Always keen to support and promote new writing, this year we have no less than five book launches for you over the festival weekend, with topics including poetry, Donegal fiddle music, the Irish Revolution and surfing! Signed copies of the books from all visiting authors will be available in the Book Fair held by local bookshop A Novel Idea in the Abbey Centre all day on Saturday.
On Friday Nov. 4th (Abbey Centre, 7pm), we have our first two book launches from well known local writers, Marc Mc Menamin and Richie Fitzgerald.
‘IRELAND’S SECRET WAR’ BY MARC MCMENAMIN
Written with the verve and energy of a thriller, Ballyshannon man Marc McMenamin’s book reveals the true extent of Irish-Allied co-operation during WW2, all from the point of view of the main protagonists.
‘COLD-WATER EDEN’ BY RICHIE FITZGERALD
Bundoran native Richie Fitzgerald, who is one of the great big wave surfers, gives us a vivid memoir of a ground breaking surfing career and a stunning portrait of Ireland as one of the world’s best big-wave surfing destinations.
On Saturday Nov. 5th (Abbey Centre, 4.45pm), RTÉ’s Sinéad Crowley will launch the latest work by historian Dr. Pauric Travers on Donegal in the Irish Revolution, “the most extensive and balance study of Donegal’s role in the Irish revolution to date” (Conor Curran).
‘DONEGAL - THE IRISH REVOLUTION, 1912-23’
by Pauric Travers
The Ballyshannon man’s new book ‘’Donegal. The Irish Revolution 1912 – 23’’ gives us a fascinating new assessment of the county during those seminal years in Ireland’s history. The experiences of the different regions in a disparate county are highlighted, as well as the conflicting loyalties of Unionists, Home Rulers and separatists. And of course religion and the shadow of partition loom large in this eminently readable and thoroughly researched piece of work.
On Sunday Nov. 6th (Abbey Centre, 2pm), we have poetry and music with the launch of Michael O’Dea’s latest poetry collection, and the “much anticipated” revised and updated history of Donegal fiddle music by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh.
‘THE SOUND OF WATER SEARCHING’
by Michael O Dea
Roscommon man Michael O Dea reads from his latest critically acclaimed poetry collection. The writer Vincent Woods says that this collection ‘’captures infinite loss and bears quiet witness to human suffering and to enduring dignity and hope.’’
‘BETWEEN THE JIGS AND THE REELS, REVISED’
by Caoimhín MacAoidh
First published in 1994, and long since out of print, this seminal book has been significantly revised and enhanced to provide the reader with an informed lively and entertaining perspective on the history and current state of the dynamic cultural landscape of Donegal fiddle music. The giants and lesser known figures in the tradition are all to be found in this book. There is even the chance that a few tunes will be played.