Biography (English) - An Ceathrú Póilí

Running Away

Áine Nic Gearailt — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:44:55 +0000

Following his previous career as a sports journalist and broadcaster, John McCreedy transitioned into a life of service as a missionary and later took on the role of Communications and Media Director in Belfast. Over the years, he has established himself as a distinguished author with a focus on personal and inspirational storytelling. In this his eighth book, “Running Away,” John recounts his personal journey of escaping the Northern Ireland Troubles to pursue an athletic scholarship at an American university. This poignant memoir captures his experiences as a middle-distance runner, drawing motivation from the accomplishments of esteemed athletes both from his homeland and across the globe. Through his engaging narrative, John reflects on the numerous challenges and victories that have defined his life. This story stands as a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the relentless pursuit of dreams amidst adversity, making it both an inspiring and relatable read.

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To Call Myself Beloved

Áine Nic Gearailt — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:51:40 +0000

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The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal

Áine Nic Gearailt — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:33:25 +0000

There was a time when DJ Carey didn’t need a surname. The star player of a Kilkenny hurling team that dominated the sport for a decade, he had a rare, natural talent that led his county to five All Ireland titles and won him nine All Stars. DJ wasn’t just a hero on the pitch – his easy charm, generosity, and readiness to meet young fans made him a national treasure.

Throughout his meteoric rise, strange rumours followed him. In 2003, shocking claims that DJ was dying of cancer swept the country. Who would spread such a story about one of Ireland’s most beloved sporting legends? And what could possibly be gained from it?

Two decades later, the truth emerged. DJ Carey was arrested and charged with deception and forgery – accused of faking cancer to con money from those who trusted him most. For years, he had been telling the same lie to generous supporters who believed they were funding life-saving treatment in the U.S.

In this riveting exposé, Eimear Ní Bhraonáin uncovers the extraordinary fall from grace of a national icon, and how he betrayed the fans that once loved him.

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How I Came to Berlin

Áine Nic Gearailt — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:52:51 +0000

'I witnessed the rise and fall of the GDR. When times change, one looks upwards. I take a walk to the end of the Tresowstrabe, past the supermarket into the Waldstrabe where the sky is wider and look to see if Ozenfant's stars are still there.

There they are, blinking away in the great unknown.'

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All the Dead Voices

Áine Nic Gearailt — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:49:08 +0000

Danny Morrison

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Journeywork, a creative life by Dave Duggan

Robbi — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:11:26 +0000

Dave Duggan presents Journeywork, a Creative Life — thirteen essays that explore the arc of a creative life. Each essay stands alone as a chapter, combining memoir, medical matters and reflections on creative practice and theory. The tone is humane, engaging and serious without being academic.

The book is aimed at adult readers, including practising, emerging and aspiring creatives. It features travel stories interwoven with health challenges, work achievements and personal reflections. It is a case study of how one person creates works of imagination, while earning a living and maintaining a family, with all the ordinary ups and downs of such a life.

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The Radical Thinking of Desmond Fennell

Robbi — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:11:15 +0000

How can we create a more vibrant public discourse in Ireland? How do we organise Irish society so that it prospers culturally and economically? Why is a national identity important? How can we ensure the future of the Gaeltacht? And where is the Western world heading? These are just some of the questions that Desmond Fennell (1929–2021) explored in a lifetime of writing. Fennell was one of Ireland’s great independent thinkers, bringing fresh perspective to debates on identity, language, media, politics and the wider world. In this curated collection, Toner Quinn and Jerry White bring together his most important essays and articles.

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A Tale of Love and Two Wars

Áine Nic Gearailt — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:00:50 +0000

A Tale of Love and Two Wars is the remarkable true story of one family's journey from war-torn Italy during World War II to the turbulent streets of Belfast at the dawn of the Troubles.

A Tale of Love and Two Wars is a powerful testament to love, endurance, and the fight for peace in the face of relentless adversity.

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The Reverend Andrew Bryson

Áine Nic Gearailt — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:59:06 +0000

The Life and Times of an Irish-Speaking Presbyterian Minister

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Rita A Memoir

Áine Nic Gearailt — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:36:26 +0000

Rita O'Hare grew up in West Belfast, a community alienated from unionist one-party government, a people suffering decades of sectarian discrimination, with the threat of state violence as reprisal should they attempt to challenge their second-class citizenship. As a mother of three young children she felt she could no longer ignore what was going on and made a stand by joining the Irish Republican Army. She was shot and grieviously wounded by the British Army on an IRA operation, and was imprisoned three times. She became Sinn Féin National Director of Publicity. Rita was the party's representative in Washington for almost twenty years, having played a prominent role in the peace process, particularly as a Sinn Féin contact with the Irish government.

Rita O'Hare died on 3 March, 2023, after a long battle with cancer.

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