Signed books from Colmcille Press - a perfect Christmas present

Still looking for that perfect Christmas present?

Signed books from a range of our authors are now available online will also be available at Conor Bowman's launch at Ráth Mór this week, including copies of: 

* BBC broadcaster and latter-day seanchaí Ken McCormack's collection of curious old tales from the North West, The Lady in Black

* Guitar maestro Colum Arbuckle's memoir, Radio, Romance & Rock'n'Roll (CA will also be playing a tune or two)

* Royal Literary Fellow Felicity McCall's  new short story collection, What We Did on Our Holidays

* Gerry Quinn of Creggan Country Park's exquisitely-produced angling bible, Fly Fishing for Trout and Salmon on the Faughan

* Financial journalist Paul Gosling's analysis on preparations for a border poll, A New Ireland: A Five Year Review

* Garbhán Downey's Handy Wee Derry Quiz Book

* Novelist Jim Simpson's warm celebration of Derry culture, craic and politics, True Colours, and

* Bailiúchan nua ón file Paul Laughlin, Dorn San Aer: Filíocht ó Dhoire go Gaza.

Dozens of other books are also available in our online shop and will also be available at the launch along with loads of interesting authors and friends.

ONLINE SHOP

Pre-Christmas Launch and Oíche Airneáil at Ráth Mór

Writer Conor Bowman at the cemetery in Castlepollard Mother & Baby Home, where he was born

COLMCILLE PRESS is hosting a pre-Christmas  launch and Oíche Airneáil at Ráth Mór’s Hive Studios on Friday, December 5.

Proceedings will open at 5.30pm with the launch of ‘The Half-Life of Edith Hopkins and Other Stories’, new fiction collection centring on the Tuam Mother & Baby Home, penned by barrister Conor Bowman. 

Following on from this, the guitar virtuoso and recent author, Colum Arbuckle, and his guests will serve up music and chat.

Then, for those out searching for that special Christmas gift, there’ll be a chance to get signed copies of books by authors from the Colmcille Press stable, many of whom will be in attendance.

Work published by CCP in 2025 includes: Felicity McCall’s short-story collection, ‘What We Did on Our Holidays’; Colum Arbuckle’s memoir, ‘Radio, Romance & Rock’n’Roll’; Paul Laughlin’s poetry collection, ‘Dorn San Aer: Filíocht ó Dhoire go Gaza’; ‘Flight of the Swallows: Journeys of Lived Experiences’ by the Foyle Foodbank;  Paul Gosling’s political critique, ‘A New Ireland, A New Union: A Five Year Review’; The Handy Wee Derry Quiz Book (edited by Garbhán Downey & Joseph Martin); and Deirdre Devine’s new collection, ‘Carrying Light: A Life in Poetry’. 

All these titles and dozens more – and, of course, Conor Bowman’s new collection – will be available to purchase on the night.

Proceedings get underway at 5.30pm, admission is free, and light refreshments will be provided.

Conor Bowman SC is a highly-acclaimed writer with nine titles under his belt including one in Irish. 'The Half-Life of Edith Hopkin and Other Stories' begins with a novella (the title story), which tells of a teenaged mother whose infant baby is removed from her at the Tuam home in the 1960s and how her life unfolds in the aftermath. It is a nuanced, compassionate and elegant tale, made more significant by the fact that the author himself was born in the Castlepollard Manor Mother & Baby Home in 1965. 

Full interview with Conor Bowman by Garrett Hargan from the Belfast Telegraph, November 24, 2025 here.

BUY THE BOOK

Handy Wee Quiz Book now in stock

The new Handy Wee Derry Quiz Book, containing hundreds of questions in dozens of categories, will give you and the quiz-lovers in your family hours of fun this Christmas - and possibly the odd dispute or two!

For those who love the North West, there are sections on its ancient and modern history, saints and scholars, entertainers and sports stars, important visitors and dear departed friends.

It's not just Derry, either - Inishowen, Tirconnell and North Tyrone also feature large too. And for those who enjoy variety in their quizzes, there are of course picture rounds, Who am I rounds and Ten-sion rounds

Priced just a tenner - the Handy Wee Derry Quiz Book has landed back from the printers in record time and will be in the shops from the end of the week.

Order your copy today from Colmcille Press, or pick up one from your local bookshop. The perfect stocking filler!

Order Here