O'Brien Press

The Feckin' collection returns with a funny, original and quirky take on some of Ireland's most famous faces! Illustrated with photographs and cartoons, the book covers key Irish figures across the millenia like: — William Butler Yeats — Nobel Prize winning poet; — Saint Patrick — Patron Saint of Ireland; — Sir Ernest Shacklton — legendary Antarctic explorer; — Jonathan Swift — the man who wrote Gulliver's Travels; — Grace O'Mally — the pirate queen who ran Queen Elizabeth's troups ragged; — Brian Boru — the last High King of Ireland And many more!

The date was Good Friday, April 23rd in the Year of Our Lord 1014. The most ferocious battle ever fought in Ireland was about to begin... In the three decades since Morgan Llyweyln wrote the bestselling novel Lion of Ireland, she has studied the legendary life of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. Often dismissed as a mythical figure, as all the known facts about him are contained within the several Irish annals. But thirty years of research have led Llyweyln to conclude with certanty that Brian Boru actually lived. A great battle took place in 1014. And Ireland won. Read about the life of Brian Boru and the battle that changed the course of Irish history in this exciting and accessible account.

Got some time on your hands before you hit Dublin's famous pubs? Then you need this book, an invaluable guide to thirty of Dublin's highlights for visitors and native alike. History, culture, strangeness and beauty are all here — along with a list of the local hostelries to visit and let the experience soak in. Sprinkled with the wit of Murphy and O'Dea, best known for the Feckin' Collection. Key landmarks include: Christ Church Cathedral; Dublin Castle; The Chester Beatty Library; The Guinness Storehouse; Trinity College; Temple Bar; Royal Hospital, Kilmainham (IMMA); Old Jameson Distillery; O'Connell Street & The GPO And many more!

Choose to colour a range of drawings of famous ancient Irish people and landmarks, historic battles, figures from mythology. A perfect book for children with an interest in Irish history, bringing famous scenes from ancient times to life.

In the CITY OF FATE there are only two options: to win or to lose forever. Imagine your home is bombed one Sunday afternoon by a horde of enemy planes. Imagine your family has gone and you are left behind. This is the fate of five-year-old Peter and two teenagers Yuri and Tanya. Imagine being ordered to leave school to fight the terrifying Nazis in WWII. Imagine you are right in the middle of a battle; it's you or them — you have no choice. This is the fate of four classmates: Vlad, Misha, Anton and Leo. The battlefield is the city of Stalingrad, the pride of Russia. Germany's Adolf Hitler wants the city badly, but Josef Stalin refuses to let go. So far nobody has managed to stop the triumphant Nazi invasion across Europe. It all depends on one city — Stalingrad — her citizens, her soldiers and her children. What would you do? Would you be able to survive? Emotionally taut and empathic, this novel will transport the reader into the very heart of the Second World War and the lives of children caught in the middle of history.

A major, beautifully-illustrated collection of Oscar Wilde's favourite children's tales known and loved throughout the world. It includes: The Happy Prince; The Selfish Giant; The Nightingale and the Rose This gorgeous production brings Wilde's magical stories to a whole new generation.

An introduction to all the leading Irish writers and some of the lesser known playwrights, novelists, short story writers, poets, placing them in context and providing a list of their works. Commentaries give brief but telling insights into their work. The story of Irish writing is followed, beginning with Swift, and working through playwrights Synge and O'Casey to Beckett and Friel; from nineteenth-century poetry through Yeats to Seamus Heaney and Paul Durcan; in novels, from Maria Edgeworth, through Joyce, Elizabeth Bowen, Kate O'Brien, Flann O'Brien to contemporaries Julia O'Faolain, Roddy Doyle and Anne Enright.

New York City. Evie Brooks had seen it on the TV, but suddenly finds herself leaving her home in Dublin and moving to Manhattan to her American uncle Scott, after the death of her mother. Never owned a pet more substantial than a goldfish, Evie is intrigued by Scott's NYC veterinary practice, and before long, Evie is working as an assistant in the clinic. Between the pets, their owners, Scott and his lawyer girlfriend, the Summer quickly becomes a whirlwind of change and activity! And then Evie has to make a huge choice: will she stay in New York, or return to live in Ireland with her godmother, Janet?

On the Bring-Something-Old-to-School day, Milo's best friend Shane brings part of a carved ancient stone from his granny's wild garden. When it is presented in class, Willie Jones's lizard goes crazy and leaps from its glass container in terror. Milo realises this is no ordinary old stone. Afraid that his granny, Big Ella, will be annoyed with him for taking the carved stone, Shane asks Milo to mind the stone until the coast is clear. However, Milo encounters a shadowy figure wearing a tall hat shuffling about in the garden. This is the ghost of Mr Lewis, someone from the past and who is caught in a kind of limbo. He too is searching for the piece of ancient stone, which is part of a druidstone. He needs to find both pieces of the stone to lift a curse put upon him many years ago. But where is the other half of the stone?

'Sometimes it feels like I'm the one who's missing, like I'm not really present in my own life any more — I'm like a ghost or something, wandering through school or home or town looking on at everything that's happening and not really a part of it at all.' Ellen and Maggie have been best friends for as long as they can remember — sharing clothes, passions and secrets. When Ellen goes missing, Maggie feels completely alone. Looking back over the upheaval that led to Ellen's disappearance, Maggie tries to make sense of her friend's actions. At school and at home, she feels no one understands what she is going through — except maybe Liam, the boy next door who has always had feelings for Ellen. How will Maggie cope without her best friend? And where on earth is Ellen?

The unique Dublin Illustrated Edition, endorsed by The James Joyce Centre, meticulously recreates the 1922 text. Ulysses chronicles the passage of Leopold Bloom through Dublin during an ordinary day, 16 June 1904. Ulysses' stream-of-consciousness technique, careful structuring, and experimental prose-full of puns, parodies, and allusions, as well as its rich characterisations and broad humour, made the book a highly regarded novel in the Modernist pantheon. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Ulysses first on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

With illustrations by Terry Willers For the unprepared visitor Irish conversation can be a minefield. 'How's the craic?' is not an assumption that you are well versed in the properties of narcotics substances, merely an enquiry after your health and general well-being. A seemingly easy question like 'Your'e not from around here are ye?' requires a far more detailed reply than 'No, I'm not'. In order not to be thought rude you should supply details of where you live, why you are in Ireland, the tiny village, now deserted, from which your great-great grandfather emigrated in the year dot, and, to be really accepted, your salary figure, marital status and daily eating habits! To the uninitiated, advice like this might seem extreme, but, as Tadhg Hayes points out, the proper answer will save you from insistent and repeated questioning, which, in the case of the Irish, is motivated by genuine interest and not just downright nosiness. Having safely negotiated the opening gambits, plenty of other conversational pitfalls await the visitor. GIFT OF THE GAB covers them all and will see you through any topic, from THE WEATHER, SPORT, DRINK, DEATH, how to interpret travel directions and statements on a person's financial situation (see THE POOR MOUTH). For Improvers there are useful phrases to add colour to your conversation, including the essential 'feck', 'fecking' and its variations. All in all, the most essential thing, after your umbrella, you will need for an enjoyable holiday in Ireland.

Irish fairy tales and legends are full of enchantment, brave deeds and lost loves. Told from generation to generation, they are as fascinating now as they were to their original listeners. This wonderfully rich and varied collection are ten of the best-loved traditional Irish stories, retold by author and poet Una Leavy. The post of Gold captures the trickery and mischief of leprechauns; the story of Oisin in Tir na n-Og marks the end of the great Fianna. From 2000 years ago comes The Children of Lir all stories to be treasured for years to come. Susan Field's beautiful illustrations are inspired by ancient Celtic art and culture. They capture the wealth of tradition, the humour and the magic of these great stories. Now available in paperback.

Why would someone set out on a bicycle tour of Ireland? Because Ireland is as stunning a country as any you'll ever visit. There's the extraordinary light, which adds intensity to everything, making greens and whites appear greener and whiter. It's all there: moss-covered mountains rising ominously from the mist, bright blue skies over white sandy beaches; the ghostlike ruins of ancient monasteries on misty days... With picturesque routes and breathtaking landscapes, Ireland is beloved by cyclists in search of an exhilarating yet memorable experience. In Green Tour of Ireland, avid cyclist Paul Benjaminse explores the a route around Ireland from Belfast to Dublin via the most spectacular and scenic routes in the country and offers his expert advice on the best way to see the beautiful parts of Ireland. Includes detailed routes and maps of: Ulster, Sligo, Cork, Connemara, The Burren, Leinster and the Dublin Mountains.

Beverly, who is bossy and a bit of a snob, convinces her cautious friend Elizabeth to accompany her on an adventure to the island off the coast. Gerard, Beverly's messy brother who is barely tolerated by the girls, insists on going with them and brings his cat. Things begin to look up when at the last minute the good-looking Kevin joins the trip, but when they become stranded on the island and encounter a strange inhabitant, this motley crew must find ways to support each other and put up with one another's shortcomings.

Those Feckin' lads are back! Packed full of hilarious banter and craic, The Feckin' Book of Ceilis, Come-all-yes, Claddagh Rings and other Blarney is stuffed with topics that the Irish are famous for, whether they like it or not!

The Giant's Causeway on Ireland's north Antrim coast is a place where myth and science meet. For over 300 years visitors have pondered the choice between giants and geology to explain this natural and cultural wonder. From tales of the Irish giant, Finn MacCool, and his building of the huge stone causeway, to the ancient and mysterious cooling of lava to form the basalt columns, The Giant's Causeway takes the reader on an illustrated tour of the history, folklore, people, geology, wildlife, and stunning landscape of this unique place. Today the Giant's Causeway is one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, with half a million visitors each year from all over the world.

New edition of this ever-popular walking guide. Explore the counties of Clare, Galway and Mayo in the company of a wildlife expert and learn about the plants, birds and animals that live there. The West of Ireland offers a huge choice of landscape to the walker — mountain peaks, woodland, bogs and lakes, sandy beaches and the strange limestone plateaux of the Burren. Explores some of the most beautiful areas in Ireland, including: The Cliffs of Moher — The Burren: Sliabh Eilbhe — Blackhead — Abbey Hill; Galway/Connemara: Inishmore, Aran Islands — Casla Bog — Errisbeg Mountains (Roundstone) — Maumturk Mountains — Kylemore Abbey — Killary Harbour; Mayo: Cong — Lough Nadirkmore (Party Mountains) — Tonakeera Point — Crough Patrick.

School just got scary... Grace and her four best friends, Jenny, Rachel, Adie and Una, are failed witches — and they have a notebook full of useless spells to prove it. Until one night, they accidentally unlock a portal into another world — and the notebook assumes a demonic life of its own. The girls watch helplessly as one by one, their spells start to work, moving pitilessly towards the worst one of all... A possessed best friend, a terrifying local witch, a haunted cottage — do Grace and her friends have enough skill and courage to stem the powerful magic gushing from the Demon Well? And can they do it before something tragic happens?

Dubliners is a wonderfully engaging and accessible collection of stories by James Joyce, an author famed for being difficult to read. It contains The Dead, made into a memorable film by John Huston. This beautiful new edition has been chosen as the One Book, One City title for Dublin in 2012 and will be heavily promoted with events and advertising as well as in the press.

Do you love the taste of Red Lemonade, change into your swimming togs under a towel on the beach or find yourself admiring 'the grand stretch in the evenings'? Then this book, jammed with hilarious reflections on what it is to be Irish, will have you nodding in agreement with every turn of the page. Contains approximately 100 things that Irish people like, such as: Waving hello to complete strangers on country roads. Using the 'cupla focal' to stress our Irishness when on holidays. Going for a few pints after mass. Claiming a relative who fought in the Easter Rising. Explaining hurling to foreigners. Nicknaming statues, for example 'The Floozie in the Jacuzzi'.

Whether you're looking for something simple and delicious to cook on a week night, light bites for a family get-together, or something more elaborate for dinner party, then I have the perfect recipe for you! I've packed my book with my favourite recipes for salads, soups, one-pot wonders, versatile main courses, chutneys & relishes, delicious, crusty breads, al fresco dining suggestions, festive foods, tempting, finger-licking desserts and gorgeous cakes and bakes — I've prepared all these dishes time and time again for family and friends — this truly is the food that I love, and I hope you'll love it too.

Marcel Petit-Pois, you are Invited to a Murder. The Kit-Kat Klub, Dublin. Thursday, Octover 17th, 8pm Sharp. I challenge you to stop me... you Nitwit. Signed: The Chocolatier. Monsieur Petit-Pois, the famous but bumbling Swiss detective, accompanied by his assitant Tesla, Europe's second-cleverest chimp, travels Europe on the trail of a dastardly murderer! A graphic novel detective story unlike any other... except for the rest of the Murder Can Be Fatal series!

A grizzly bear walked all the way from the zoo to my front door and not a single person noticed him. I suppose it helped that it was night, and that he was wearing a big black duffle coat with an enormous hood that covered his hairy head. He knocked on the front door three times, loud knocks that shook the house. Patrick makes his unexpected guest at home, while keeping him hidden from the neighbours, police and his very distractable mum! An intriguing, engaging and rather remarkable tale.