5 Books for Adults
This Christmas, give the gift of a great story. Reflect on island Christmases past in the memoir ‘Nollaig Oileánach’, or take your pick of short stories spanning centuries in ‘Scéalta Nollaig’. ‘Cé a Mharaigh Emma Mhic Mathúna’ is a collection of powerful Irish poetry encompassing a range of traditional and contemporary themes. Travel to Burundi and view history through the eyes of a child in ‘Tír Bheag’, or take a look back over the years with ‘Nain’ – you might even learn a thing or two along the way. From timeless classics to exciting new releases, discover your favorite story that will leave lasting impressions long after the final page.
- Nollaig Oileánach: A memoir of Christmas time in the sixties and seventies spent on Inis Treabhair, a small island off the coast of Connemara, where author Micheál Ó Conghaile grew up in the sixties and early seventies. ‘Nollaig Oileánach’ is a reflection of the author’s life, and Christmases spent growing up in this small island community.
- Scéalta Nollaig: Versions of most of these stories were previously published in the author’s column ‘Crobhingne’ in The Irish Times at Christmas time over the past twenty years. Some could be described as fables, or imaginative retellings of Bible stories. Others are tales inspired by modern-day Christmas consumerism. ‘Lá Breithe’ is a longer story about Jesus’ childhood. – no version of this story exists in the New Testament at all.
- Cé a Mharaigh Emma Mhic Mhathúna: A strong collection of poems including powerful public eulogies for Emma Mac Mathuna, Vicky Phelan and Sinéad O’Connor, as well as sharp criticism of contemporary Irish politics amongst more personal poems about love, death and family.
- Tír Bheag: Set in Burundi in 1992, for ten-year-old Gabriel, life is carefree and he is happy: taking bike rides through the streets, swimming in the river, sneaking cigarettes and stealing mangoes with his friends. But storm clouds gather when neighbouring Rwanda is hit by civil war and genocide, and the spillover into Burundi means life for young Gaby is about to change.
- Nain: Nain, 86-year-old Máirín Uí Chathalláin, was born and raised in Arda Mór, on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, in 1937. Since the day she married, she has lived in Coimín, a small townland west of Dingle, where around 45 people live today. She never left Ireland. She says she would go amú, or astray, if she did! She now spends her days sitting in her house, looking out through the window at Baile Dháith Tower and eating anything she wants, sweet things mostly. She loves a mug of cocoa at night, and a Yorkie bar, and she loves people visiting her. She is a fountain of knowledge and could write a book on ancient traditions. She’s the heart of the family, our stalwart go-to, and she’s full to the brim of craic, devilment, and advice and sense about the big, bad world.
Young adult Irish language books to escape into this Christmas
5 Books for Young Adults
Escape to the magical land of the fairies with Luisne in ‘An Nollaig Thuas’, or immerse yourself in the trials and tribulations of teenage life in ‘Dialann Emily Porter’ and ‘Lúba’. Join Saraifín as a stroke of luck turns his life around in ‘Saraifín is a Mórshaothar Iontach’, or Learaí in ‘Daideo Craiceáilte agus na Síofraí’ as he tries to figure out what’s up with his eccentric Grandad. Give the gift of an exciting adventure this Christmas!
- An Nollaig Thuas: Luisne is a young fairy who lives in the fairy fort of Lios Lurgain in the World of the Sí. As she learns about the World of the Sí and the World of People, she has many adventures with her friends.
- Dialann Emily Porter 3: Caillte agus Aimsithe (+15): The year is 1997 – a defining year in the life of Emily Porter. Not only is the Leaving Cert looming but a big decision must be made about which third level course to choose, and Emily is stressed! To top it all off, she hasn’t spoken with her best friend Olivia in over a year – they’re real enemies now. Throughout this story, Emily experiences the rollercoaster that is life. She returns to Irish college but as an employee this time, and she gets new insight into life in the Gaeltacht. It’s not an easy year in the life of a teenager but, through the hardship, the challenges and the heartbreak, Emily grows into a young adult. This is the third book in the popular ‘Dialann Emily Porter’ series.
- Lúba: Lucy feels the whole world is against her: her parents, her school, her friends, even her own thoughts. She wonders if she could have a nice contented life like Clúimhín, the family cat. If she was granted that life, though, would it make her happy?
- Saraifín is a Mhórshaothar Iontach: Saraifín is a ticket puncher on the underground network, so bored with his work he dreams of nature and freedom. A stroke of luck changes Saraifín’s life, when he inherits a house in the countryside. It’s a ramshackle home but as the handiest of handymen with the most brilliant imagination, he transforms this dilapidated building into a truly extraordinary house. But Saraifín’s dreams are on a collision course with the realities of urban sprawl, coming face to face with bureaucracy and developers.
- Deaideo Craiceáilte agus na Síofraí: Grandad can’t remember where he parked the car, and Learaí is helping him find it. But something seems strange about Grandad – not that he’s not always a bit odd, but this time, it’s over the top! What on earth is going on with him?
Spark imagination with Irish language stories this Christmas
5 Books for Younger Readers
Give the gift of a new book to the young readers in your life this Christmas. Take a trip to the land of make-believe with Teidí and his friends, or find out how Santa himself celebrates Christmas in ‘Santaí sa Bhaile’. Uncover songs of the sea in ‘Ceol na Mara’, whilst ‘Mamaí Gé’ is the collection of rhymes every child needs this Christmas. Christmas Eve is the perfect opportunity to gather round and escape into the magic of ‘The Night Before Christmas’ through Irish in ‘Cuairt San Nioclás’.
- An Nollaig le Teidí: It’s Christmas Eve and Teidí is very excited! He invites us on an adventure to the land of make-believe. Join Teidí, Tríona, Tomás, Mammy and Daddy as they excite our imagination and head into their gingerbread house. A fun-filled adventure awaits with biscuits hanging on the walls, chocolate trees and even edible books! But the teddies must make sure that they’re back in their own house before bedtime, as Santa is arriving soon!
- Ceol na Mara: Ceol na Mara is a collection of beautifully illustrated, maritime-themed songs. The accompanying recordings (available via QR codes) feature local schoolchildren from the Galway Gaeltacht area of Cois Fharraige along with well-known singer Caitlín Ní Chualáin. There are newly composed songs with some old classic remixes such as ‘Raghnall Rón’ and ‘Cé a Chlúdaigh mé le Gaineamh?’.
- Mamaí Gé: A treasury of rhymes for young people in both Irish and English. Translations of Mother Goose Rhymes by Gabriel Rosenstock with gorgeous illustrations by Kim Sharkey.
- Santaí sa Bhaile: Around the world in one single night – Santa in his sleigh. What happens when Santa arrives home? How does Santa and his friends spend Christmas in the North Pole?
- Cuairt San Nioclás: ‘Cuairt San Nioclás’ is an Irish-language twist on the Christmas classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. This book is the perfect opportunity to escape into the magic of Santa’s preparations on Christmas Eve.
Discover your favourite story this Christmas!
