Bøger udgivet af Merrion Press

'What has taken place here today was a carefully planned exercise to secure the release of a substantial number of POWs. The block is now under our control.' The infamous 1983 H-Block breakout, which saw 38 IRA prisoners escape from Long Kesh prison, was the biggest jailbreak in UK penal history. It was the apex of a long tradition of escape bids by republican prisoners, who saw it as their moral duty to escape, attempting to do so in increasingly daring and audacious ways. The Jailbreak Chronicles is the definitive book of Irish republican prison escapes from 1865 to 1983, depicting daring events that bolstered the morale of nationalist Ireland and cast a shadow of disgrace on prison authorities. Each chapter features a history-altering jailbreak, such as de Valera's rescue from Lincoln Jail in 1919, the ' Greatest Escape' of 112 prisoners from Newbridge Barracks in 1922 and the epic helicopter airlift from Mountjoy Jail in 1973. Delve into unflinching and urgent first-hand accounts of political prisoners defying oppressive prison conditions and fighting for Ireland's freedom in this thrilling testament to republican resistance.

As the Religious Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times from 1997, Patsy McGarry reported on some of the most troubling scandals to have rocked both Catholic and Protestant Churches in the last few decades. In Well, Holy God, he looks back not only on his time in journalism, recalling some of the most distressing stories he has had to cover, but also his own history with Catholicism and of a faith lost when the stark realities of being part of that Church became apparent to him. This book covers the gamut of his career, from the horrors of the various clerical child sex abuse cases, the vilification of Bishop Eamonn Casey and the muted reaction the Church of Ireland to the violence at Drumcree, to the role of women in the Catholic Church and the tragedies of the Mother and Baby Homes and the Magdalene laundries. Alongside accounts of such seismic events, there are lighter anecdotes, including the perils of travelling with a pope, some characters he's met along the way and a look at the good that those with a true calling can do. Well, Holy God is a memoir brimming with personality, charting the highs and lows of a truly fascinating career.

This highly anticipated sequel charts the contributions of Irish doctors in the Second World War, a conflict that demonstrated to the world that the pace of military warfare had changed forever. Advancements in medical care during the inter-war years made field medicine almost unrecognisable compared to 1918, but this was tempered by the vast innovations in the machines of war. From the Maginot Line to the Far East, Irish doctors risked their lives in a terrifying new landscape. Read accounts from Aidan MacCarthy, a Japanese POW present when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and heartrending reports from Irish doctors arriving in liberated concentration camps, exemplifying the unique position they were in as citizens of a neutral country: ' They [Irish people] don't understand the horror of this war because it has not been brought home to them. They have spun their own little cocoon and have been indifferent, to a great extent to the sufferings of humanity.'

Remember now as you go by, as you are now so once was I, and as I am now so you shall be, so prepare for death and follow me.' Every grave has a story to tell. Glasnevin Cemetery is the final resting place of over one million souls, with some of the most famous names in Irish history resting side by side with those buried in anonymity. The ' faithful departed', as James Joyce referred to the cemetery's population, are reanimated in this book through vivid retellings of their stories. From unmarked plots to striking monuments, Glasnevin Cemetery is a microcosm of Irish society over the last two centuries. Warren Farrell, having immersed himself in the cemetery's history as a tour guide for the past seven years, set out to celebrate the lesser known figures and their contributions to the Irish state. So Once Was I has a story for everyone, representing all threads of Irish society's rich tapestry. Embark on an intriguing tour through our national necropolis in these pages, and become acquainted with the famous and forgotten that once walked the streets of Dublin.

In July 1927, at just thirty five years old, Kevin O' Higgins was assassinated on his way to mass in Booterstown. A memorial plaque in his honour unveiled at the site in 2012 was removed after just two weeks due to persistent vandalism. In this compelling biography, Arthur Matthews examines the enduring hatred of O' Higgins through the lens of his close friends and many enemies. Appointed Minister for Home Affairs in 1922, O' Higgins resorted to draconian measures to fight the lawlessness that swelled in the wake of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. In an act that would seal his fate, he signed off on the execution of seventy seven anti-Treaty prisoners, including Rory O' Connor, who had been best man at his wedding the year before. As the hostility between former comrades intensified, O' Higgins was now a prime target for the incensed ' irregulars' . Holed up in government buildings in the years preceding his assassination, he described himself as being ' walled in by hate' . The complex legacy of Kevin O' Higgins encapsulates the bitter divisions of the Irish Civil War, and he remains one of the most compelling characters to emerge from the conflict.

Belfast's Carl 'The Jackal' Frampton MBE is no ordinary boxer. One of only three fighters from the British Isles to be named the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year, he has headlined multiple sell-out world championship bouts on both sides of the Atlantic, winning multiple world titles in the process. His dedicated army of fans have traversed the globe to be ringside throughout it all. But Frampton's popularity far exceeds the traditional adulation for a sporting icon; he is regarded as a symbol of hope and unity by both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland. In this captivating autobiography, Frampton reveals the most personal aspects of being a fighter; of fears and doubts, of exhilaration and devastation, of friendship and animosity. He also recounts for the first time his high-profile, acrimonious split with Barry McGuigan, in devastating and revealing detail. Frampton speaks openly and passionately, not only about boxing, but about his country, how far it has come and the problems it faces. This is a uniquely intimate account of a true modern-day sporting great and a local hero like no other.

Denis Bradley was born and raised in Buncrana, just 12 miles from the border with Northern Ireland. On joining the priesthood he found himself assigned to the cathedral parish in Derry city, arriving in the summer of 1970 as the streets were descending into chaos with the outbreak of the Troubles. An eyewitness to the wanton violence of Bloody Sunday, Bradley was spurred to become involved in the ' backchannel' as one of three men who would provide a secret link between the IRA and the British government for thirty years. Fervent in their belief that dialogue would bring peace, they brokered the crucial 1993 meeting between IRA men Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly and a British Intelligence agent codenamed ' Fred' . This was a vital step on the road to negotiations which would lead to the ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement. Throughout it all, Bradley worked to combat addiction and homelessness in his adopted community, and made the difficult decision to leave the priesthood to marry. Once played out in the shadows, Bradley's pivotal role in Northern Ireland's peace process is finally illuminated in this engrossing memoir.

Fugitive: The Michael Lynn Story is a fast-paced and thrilling journey into the mind of a reluctant fugitive brought down by his own insatiable greed. This is investigative journalism at its most compelling, placing the reader at the heart of the relentless global manhunt for fugitive Irish lawyer Michael Lynn and his stolen millions, and the trials that saw him finally brought to justice. Facing accusations of massive fraud in 2007, Lynn secretly boards a flight at Dublin Airport and vanishes. With him goes all trace of the millions he secured from Irish banks and clients. Millions more, entrusted to Lynn by everyday investors for dream holiday homes abroad, is also missing. A month later, dogged investigative journalist Michael O'Farrell is on his tail, tasked with tracking Lynn down. From the Algarve to the Black Sea and beyond, O'Farrell pursues his prey until he finally corners Lynn, who agrees to speak to him. However, Lynn continues to avoid the Irish authorities, even spending five years in a hellish Brazilian prison fighting extradition. Now, sixteen years after he first went on the run, he is finally being brought to justice. This is a truly extraordinary tale of tension-filled encounters involving shadowy fixers, violent Mafia villains, international law organisations, suited, corporate crooks, and the man who thought he could outsmart them all, Michael Lynn.

Ireland's landscape is steeped in folklore and history, and the untamed Atlantic seaboard is no exception. Stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way encompasses 2,500 kilometres of spectacular coastline and a wealth of folk tales passed down through generations. This book immerses us in the wild beauty of Ireland's western periphery, seeks out these stories and explores their origins. Renowned landscape photographer Carsten Krieger has traversed and captured Ireland's verdant terrain for over twenty years. In this time, he has imbibed the geology, history and heritage of the island he now calls home. On his journey to create this book, he has retraced his steps, listening to the echoes of the past and looking with fresh eyes to unearth ancient legends and myths. While some of the places, stories and events in this book may be familiar, this is the first time they are presented in this way: a beguiling combination of photography, folklore and history. Through the eyes of a curious photographer, the already enchanting landscape is imbued with a touch of magic.

A monastic outpost in the Celtic Sea, a fortress built to defend an Empire, a prison established to intern a nation; Spike Island's remarkable 1300-year history far exceeds its modest acreage. No other place better encapsulates the Irish story. Spike Island tells of religious fervour, frequent rebellion, social endeavour, and a nation's unextinguishable yearning for freedom. After 206 years off-limits to the public, its secrets can finally be divulged. The island has garnered international attention many times, such as the famine-era prison overcrowding and inhumane conditions, the triumphant 1938 handover of the island from Britain to Ireland, and the violent prison riot in 1985. Spike Island echoes with the voices of prisoners past, having housed fierce rebels like John Mitchel, who would inspire the 1916 generation, and 1200 Republicans during the War of Independence. More recent arrivals include the notorious crime boss The General, who terrorized 1980's Ireland. Told in an entertaining and accessible chronological style featuring accounts from island dwellers and the interned alike, this book is sure to captivate anyone interested in Irish history.

In this gripping memoir, Eamonn Mallie takes us on an extraordinary journey through his life as a journalist in Northern Ireland. From the frontlines of the Troubles to the corridors of power, Mallie's fearless reporting and unrelenting pursuit of the truth have made him a legendary figure in Irish journalism. Having gained unparalleled access to key players, Mallie shares his reflections on his groundbreaking interviews with John Hume, Gerry Adams, Margaret Thatcher, Ian Paisley, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and a host of other influential figures involved in the peace process. From adrenaline-fuelled moments on the ground to frank conversations with political heavyweights, Eyewitness to War and Peace is a captivating read that sheds new light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world of journalism in a divided society. An unflinching testament to the power of investigative reporting and the enduring pursuit of peace, this is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Northern Ireland's troubled past and its hopeful future.

Ró isí n Curé sketches what she sees, wherever she is, from the mundane to the magnificent, and everything in between. With her ears and eyes open, she immerses herself in the urban scene and creates a snippet of the world around her in words and pictures, with nothing more hi-tech than a fountain pen and a small box of watercolours. The bustling, busy city of Dublin is captured here in all its grit and glory, through its buildings and people along with conversations with its inhabitants. You won't find these stories in any guidebook, as they ebbed and flowed like the ink and paint used to create this very intimate portrait of Dublin and its people. And in this perfect coffee-table book, Roisin Cure has done just that. Whether the genteel grandeur of Merrion Square or the raw vibrancy of Moore Street, Curé has it covered. With more than 100 lively new artworks, Dublin: Sketches and Stories is a joyous snapshot of the beating heart of the Fair City.

The spectre of 'the Disappeared', those abducted, secretly executed and their bodies buried in remote locations, has overshadowed the debate around the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland for the last two decades. Yet what most people don't realise is that 'forced disappearances' have been part of violent political conflicts in Ireland for over 200 years. This groundbreaking book, the first of its kind, looks at the history of this practice in Ireland and identifies all known victims over the last century, from the North King Street Massacre in 1916 right up to 2003. Ó Ruairc cuts through the exaggeration and myth that pervade the popular history of the 'Good Old IRA' to prove that this organisation was particularly ruthless in using this course of action during the War of Independence and Civil War, much more so than their successors in the Provisional IRA or the British forces in Ireland. The author also reveals how his research has helped locate several bodies of those long missing, one of which has already been recovered and given a proper burial. Behind each disappearance there is the story of a life cut short and a family left searching for answers. Ó Ruairc deftly incorporates this human element, preserving the memory of those who were disappeared on both sides of the conflict.

This is the story of Northern Ireland's extraordinary Dunlop family - motor-racing titans - as told through the eyes of the world's leading road-racing photo-journalist, Stephen Davison. Davison has followed the careers of Joey Dunlop, his brothers Jim and Robert, and the entire family, since the 1970s. From the start, the passion the Dunlops had for their sport superseded the political and civil unrest by which they were surrounded in Northern Ireland. They were true self-made sporting giants, working-class heroes who gave everything to their exhilarating and adventurous, but often treacherous careers. From their earliest days on the circuit in the ' 70s, Davison cheered on his heroes from the hedgerows. He witnessed this formidable family dynasty at their highest and lowest moments, from their humble beginnings, to victories at the North-West 200 and the Isle of Man TT, to their ultimate, devastating losses.

The incomparable George Hamilton returns with a superb offering of travails and anecdotes spanning his five decades on our airwaves and on our screens, always at the heart of Irish culture. Picking up where his first book, The Nation Holds Its Breath, left off, George continues to illuminate the path that took him from the Cregagh Road in Belfast to the most extraordinary locations across the world. Whether going behind the scenes of his beloved Lyric FM show or reliving the dramatic events of the 100-metre final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the reader will be captivated once more by George's storytelling as he expertly weaves tales and paints the most evocative pictures. Sport, music and travel are intertwined throughout - George's love for all three evident on every page. His writing style is consistently surprising; the reader is never quite certain where George is taking them but few will be able to resist being caught up in the stories and going along for the ride. The Hamilton Notes is a delightful manifestation of that old adage - ' It's not the destination, it's the journey.' And there could be no finer raconteur to guide the reader along the way.

In every province and county in Ireland, GAA grounds are cornerstones of culture and community. They are imbued with history and their terraces echo with the sounds of decades, even centuries, of spirited sporting battles. In this book, the first of its kind, Humphrey Kelleher has created a vibrant record of 101 GAA county grounds in every corner of the country. Each GAA ground featured has served as a county ground at some stage in its lifetime. Named for saints, landowners, political figures and more, every one has a unique and absorbing history. Alongside this fascinating information, the author chronicles the development of the grounds over the years, and the often surprising ways that funds were raised to do so. All thirty-two counties feature, and it doesn't stop there; the book also takes us to London and to New York, where the grounds reflect the lasting and far-reaching influence of the GAA beyond these borders. With stunning new aerial drone photography by the author, this exceptional book offers an insightful new perspective on the places our GAA clubs and counties call home.

Often imitated but never equalled, John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley are back with the third instalment of their bestselling Old Ireland in Colour series. Beloved by Irish readers at home and abroad, for this new volume the authors have uncovered yet more photographic gems and breathed new life into them in glorious colour. All of Irish life is here - from an eviction in Clare in 1888 to devastating floods in Strabane and a snapshot of working life in Dublin. Famous faces from politics and the arts appear alongside hard-working labourers and farmers, and mischievous children from all corners of the island light up this book's glorious pages. With endless surprising details to pore over in every picture, along with illuminating captions, Old Ireland in Colour 3 is a stunning addition to this wonderful series of unique books.

Leinster - one of the most successful and influential Irish sporting teams of all time. Established in 1879, they boast a dazzling roster of players, past and present, including Brian O' Driscoll, Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, and current captain James Ryan. But there is so much more to rugby in Leinster, and, for the first time, this book compiles its rich history, from its foundation, through the amateur years, to the club's many spectacular championships in the twenty-first century, when the national love for rugby kicked up a gear. Doolin ruminates on the sport's relationships with politics and class, and of course celebrates all the breathless victories enjoyed by Leinster teams at every level. And success doesn't stop with silverware; since the nineteenth century Leinster Rugby has been influencing the spheres of education, business and politics throughout the province and the country as a whole. Nothing reflects the complexities of politics and identity in Ireland more than rugby. A History of Rugby in Leinster is a vibrant celebration of sporting greatness and of Leinster's enduring commitment to teamwork, integrity and community.