic daily battle to survive and avoid capture with the swoop of the sparrowhawk.

David Trimble was one of the most influential figures in modern British and Irish history. A Nobel Laureate, he negotiated the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 that helped to secure peace in Northern Ireland. In this first biography to chart Trimble’s life and death, award-winning journalist Stephen Walker vividly details how this shy Belfast academic changed the political landscape of Northern Ireland. With the cooperation of the Trimble family, Peacemaker offers unparalleled insights into the life of a history maker: the first person to be elected First Minister of Northern Ireland and the last Ulster unionist to hold that title. Using interviews with his widow Lady Trimble and their grown-up children, the book colourfully charts Trimble’s story from the County Down city of Bangor, through the divisive world of unionist politics, to his crowning moment at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. It is a tale of how the leaders of unionism and nationalism worked together to end decades of violence to compromise and share power.

Meet the néaladóirí (cloud-watchers) and réadóirí (stargazers) from our past who, without the luxury of Met Éireann at their disposal, observed birds, trees, animals, as well as markers on land and sea for signs of weather change. The sheer richness and variety of terms they amassed reveal the closeness with which they observed the world around them. Swallows flying low foretold rain. The heron’s behaviour offered many hints: Aimsir chrua thirim nuair a bhíonn an corr éisc suas in aghaidh srutha chun na sléibhte (when the heron flies upstream to the mountains the weather will be dry but rough). Fearthainn nuair a thagann sí an abhainn anuas (when she goes downstream, it will rain). Evoking countless sodden, shivery experiences on this Atlantic-swept island of ours, this beautifully illustrated gift book uses Irish words to grasp an almost-lost world through the wisdom stored in the Irish language.

Whether it’s tightly rolled up between two nervous, wringing hands, proudly sticking out from a quick-stepping back pocket or carefully brought home to be kept for posterity, the match day programme is part of the very fabric of the GAA and in The GAA Covered this glorious document gets its long overdue day in the sun. The GAA Covered is a stunning visual compendium of over 100 years of GAA programme covers from 1913 to the present day, and an invaluable collection of local, social and sports history. Each page of this comprehensive collection features striking images of that year’s provincial and All-Ireland final match programmes, along with superb captions of context and colour. John Kelly’s labour of love will mesmerise GAA fans – from the diehard who will appreciate the compilation of such a wide range of programmes to the casual fan who will be enthralled by the immense beauty of the book.

From a childhood shaped by neglect and violence to three brutal years spent in a cold, indifferent convent, Breda O’Toole’s early life was marked by abandonment. When she sought help, she entered a mental health system that continued the pattern — misdiagnosing her, medicating her into silence, binding her in a straitjacket for 11 days and subjecting her to 29 rounds of electroconvulsive therapy. Across decades, Breda was treated not as a person, but as a problem to be managed — her pain unseen, her voice unheard. Yet Unseen is also a story of fierce resilience. Refusing to be defined by the failures of the system, Breda fought to reclaim her health, her voice and her life. Through courage, determination and a relentless search for dignity, she uncovered a sense of self that had long been buried. Blending deeply personal narrative with a forensic study of 23 years of psychiatric records, Breda exposes the devastating consequences of a system that too often loses sight of the human being at its heart.

A shortened version of Jonathan Bardon’s definitive tome, A History of Ulster, this book provides a comprehensive account of the province from the earliest settlements nine thousand years ago to the turmoil of the Troubles, and the fragile peace period that followed. A preface from the author includes the peace process that saw the region emerge from thirty years of brutal conflict. Covering social, political and economic life in the province, the book explores the Viking and Norman invasions, the plantations and the Penal Laws, the rise of the United Irishmen and Orangeism, the Act of Union, emigration and the Great Famine, the linen industry and shipbuilding, and the Home Rule Crisis and partition, right through to civil rights, the turmoil of the Troubles and the period of peace that has followed. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this accessible edition takes its place alongside Jonathan Bardon’s hugely popular A History of Ireland in 100 Episodes.

Grace and her best friend Aaron love helping out at Rowan Tree Stables, where their ponies are best friends too. Together, they have lots of adventures!Grace and Aaron are both working hard to qualify for the much-anticipated Dublin Horse Show. But when Aaron falls ill, Grace has to face up to the possibility of attending the biggest horse-riding event of the year without her best friend by her side. Then, on the morning they’re due to leave for Dublin, there''s a crisis at the stable. Will either of them get to ride?  

WE think we’re just watching penguins on a webcam at the zoo – THEY think they’re filming a TV show!No TV at bedtime? Not this time! Tune in to Penguin TV and laugh out loud with Horatio, Myrtle, Otto and our cast of Humboldt penguins as they star in their very own reality show, showcasing their unique skills and trying to teach human viewers a little bit about penguin life as they go. Inspired by the hugely popular real-life penguin cam at Dublin Zoo, young readers will laugh along with these prima donna penguins, each with their own character and charm!

What is it like to run for election? How do public representatives deal with the cut-throat competition from their rivals – and their own running mates? What’s the Dáil bar really like? And why, given the almost constant abuse that now comes with the job and the demands it places on those who make it their lives, would anyone want to do it?Who better than Virgin Media’s Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly to take us inside the house of political power in Ireland to answer these questions and more? His clever illustration of Ireland’s electoral system (using Smarties on a viral video that has been viewed over 1.7 million times!) demystified the complexities of Irish political power for many. Now, in The Secret Life of Leinster House, he shows what it takes to make it as a politician in Ireland and gives readers a ringside seat at the Cabinet table.Meet the whips, lobbyists and special advisers pulling the strings. Discover exactly how leaked minutes from parliamentary party meetings end up on the Six One News. With unprecedented access to political insiders, The Secret Life of Leinster House lifts the lid on what really goes on, revealing what politicians want you to know about them – and what they don’t!  

Anne Marie Allen was fifteen when she was accepted onto a cookery school course that promised real qualifications and a future in the career of her dreams. Seeking a better life, she moved to the calm and peaceful countryside of the west of Ireland. Her happiness was short-lived as it became clear she had been tricked instead into a life of domestic servitude to the members of Opus Dei.Before long she was whisked away to Rome where she signed her life away with vows to serve. What followed were years of misery in slavery, forced celibacy and traumatic physical suffering under an ambitious and tyrannical institution that demanded perfection, humiliation and pain.Her family eventually managed to coerce a visit home where they refused to let her return to the Order, and where they began the long process of deprogramming Anne Marie – a task that has been a life-long struggle. Serve is Anne Marie’s remarkable story of strength and resilience in the face of religious zealotry.

In June 2019, Valerie French Kilroy was brutally murdered by her husband at their home near Westport, while her three young sons lay in bed. She was the third woman to lose her life at the hands of a partner in Ireland that year. For her brother David and the rest of her family it was the beginning of a battle against a system unprepared to protect the three innocent children whose father remains their legal guardian, despite being convicted of their mother’s murder. From the shock of hearing of his sister''s death and the immediate aftermath to the multiple criminal trials before the guilty verdict was delivered, David provides a unique insight into some of the issues faced by victim’s families in the aftermath of fatal domestic violence. With every chapter, For Valerie confronts the darkest corners of grief, the love that endures beyond loss and the fierce determination of a family to preserve Valerie’s legacy. This is a tribute to her life, and a journey no reader will soon forget.

Ballybunion to the River Kwai is the remarkable story of Don Kennedy’s harrowing experience as an Irish prisoner of war under the Japanese from 1942–45. Vividly narrated by Don’s son Fergus, this is the first account of an Irish citizen as a POW along the infamous River Kwai, offering fresh insights into a chapter of history that the world presumes it knows.This poignant and thoroughly researched story is crafted to resonate with a wide Irish audience, from general readers to history enthusiasts alike, and with those further afield who hold a fascination with war history and the iconic River Kwai. Elements of love, mystery and survival broaden its appeal, ensuring a connection with a diverse readership.Ballybunion to the River Kwai is more than a biography; it’s a journey through the darkest times to find light, love and resilience. It’s a story that promises to touch hearts, provoke thought, and, perhaps most importantly, remind us of the enduring strength of the human spirit.

After one misadventure too many, 11-year-old serial miscreant Conn is sent home from school. Picked up by his professor aunt Doireann, she takes him to her office in UCD’s National Folklore Collection on the way home. Surrounded by old books and artefacts, it’s only a matter of time before Conn puts a foot wrong ...Intrigued by a case marked ‘hazardous’, he opens it to reveal the ancient skull of the Abhartach, an undead sorcerer of terrible might. In doing so, he releases the monster, and a terrifying chase through the university ensues, as the bodiless sorcerer hunts Conn through every piece of technology it can find. Can Conn defeat the Abhartach before it regains its true power?

Explore the hidden gems of Ireland with Ireland’s Curious Places, a captivating guide to 100 of the island’s most curious, intriguing and quirky locations. This book takes you on an unforgettable journey off the beaten track, through ancient landscapes with forgotten traditions and stories, revealing a rich tapestry of Ireland’s people, history and culture.Each entry offers a destination and a story. With detailed location information and many stunning photographs, Ireland’s Curious Places invites you to explore the four provinces and seek out unusual and wonderful places and artefacts, from remote ruins and sacred places to forgotten villages and shipwrecks. Organised by province and written by one of Ireland’s most respected travel and nature writers, this guide is both an invitation to adventure and a celebration of Ireland’s unique heritage. Whether you’re a curious explorer, a history enthusiast, or an armchair traveller, Ireland’s Curious Places will inspire you to discover a strange and wonderful side of Ireland.

In the Prohibition era, the speakeasies of New York City provide some much-needed respite, particularly for the likes of Michael Malloy, an isolated Irish immigrant. But times are tough and for an unlikely group of associates – a bar owner, an undertaker, a greengrocer, a cabbie and a local gangster – desperate times call for desperate measures. And so, a simple plan is hatched: take out life insurance on the unsuspecting Michael Malloy and help him along to an early grave. What follows is a sinister concoction of poisoned alcohol, shots of antifreeze, tainted oysters, sardine sandwiches laced with glass, overnight exposure to freezing temperatures, and assault by taxicab. But ‘Iron Mike’ Malloy survives it all – until he doesn’t.Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and based on police reports, court records, and the colourful tabloid reporting of the day, The Many Murders of Michael Malloy details a crime so convoluted, so staggering in its audacity, authorities refused to believe it until the irrefutable evidence revealed ‘the most grotesque chain of events in New York criminal history’, securing Malloy’s status as a true crime folk hero.