Irish History

A race-against-the-clock narrative that finally illuminates a history-changing event: the IRA’s attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and the epic manhunt that followed.A bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army exploded at 2:…

Irish troops had fought for Louis XIV in the 1670s, under Irish officers who had little choice but to fight in foreign service, with the blessing of Charles II. With the accession of James II, and the religious politics of who mig…

Guerrilla warfare is the struggle of the weak against the strong. During the War of Independence in Ireland, the IRA adapted to guerrilla warfare and was able to inflict severe damage on the Crown forces. By mid-1921, British casu…

From the master storyteller behind 2023's critically acclaimed KILLING THATCHERA Rebel and a Traitor is the story of a rogue imperial consul who sought to forge a new nation in the middle of a war - and the mercurial spy chief who…

1916: The Rising Handbook offers bite-sized details about the organisations involved in the Rising, the positions occupied during Easter week, the weapons the rebels and army used, the documents that were passed around, and the sp…

Proverbs from the Irish language - seanfhocail - hark back to a time when Ireland and its people were predominantly agricultural, poor and Catholic; though centuries old, they are integral to a sense of culture and are rich in wis…

The Laneways of Medieval Cork was first published in 2002 by Cork City Council.  As part of the refurbishment of the historic core of the city a study was carried out to identify and demarcate the medieval and post-medieval lanewa…

In 1983 an off-duty prison officer was shot by the IRA in cold blood on a Dublin street. Over 40 years later, no one has been convicted of his murder. In this book, his son outlines why justice must be done.Brian Stack was the chi…

In 1981, the Stardust nightclub in Dublin was a beacon for the city's nightlife - until it became a nightmare. On that fateful Valentine's Day the dance floor became a scene of horror, as flames engulfed the venue, claiming the li…

The Pocket Book of St Patrick explores the extraordinary life and enduring influence of Ireland's patron saint. Tracing his journey from youth in captivity to his mission of spreading Christianity across Ireland, it weaves togethe…

In the 1800s, as Britain became the world's most powerful industrial empire, Ireland starved. The Great Famine fractured long-held assumptions about political economy and 'civilisation', threatening disorder in Britain.Ireland was…

In November 2023, the Dublin riots shocked Ireland and the wider world. They were sparked by a knife attack by an immigrant on three children. Inflammatory online rumours spread in minutes.Part of the north inner city were wrecked…

The Shortest History of Ireland is based at every step on the latest scholarship, but it’s all brought together, for once, as a fluent story, as captivating as a novel, galloping from the Ice Age to the present, using language, gr…

Embrace all things Irish with these 200 interesting, important, and fun Irish words and phrases—as well as what each teaches us about the history and culture of Ireland. Céad míle fáilte! Dia duit. You don’t need to be fluent to a…

The first biography of IRA leader Rory O'Connor, close comrade of Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy and prominent member of the anti-Treaty IRA.The execution of IRA leader Rory O'Connor on 8 December 1922, along with Liam Mellow…

A new book celebrating the achievements of 12 inspirational women who made significant contributions to local government in Cork city was launched recently in Cork City Hall. ‘Leading the Way’ was written by Dr Aodh Quinlivan, Sen…

This captivating book delves into the secretive world of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and its profound impact on Ireland's political landscape between 1914 and 1924. With the aid of new documentation, Ranelagh unravels t…

Ferriter tells the latest chapter in Ireland's story with authority and insight, deftly weaving together economic and political upheavals with equally tumultuous societal and cultural shifts' Financial Times 'Forensic and insightf…

In eighty short essays, historians, folklorists, archaeologists, theologians, anthropologists, poets, novelists, artists, literary scholars, and educationalists explore diverse facets of the experience of childhood in Ireland over…

This fully illustrated and authorised history marks fifty years of one of Ireland’s most ground-breaking and successful theatrical ensembles. Founded in 1975, Druid is a touring theatre company, anchored in the West of Ireland and…

The Croppy Boy Way is a love letter to Cork’s Northside - its people, its stories, and the places that shaped generations. Over seven years, authors Gerry Corbett and the late Jim O’Shea walked the hills and boreens of their commu…

In this unique book, Irish women who stayed living on the island, who did not emigrate, describe their lives and perspectives on a dramatically changed social context from the 1990s to 2023. We hear the women’s voices through O’Ca…

Uncover the gripping narrative of Irish immigrants who transformed America in the aftermath of the Great Hunger. Tyler Anbinder's landmark work exposes the grit and resilience of the Famine Irish, defying hardship to redefine the …

The Turning Tide is a hymn to a sea passage of world-historical importance. Combining social and cultural history, nature-writing, travelogue and politics, Welshman Jon Gower charts a sea which has carried both Vikings and saints;…

Immerse yourself in the rich history and cultural significance of the Irish pub, from its humble beginnings in the 17th century to its modern incarnation as a global phenomenon. This book offers a comprehensive examination of the …

Twelve Paintings is an intimate and compelling exploration of the life and work of the renowned Irish artist Colin Davidson. Structured around a series of deeply personal conversations with the broadcaster Mark Carruthers, the boo…

This groundbreaking study reveals the fascinating international dimension of the Irish Revolution (1919-1923), exploring how a small nation's fight for independence reverberated across the globe. The Irish republican counter-state…

Myths and lies have distorted the truth behind the founding of an Irish state. The struggle for independence was dramatic and dangerous, but there was no outright ‘Irish revolution’ from 1913 to 1927. In this new work from Colum K…

The British Isles hold a unique position in the history of art, a place where local traditions fuse with international ideas in extraordinary ways. At once isolated by coastal boundaries, yet also part of larger networks of divers…

The crown was the symbol of British power in Ireland, and in December 1921 opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty claimed that its terms tied Ireland to the Crown forever. The new Irish Free State would be within the British Commonwe…