Irish Biography

'An incredible portal to our past' The Sunday TimesOn 7 January 1922, Ireland became a free state. Born into that era of turbulence and hope were the twenty-six women and...

Mairia Cahill grew up steeped in the traditions of Irish republicanism and the shadowy world of the IRA: her great-uncle Joe was one of the main founders of the Provisional...

For once, these men are the objects; I am the subject. Me, me, me.Rosemary Mac Cabe was always a serial monogamist - never happier than when she was in a...

'What happens when we die?' is the question answered by award-winning journalist Colm Keane in his sensational book Going Home, which contains the most comprehensive descriptions ever provided by Irish...

The immigration man read my deportation order, looked at it and handed it back to me. 'Are you Irish?' he asked me. 'No' I said 'as a matter of fact,...

When Catherine Corless began researching the Tuam Mother and Baby Home in Galway in 2010, she could not have known where her interest in local history would lead her. Uncovering...

THE IRISH TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLERAN POST BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR'Gorgeous' Pandora Sykes'A rare and beautiful book' Marian Keyes'Tender, sad and side-splittingly funny' Annie MacManus'A delight' Dara O BriainSeamas O'Reilly's...

I have always believed that if we choose the right dream and pursue it determinedly enough, it will come true. It is not a question of if but of when....

Mary Lou McDonald is the bookies' favourite to be Ireland's next Taoiseach. She would be the first woman to reach the office, and the first Sinn Fein leader ever to...

'Long before her retirement, Judge Gillian Hussey had been conferred with the status of "legend of the bench". This book gives a wonderful insight into the complex demands and balances...

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 –...

Leo Varadkar shares his fascinating experience as Irish prime minister ata time of much change and turbulence, in this remarkably honestmemoir.Leo Varadkar was an unlikely Taoiseach – the youngest on...

'An extraordinary book ... a remarkable story' Mark Cagney, TV3'A fascinating book' Matt Cooper, Today FM'Quite a read ... fascinating ... a book that people who don't normally read books...

'A delightful evocation of Irishness and of the author's deep-rooted love of the very fields of home' Publishers WeeklyAlice Taylor's classic account of growing up in the Irish countryside, the...

In his book, Niall Breslin speaks openly about living with depression and anxiety, and his crippling journey to finally acknowledging 'Jeffrey' - the name he chose for it - years...

Throughout the highs and lows of a 30-year career as one of Ireland's best-loved radio and television personalities, Marty Whelan has always remained upbeat, with a determination for survival and...

'Vivid and compelling and so moving... Kit's depiction of her parents' dynamic is both painful and comforting to read' Marian Keyes*Soon to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4*From the award-winning...

'A genuine presence on the field, Owen refereed with the perfect balance of respect and authority' Keith Wood'Highly respected with vast experience and knowledge, Owen Doyle contributed hugely to the...

Pat Spillane is one of the best-known sportspeople in Ireland. Selected for the GAA's Team of the Millennium and winner of eight All-Ireland senior football medals, he is one of...

Born into a loving working-class home, Lynn Ruane's early years were idyllic, but all that changed when two shocking incidents in her teenage years shook her to her core. She...

Between 2016 and his retirement in 2022, Assistant Garda Commissioner John O'Driscoll was the public face of Garda operations targeting organised crime. This put him at the centre of a...

'We asked listeners to be honest, creative, funny, engaging and evocative in their writing ... to try to make us laugh, cry and think. We never imagined we would get...

'Searingly honest, funny, self-deprecating, Harding's narrative seems to rest on the pulse of Ireland' Irish TimesOne day in the summer of 2016, Michael Harding's wife brought an unusual gift home...

'A searing, honest and courageous account of professional soldiering in a toxic military culture' Senator Tom Clonan, retired army captainDuring her 31-year career as a soldier in the Irish Defence...

People have been enchanted by elephants for centuries: they have inspired parables, films, songs, religions and wars. For Gerry Creighton, this fascination came at an early age. His father was...

"Phil doesn't like physical affection. She doesn't love you because you don't exist. She doesn't care if you have something important coming up. A busy week, a daunting appointment, a...

'Money is handy for doing messages' was a phrase the young Tommie Gorman heard from his father, growing up in Sligo in the 1960s. Struggle was never far away but...

The unheard voice of Sean Lemass - 22 hours of lost interviews reveal the private thoughts of Ireland's most transformative taoiseachLemass never left any papers or an autobiography. Instead, he...

The head of the Guinness family tells the true story of how his ancestors created the largest brewery in the world.In this narrative non-fiction book, Arthur Edward Guinness, the 4th...

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...

The youngest of seven children from a renowned Portumna hurling family, Joe Canning was regarded as a prodigy from the moment he stepped onto the pitch as a boy. Could...

'I read Bessborough in one sitting, veering from fury to devastation within a matter of pages. A vitally important book.' Louise O'Neill'Vivid and powerful' CAELAINN HOGAN'I loved this book for...

***'Raw, brutal and life-affirming - Marise has written a hugely important book that is as entertaining as it is illuminating.' - Sara Pascoe'I couldn't put this down. A brave, honest,...

Winnie and George tells the true and previously untold story of two individuals who lived remarkable lives, both before and after they crossed paths. Enhanced with dramatised dialogue, it is...

A powerful, probing book about PTSD. As a journalist Keane has covered conflict and brutality across the world for more than thirty years, from Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, Somalia, Iraq,...

'In these strange days Michael Harding's route taking and wise words gently nudge us towards the future, steadying us as we navigate the great unknowns ahead' Joe Duffy The bestselling...

Marian Finucane was a trailblazing broadcaster, the first to champion women's issues on air, and respected for her fairness, empathy and doggedness. One of a small group of Irish people...

'This is the most gripping book I've read in ages ... It is beautifully written, fascinating, disturbing and often very funny.' Roddy Doyle The childhood world of Hugo Hamilton, born...

From humble beginnings in Romania, Josef Cretzan went on to become one of the most accomplished glass blowers of the 20th century. For 37 years his knowledge and skills were...

With exclusive access to the Haughey archives, Gary Murphy presents a reassessment of Charles Haughey's life and legacy. Saint or sinner? He was the most talented and influential politician of...

Tom Crean was the indestructible farmer's son from Kerry who sailed on three major expeditions to the unknown Antarctic over a century ago. He was among the few men who...

'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...