Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Memorial to Michael O’Brien at the Dublin Book Festival

Posted on by

Michael O’Brien President Michael D.Higgins

It was a great honour to be asked to take part in the memorial tribute for my friend and publisher Michael O’Brien in Dublin Castle as part of The Dublin Book Festival. Friends and family and colleagues from the book world gathered in the Print Works to remember this extraordinary man who had done so much to grow and develop Irish publishing over the years. He was involved in setting up so many organizations that would encourage reading, writing and publishing.

O’Brien Press growing from the small beginnings of just two people working there to becoming one of Ireland’s foremost award winning publishers. Michael had huge energy and drive and a vision for Irish publishing that he lived to see fulfilled. His achievements in terms of publishing were enormous as found gaps in the Irish book market and set about filling them as well as regularly attending the huge book fairs and selling translation rights to so many books by Irish authors.

His son Ivan O’Brien and Editor Ide O’Laoghaire and designer Emma Byrne all shared their memories as a montage of  photographs of Michael’s rich life was shown on screen.

I told of my first meeting Michael in O’Brien Press in Rathgar in 1989, when he gave me the good news that he was going to publish my book ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree.’ This was the start of a long friendship which stretched over many years, with O’Brien due to publish my new children’s book Fairy Hill in spring 2023.

Playwright and author Frank McGuinness was a long -time friend of Michael’s but unfortunately at the last minute was unable to attend but Ivan read out his words about the high regard he had for Michael O’Brien.

President Michael D Higgins also spoke of their enduring friendship over many years and how he looked forward to meeting Michael and the lively discussions that ensued. Michael was always an innovator, full of ideas ready to try new things.

Michael O’Brien was huge figure in Irish publishing and will be missed by all of us who had the good fortune to know him. However he has left an abiding legacy and O’Brien Press continues to thrive under the good care of his sons Ivan and Eoin O’Brien and all the publishing team there.

Dublin Castle with Ivan O’Brien and the wonderful Alice Leahy

Be Inspired Book Launch 

Posted on by

Dun Laoghaire’s Lexicon Library was a hive of activity for the launch of

Sarah Webb’s wonderful new book ‘ Be Inspired.’

The book is a celebration of 28 talented and bright Irish young people who are changing the world. Many have already made their mark on life.

Sarah wrote and researched the book over the Covid lockdown and it is illustrated by Graham Corcoran.

Ivan O’Brien from publishers O’Brien Press launched the book and many of the O’ Brien team were there. This very special launch was tinged with a little sadness as Michael O’Brien and Sarah’s wonderful Mum Melissa had both passed away recently.

Young bee-keeper Rian Somers told me about the 60,000 bees in his hives and kindly gave me a little pot of his honey. Talented young journalist Zainab Boladale talked of her journey to becoming a TV journalist and RTE Presenter and talented singer songwriter Michael Moloney blew everyone with one of his own songs.  

To add to all the excitement we discovered that Sarah Webb has just been shortlisted for The An Post Book Awards Author of the Year Award.  

Congrats Sarah!

Archives to Arts 

Posted on by

It is a real treat to be invited to return to Strokestown Park House and the National Famine Museum in Roscommon and to take part in  a very special event focused on Archives to Arts and Bringing the Strokestown Archive to life on Saturday 24th September.  

The Museum itself has only recently reopened with a new look after having a wonderful five million euro upgrade during the necessary Covid closedown, with an international panel of Famine experts overseeing the project.

To have an archive of over 50, 000 documents available that provide an insight into the parallel lives of tenants and the landlord is a real treasure for all of us with an interest in the past. As a writer having access to archives is invaluable and plays a huge part in the creation of my work and enriches it often sparking new ideas and stories and books that I simply have to write.

Among the panelists are singer and writer Declan O’Rourke and Anne-Marie O’ Sullivan of Enchanted Croi Theatre and there will be a screening of ‘Treasures of the Strokestown Famine Archive in the National Library’ presented by Professor Mark McGowan.

St Patrick’s Day Festival 2022

Posted on by

Writers Shane Hegarty, Marita and Sarah Webb.

The sun shone, the daffodils bloomed and the crowds came out to celebrate this year’s very special ‘St Patrick’s Day Festival’. This was a four day celebration as an extra government holiday day was added to say an official ‘Thank You’ and to acknowledge the Trojan work of all Medical and Health Care staff during the past two years of the Covid outbreak.

To add to the festivities The National Museum in Collins Barracks in Dublin hosted a brilliant few days of fun, with music, bands, dancers street performances, food trucks and events for all ages to enjoy. I was happy to come along to the ‘Story Yurt’ and talk a little bit about my writing and books with the author of the wonderful ‘Boot’ books Shane Hegarty. It was so good to get back to meeting and talking to kids of all ages about stories and book ideas.  

 World Book Day 2022

Posted on by

Today all over the world we are celebrating World Book Day so pick up a book and get reading!

It also marks 25 years since the start of World Book Day.

As a mad reader and total book worm it is great to celebrate all the wonderful books that have filled my heart and mind and life since I was a kid and all the great new ones too!

It doesn’t matter if you are 9 months, 9 years or 99 years old, there is always time for finding a good book and opening that first page and beginning a new adventure in reading.

In schools, bookshops and libraries all kinds of brilliant events are happening over the coming days so whether you are dressing up as your favourite book character, designing a new book jacket, acing it in a big book quiz , testing out mad scientists experiments, or taking part in a sponsored read, enjoy World Book Day!

There are lots of special euro 1.50 book tokens which you can use in your bookshop to buy one of the great special World Book Day books!

I am involved doing lots of lovely events , talking to schools in Sligo and Newry and  a fun filled online event on the day itself with Sarah Webb, Judi Curtin, Gerry Daly and John Farrelly organised by the Halfway up the Stairs bookshop in Greystones and O’Brien Press.