“They saw a thin striped youngster enter, half his sword protruding behind his backside, the water squelching in his shoes, the tips of his ears sticking out of his old cloak....” Thus begins the retelling of a tale written by an anonymous writer 500 years ago, humorously depicting the goings-on that drive chieftains, gallowglasses, harpists, and the nation's rogues to distraction. 'An Ceithearnach Caoilriabhach' ewas written by an anonymous writer circa 1500. In this retelling of the story — with pen, brush, and rabelasian roars of laughter — the writer ands artrist commemorateds an hilarious tour which began 500 years agi, much-loved by Gael since. A fine retelling of the humorous old story, greatly enhanced by fine illustrations. A modern Irish version of an old story, which succeeds in maintaining the vigour, poetry, humour and bawdiness of the original. The illustrations, by the author, underline the humour. The story will appeal to both young and old with a sufficient knowledge of Irish. —Booksunlimited

A prize-winning jewel of a novel from the pen of one of Ireland's finest poets, telling the story of a man close to the poet's own heart - Garret FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond (1335-1398), chieftain, viceroy, poet, and a man who loved women - the man baptized by the Irish as 'Gearóid Iarla'. "An illustration of the desires, heartbreaks, sufferings, and of the humanity of nobles and commoners. That is Máire Mhac an tSaoi's special gift, the gift of imagining... She has complete mastery of her craft." -Tadhg Ó Dúshláine, RTÉ RnaG. “Is seoid drithleach atá sa leabhar seo. Tá cur síos ann atá chomh beo, chomh braiteach, chomh lán de chroí is de nádúr, le haon rud atá léite agam le fada an lá, in aon teanga. Is fada ó bhraith mé chomh gar do shuíomh agus do phearsana staire. Anuas air sin tá giotaí comhrá agus cainte ann atá chomh blasta sin nach bhfuil aon tsamhail agam orthu ach mar a bheadh gráinní salainn ar an lus súgach, a bhaineann geit phléisiúrtha asat agus a chuireann fonn ort a thuilleadh a bhlaiseadh. Tá daonnacht agus grinneas agus dea-stíl scríbhneoireachta sa leabhar seo chomh maith le haon rud atá scríofa.” —Liam Mac Cóil "Léiriú ar mhianta, ar bhriseadh croí, ar fhulaingt, ar dhaonnacht mhóruaisle agus ghnáthdhaoine. Sin bua Mháire Mhac an tSaoi, bua na samhlaíochta.... Tá sí ina máistir go hiomlán ar an gceird." —Tadhg Ó Dúshláine, Comhluadar na Leabhar, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. "Éiríonn le Máire Mhac an tSaoi an cúlra staire a shníomh isteach san úrscéal ar bhealach an-chaolchúiseach." — Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail, Comhluadar na Leabhar, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. "Mac an tSaoi has not only written a beautiful and natural ode to a forgotten era of Irish life, an ode characterised by its humanity and poetic language but she has also usurped some of the more recent traditions that circumscribed the image or representation of Gearóid Iarla." — Micheál Ó hAodha, Dublin Review of Books Review of Scéal Ghearóid Iarla ar an Dublin Review of Books Scéal Ghearóid Iarla ar Clubleabhar.com Videos Máire Mhac an tSaoi ag léamh as Scéal Ghearóid Iarla Agallamh le Máire Mhac an tSaoi faoi Scéal Ghearóid Iarla More books by Máire Mhac an tSaoi Cérbh í Meg Russell? Scéal Ghearóid Iarla available as an eBook for the Kindle (amazon)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the best known adventure novels ever written. This exciting and atmospheric story tells of treasure maps, mutiny, buccaneers, pirate gold, and of Jim Hawkins, a boy in his teens who puts to sea under the spell of the one-legged charming scoundrel Long John Silver.

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the best known adventure novels ever written. This is the exciting story of David Balfour, a young man whose uncle Ebeneazer wishes to kill and to steal his inheritance. Through his friendship with Jacobite swordsman Alan Breck Steward he escapes the fate his uncle had in store for him - only to find that he must cross the Scottish Highlands in the company of a rebel who has a price on his head, with the red coats on their hells. Kidnapped is widely recognised as Stevenson's greatest novel, and was referred to by Henry James as ' the particular crown and triumph of the artist'.. This beautiful translation and abridged for modern-day readers by Darach Ó Scolaí is accompanied by NC Wyeth's renowned Illustrations from the 1913 edition.

A knight awakes in the middle of the woods, like a  child, without any memory, and not knowing where  he is. Step by step, he explores his surroundings and  begins to make his way towards the light. This is a philosophical novel by one of the country’s  finest writers, written in the style of the 15th Century,  the beginning of the age of printing and publishing.  An Choill tries to get to grips with the case of one of  the Knights of the round Table, who didn’t reach the  Holy Grail. This is the story of the man who doesn’t  knoew. It might just be the story of everyman.  

 

Conaire Mór is a lively and highly-readable retelling of the Old-Irish epic Togail Bruidne Da Derga — a story that begins with the crowning of Conaire and ends with his brutal slaying on the banks of the Dodder. All the wonders of ancient literature are found in this book, from Conaire’s  warrior feats to his ascension to the throne and to the prophesy of doom that cannot be evaded. This is a story that hasn’t been told in a thousand years, but now, Conaire Mór reigns again. The author, Diarmuid Johnson, is a poet.

Shortlisted for the IRISH BOOK AWARDS
One of the greatest epics ever written, now available in Modern Irish This is the story of Cú Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster, and of how he stood his ground, along with his charioteer Lao, against the great host of Ailill and Maeve. Here, we read of his youth, of how he got his name, of his single combat with Ferdia, and of the deadly quarrel between Ailill and Maeve which led to the taking of the Brown Bull of Cooley. Táin Bó Cuailnge was written in the 11th Century and was translated into Modern Irish by Darach Ó Scolaí.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, is one of the world’s best-known books. First published in 1843, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

Duan na Nollag was translated by the famous lexicographer Patrick Dineen, and edited and adapted for young readers by Maitiú Ó Coimín.

Fonn A Níos Fiach is a novella, based on a folk tale from Dúiche Sheoigheach. This is a tense, emotive telling, with the sense of wilderness throughout. It would remind you of 'The Old Man and thr Sea' by Hemingway, but in this case it was hunger and the famine, and not heroism, that drove this man to hunt.