A view of the life and times of Pearse Ferriter, and especially the part played by Richard Boyle, the Earl of Cork. A new work by one of the greatest poets of our time, and an unusual book which casts the light of scholarship on the lives and the minds of the Gaelic gentry in the time of great change in the 17th Century. History and folklore are combined with a detailed account of the poet's milieu and an insight into literary and social conventions of the time. The author's detective work succeeds in adding blood and meat to the bare bones of history. “This Beautifully illustrated book concerns a romantic interlude in the shared history of early 17th-century Ireland and England. At the heart of the matter is a graceful syllabic poem in Irish by Piaras Feiritéar (1653), accomplished poet of Catholic Old-English stock in West Kerry. Feiritéar wrote it in honour of Meg Russell, the ógh Ghallda or “foreign girl” identified therein as a relation of the contemporary earl of Bedford. This was Francis Russell, the 4th earl. Máire Mhac an tSaoi makes the case that she was in fact a daughter of Francis Russell. She details the circumstances in which a poem in Irish by a person of “middling rank” might conceivably have been presented to an earl’s daughter born and raised in England.” —Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha, The Irish Times "An Irish-language book about a remarkable Irish woman written by a remarkable Irish woman". —Marc Coleman, Sunday Independent A link to a review in the Sunday Independent A link to an article about the author on the Irish Studies site, NUI Galway

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)

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.

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.

This story tells about two days in the life of Dún Chaoin parish.

Driſters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back — and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie — struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy — becomes a victim of his own strength.

Shortlisted for IRISH BOOK AWARDS
Tuatha Dé Danann is a lively and highly-readable retelling of the Old-Irish epic Cath Maighe Tuiredh — or the Battle of Moytura — an account of the invasion and conquest of Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann by the popularly acclaimed prize-winning author of Conaire Mór. All the wonders of ancient literature are found in this book, from Lugh Lámhfhada's warrior feats to his vanquishing of the Fomorian invaders. This is a story that concerns with the 'Matter of Ireland', essential reading for all who cherish the past. 

 

'Book of the Year 2019'
A retelling of the 14th century satirical tale Tromhdhámh Guaire. Feargal Ó Béarra’s new modern edition recounts the prolongued visit of the ‘burdensome band of bards’ on King Guaire, and its comic consequences — not to mention the ‘finding’ of the then long-lost tale ‘Táin Bó Cuailnge’. A story to savour and to delight in. Feargal Ó Béarra’s new modern edition recounts the prolongued visit of the ‘burdensome band of bards’ on King Guaire, and its comic consequences — not to mention the ‘finding’ of the then long-lost tale ‘Táin Bó Cuailnge’. A story to savour and to delight in.

A book to be relished by those who have no great love for our rhymers, past or present!