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Fáth Mo Bhuartha (The Cause of My Anguish) Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin, curtha in eagar ag Risteard Mac Gabhann Ceacht 4: Fáth Mo Bhuartha ~ The Cause of My Anguish Is minice anois a chluintear an t-amhrán álainn seo mar cheol uirlise ná mar amhrán, agus is trua sin nó tá na véarsaí iontach álainn chomh maith. Tá patrún saibhir ríme go cothrománach ar gach líne agus go hingearach trí gach véarsa, a chuireann diminsean suntasach eile le ceolmhaireacht an amhráin. Tá an saol crua atá i gceist sa mheafar ‘turas na Cruaiche’ ag deireadh an chéad véarsa, ag tagairt don oilithreacht cháiliúil (agus anróiteach) go Cruach Phádraig i gContae Mhaigh Eo. Is é an file as Maigh Eo Riocard Bairéad (1739 – 1810) is mó a luaitear leis an amhrán breá seo. This beautiful song is probably better known now as an instrumental piece at traditional music seisiúin, which is a pity, since the words are also very attractive. There is a rich pattern of vowel rhymes arranged horizontally and vertically throughout each verse, which adds another dimension to the musicality of the composition. The hard life implied in the ‘Cruach journey’ metaphor at the end of the first verse is probably a reference to the famous penitential pilgrimage mountain Cruach Phádraig in County Mayo. The song is attributed in some sources to the Mayo poet Riocard Bairéad (1739 - 1810). Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation Is é fáth mo bhuartha nach bhfaighim cead cuarta, The cause of my anguish is that I’m not permitted to visit, Sa ghleanntán uaigneach mar a mbíonn mo ghrá, The lonely glen where dwells my love, Bíonn mil ar luachair ann, im a’s uachtar, There’s honey on rushes there, butter and cream, A’s i dtús an fhuachta bíonn na crainn faoi bhláth, And at the start of the cold (season) the trees are in bloom, Níl gaoth aduaidh ann, níl sneachta crua ann, There’s no north wind there, there’s no hard snow there, Tá caladh a’s cuan ann ag long a’s ag bád, There’s harbour and shelter there for ship and boat, A’s tá tuilleadh bua ann, níl turas na Cruaiche ann And there’s more benefit there, there’s no hard life there, Don té a dhéanfadh suas lena mhuirnín bán. For the man who’d make up to his fair love. Is é dúirt mo stór liom, ó bhí tú óg deas My love said to me, since you were young and pretty, Go ndéanfá foghlaim ar éalú liom, That you would contrive to elope with me, A’s nach mbíonn tráthnóna nó maidin fhómhair, For there isn’t an evening or an autumn morning, Nach tú an réalt eolais a bhíonn ag dul romhainn, That you’re not my guiding star going before us, Ag siúl na móinte a’s na gcoillte cnómhar’, Walking the heathlands and the nut-filled woods, Ní bhíonn orm brón ná duibheagán croí, I’m never in sorrow or heavy of heart, Ach mé bheith pósta le mo mhíle stóirín, If I were just married to my thousand treasures, A’s mo lámh go bródúil ar a brollach mín. And my hand proudly on her gentle breast. Leagan eile iontach ó Eleanor Shanley anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kubsvZ_vNAI

It has been a busy time for Colmcille Press authors, whose new books have been making waves in regional and national media this week. Financial journalist Paul Gosling has been writing about the island's readiness for a referendum in The Irish Times and has also featured in an extended interview on Newstalk . Royal Literary Fellow Felicity McCall was interviewed on BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show (@40 mins) and also featured in both the Derry Journal and Derry News . McCall will be launching her 'memoir-inspired' short story collection 'What We Did On Our Holidays' at Derry's Central Library on November 15. And barrister Conor Bowman SC was interviewed about his new fiction centred on the Tuam Mother & Baby Home by BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence presenter Audrey Carville (@29 mins). 'The Half-Life of Edith Hopkins will be launched in the Law Library, Distillery Building, Church Street, Dublin next Thursday, October 30.

Bríd Óg Ní Mháille Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin, curtha in eagar ag Risteard Mac Gabhann Ceacht 3: Bríd Óg Ní Mháille – Young Bríd O'Malley Amhrán grá a aithnítear go forleathan ar fud Éireann agus a thagann i dtosach, de réir na logainmneacha a luaitear sna véarsaí, ó Chontae Mhaigh Eo. Amhrán simplí tíre é ach tá sé maisithe go galánta le patrún saibhir ornáidí (rím agus uaim). A popular love song of the folk tradition, which, judging from the placenames mentioned in its verses, probably originated in County Mayo. The song also has a quite rich pattern of traditional ornamentation (vowel rhymes and alliteration), as indicated in the first verse. Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation 'S a Bhríd Óg Ní Mháille ‘s tú a d’fhág mo chroí cráite, And young Bríd O’Malley, it is you who left my heart tormented, 'S chuir tú arraingeacha an bháis trí cheartlár mo chroí, And sent stabbing pains of death through the very centre of my heart, Tá na céadta fear i ngrá le d’éadan ciúin náireach, Hundreds of men are in love with your serene, demure look [lit. brow] 'S gur thug tú barr breáthacht’ ar Thír Amhlaigh más fíor. And you have conquered all of Tirawley for loveliness. Níl ní ar bith is áille ná an ghealach os cionn an tsáile, There’s nothing more beautiful than the moon above the sea, Ná bláth bán na n-airní, a bhíos ag fás ar an draighean, Or the white blossom of the sloes growing on the blackthorn, Oró! siúd mar a bhíos mo ghrása níos trilsí le breáthacht, Oh! that’s how my love is, more radiant in loveliness Béilín meala na háilleacht’ nach ndearna riamh claon. The little honeyed mouth of beauty that never deceived. Is tuirseach agus is brónach a chaithimse an Domhnach, Wearily and in sorrow I while away my Sundays, Mo hata i mo dhorn ‘s mé ag osnaíl go trom, Clenching my hat ( lit.in my fist) and sighing heavily, 'S mé ag amharc ar na bóithre, a mbíonn mo ghrá geal ag gabháil ann, Watching the roads she is wont to walk, Anois ag fear eile pósta a’s gan í a bheith liom. Now married to another man, no longer with me. Leagan iontach Síle Ní Fhlaithearta anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-YrnF7HaMo

Author Felicity McCall presenting a copy of 'What We Did On Our Holidays' to Kiefer Averilll, branch manager, Waterside Library Felicity McCall's new short-story collection 'What We Did On Our Holidays' will be officially launched on Saturday November 15m at Derry's Central Library, at an event supported by Libraries NI. (Booking advisable.) The new book is now available from local libraries, and from Waterstones and Foyle Books. You can also order copies from Colmcille Press. It has been warmly previewed in the North West media, including by BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson, who described the book as a collection of 'beautiful little testimonials'. McCall's interview with The Patterson Show is available below, starting at 37mins 30secs.

Ó Pheann Dick Mac Gabhann Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin Ceacht 1: Bog Braon don Seanduine – A Soft Drop for the Old Fella Bhí rang amhránaíochta á reáchtáil ag an cheoltóir Risteard Mac Gabhann i nDoire ar feadh níos mó ná 15 bliana, do chainteoirí Gaeilge de gach cumas. Ina dhiaidh sin, chuir sé leabhar agus bailiúchán MP3 le chéile ina raibh níos mó ná 120 dá amhráin Gaeilge is ansa leis - gach ceann acu le haistriúcháin agus nótaí coise - agus d'fhoilsigh sé iad seo mar Claisceadal cois Baile díreach trí seachtaine roimh a bhás i mBealtaine 2023. Sna míonna amach romhainn, tá Cló Cholmcille chun cuid de na hamhráin seo a shraithuimhir, in éineacht leis na haistriúcháin, na nótaí agus léiriú ceoil Dick ar an saothar. The musician Risteard Mac Gabhann ran a singing class in Derry for more than 15 years, for Irish-speakers of all abilities. He subsequently compiled a book and MP3 collection of more than 120 of his favourite Irish songs - all with translations and footnotes - and he published these as 'Claisceadal cois Baile' just three weeks before his death in May 2023. Over the months to come, Cló Cholmcille are going to serialise some of these songs, accompanied with the translations, notes and Dick's musical rendering of the work. Ceacht 1: Bog Braon don Seanduine (A Soft Drop for the Old Fella) Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation Leagan iontach Bernie Pháid anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BImx9_-0KY

Tá Mé i Mo Shuí: I Cannot Sleep Ceacht 2: Tá Mé i Mo Shuí, leagan Risteard Mac Gabhann Ceacht 2: Tá Mé i Mo Shuí – I Cannot Sleep Amhrán beag séimh grá, a bhfuil beagán den chumha ag baint leis agus a thosaíonn le véarsa álainn atmaisféarach. Tagann téama an ghrá mar ghalar nach bhfuil aon leigheas air ó thraidisiún na dtrúbadóirí i litríocht mheánaoiseach na hEorpa – amour courtois / an grá cúirtéiseach – téama atá an-choitianta i dtraidisiún amhránaíochta na Gaeilge. Seo an chéad sampla den ornáidíocht a théann le cuid mhór de na hamhráin seo. De réir fhianaise na teanga ann, is dócha gur cumadh i gCúige Uladh é. A gentle melancholic love song, which begins with a beautifully atmospheric verse. The view of love as an incurable illness ultimately derives from the amour courtois (courtly love) tradition of the troubadours of medieval Europe, which had a significant influence on the Irish song tradition. This is the first example of the ornamentation associated with many of these songs. From the evidence of the language, the song was probably composed in Ulster. Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation Tá mé i mo shuí ó d’éirigh* an ghealach aréir, I’m awake since the moon rose last night, Ag cur tine síos gan scíth is ag fadú go géar, Restlessly adding to the fire and stoking it wearily Tá bunadh an tí ina luí is tá mise liom féin, All the family are asleep and I’m by myself, Tá an coileach ag glaoch ‘s an saol ina gcodladh ach mé . The cock is crowing and the world’s asleep but me. [ * Abair / Say ‘d’írigh’ ] Seacht mh’anam déag do bhéal, do mhala 's do ghrua , I love your mouth, your brow and your cheek, Do shúil ghorm ghlé fár thréig mé aiteas is suairc’, Your clear blue eye, that caused me to abandon the joyful life, Le cumha i do dhiaidh, ní léir dom an bealach a shiúl, I miss you so much, I can’t see the way before me, 'S a chara mo chléibh, tá na sléibhte idir mé agus tú. My heart’s delight, we are separated by the mountains. Casadh bean sí orm thíos ag Lios Bhéal an Átha , I met a fairy woman down at Lisballina, Is d’fhiafraigh mé di an scaoilfeadh leigheas ar bith grá, And I asked her if any cure could heal love, D’fhreagair sí mise i mbriathra soineanta sámha, She answered me in words both simple and gentle, Nuair a théann sé fán chroí, cha* scaoiltear as é go bráth. When it reaches the heart, never will it be freed from it. [  * = ní ] Leagan Clannad anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDmDnwgcxJQ

Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí ar anam Anne Craig, ár gcara mór a fuair bás ar 18 Deireadh Fómhair. Anne (née O'Leary) and her husband Jim were the backbone of the Derry Theatre Club for more than twenty years - they actually met at a club rehearsal in the early 1970s, when they shared the bar of the Aga range in Seán McMahon's kitchen. Jim heard the southern brogue - Anne was born and reared in the South - and was smitten. They married and were devoted to one another for more than 50 years. A gifted performer, Anne acted in numerous TC plays including Men Without Shadows, The Queen and the Rebels (seated extreme right in the picture above), and The Loves of Cass McGuire. She was just as talented behind the scenes, directing Neil Simon's Plaza Suite in 1985, and acting as stage manager in numerous productions. In recent years, she was a key contributor to Gerry Downey's short history of the Theatre Club, 'Derry at Play'. A beautiful Irish-speaker, Anne was a mainstay of BBC Radio Foyle and Radio Ulster's Irish department for decades, as both a presenter and producer. A massively-talented broadcaster she will be remembered above all for her warmth and kindness. Her BBC Gaeilge colleague Marcas Ó Murchú very aptly described her as 'a lovely, gentle, humane person'. Ómós álainn don chraoltóir Anne Craig ó Ailbhe Ó Monacháin, Nuacht TG4. For a number of years, Anne worked as Education Officer with the Millennium Forum; indeed, her voice is still used to remind you to switch off your mobile phone at curtain up. She was also responsible for reintroducing Nollaig na mBan to Derry in the 1980s - hosting a warm and welcoming celebration for her friends on January 6 every year. The event caught the imagination of other groups - bringing the women's holiday back into the mainstream. where it belongs. The Christmas season in Derry won't be the same without her. Our deepest condolences to Anne's family and friends. She will be sorely missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis .

Colmcille Press author Jim Simpson took time out from finishing his new novel to host the opening night of this year's Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival, which runs until Sunday October 19. In this podcast, the Belfast-born adopted-Derryman talks to Garbhán Downey about how he developed a highly-successful second career in the arts after retiring from the Health Service. Many thanks to Declan McLaughlin (Music), Oisín Farrell (Production) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.

In the second in the series of interviews with authors from northwest Ireland, former Derry Journal editor Pat McArt talks about life at the coalface in the 1980s and 1990s. Pat McArt will be hosting a Writing Masterclass at Dillon's Hotel as part of the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival on Saturday 18 October 2025 at 3.00pm. Many thanks to Declan McLaughlin (Music), Oisín Farrell (Production) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.

ANDREA CARTER, Roy Greenslade, Pat McArt, Paul Charles, Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo, and Deirdre Hines are just some of the big names guesting at the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival, running from Wednesday October 15 to Sunday October 19. Letterkenny, long regarded as the vibrant cultural heart of Donegal, is this year celebrating the tenth anniversary of its renowned literary festival, and proceedings will kick off with a special broadcast on Highland Radio on Wednesday October 15th . Festival organiser, Donnan Harvey explained that over the past decade, the festival had blossomed into one of Ireland’s most anticipated literary events, drawing acclaimed authors, emerging writers, poets, and literature lovers from across the country and beyond. The tenth anniversary edition welcomes a stellar line-up of guests including the renowned author and journalist, Roy Greenslade who will officially launch this year’s event at the Co, Museum on High Road at 7;30 pm on Friday, October 17th. A former professor of journalism at London University and a former editor of the Guardian Roy has recently published The Peer, the Priests and the Press to wide acclaim. During the course of the festival Roy will be joined by a whole host of authors and writers including Kieran Kelly, Pat McArt, Jane Buckley, Andrea Carter, and Paul Charles. As usual there will also be a number of top class lectures and talks. These include a talk, to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, by Dr Sophia Hillan. The author of May, Lou and Cass: Jane Austen's Nieces in Ireland , she will be in conversation with Roy Greenslade. That’s on the Saturday. On Sunday, playwright, screenwriter and director Peter Sheridan will discuss how Brendan Behan has influenced him in his wide-reaching artistic career. And let’s not forget on Thursday, the famed American writer, John Steinbeck’s connection to Limavady’s Roe Valley will be explored by Douglas Bartlett who will give a short talk on the author which will then be followed by a screening of the film Of Mice and Men. Whilst the main theme of the festival is literature, there is so much more. There will be a Cultural Evening of music, poetry and prose, with Deirdre Hines, James Simpson, Raphoe Diamond Writers with Celine McGlynn, the Letterkenny Ukulele Orchestra, and the New Land Choir. Donegal Chamber Orchestra Led by Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo and conducted by Víctor Yélamo will perform music by Ravel, Scarlatti, Kreisler, and Leroy Anderson in what’s described as ‘a celebration of Anniversaries’ at Conwal Parish Church. For those who like a bit of comedy Macalla Drama Group presents Towpath by Robert IIes This one-act comedy is based on fleeting friendship between strangers, and Mary Ruddy Lane directs the all-female cast. An open invitation to all who are interested in writing, especially those who find it difficult to begin. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather ideas and suggestions from journalist and author Pat McArt. And. as usual, one of the main highlights of the festival is the Cathedral Quarter’s Non-Fiction Competition. Everyone is welcome to Dillon’s Hotel on Saturday evening for readings by shortlisted writers, and to celebrate the presentation of prizes. Three ‘New Voices’ will also be introduced. The Festival is once again accompanied by ‘The Quills and The Quarter’ podcast, hosted by Phil O’Kennedy. In this years, Phil and his co-hosts Denise Blake and Phil Dalton interview those who have been involved in previous festivals including Celine McGlynn, Kieran Kelly, Maura Logue, Frank Galligan and Kathy Donaghy. Funding for the Festival comes from Donegal County Council’s Development Fund Initiative, Failte Ireland Small Festival Grant and the International Fund for Ireland’s Connecting Communities Programme. These are just some of the events in what is truly a wide-ranging and packed programme of events crammed into what Donnan Harvey says is now one of Ireland’s up and coming events. He concluded: “Over the last ten years, the festival has become a cornerstone of Donegal’s cultural calendar, attracting visitors to Letterkenny and supporting local businesses. And it’s important to state that we would like to thank those businesses and institutions which have supported our festival. That support is very important and much appreciated.” For full details of all events see….. lkcqlitfest.weebly.com

An díospóireacht nár thárla: via Ailbhe Ó Monacháin @nuachtRTE @nuachtTG4 @AilbheOM Earlier this year, Colmcille Press published Paul Gosling’s A New Ireland: A Five-Year Review , which highlights that - regardless of how you might vote - we, as a society, need to be making practical preparations for the ramifications of a referendum on Irish unity. In the book, Paul argues three things with which many of us in the North West, the most marginalised region on the island, would agree:  The administrations with influence here - London, Dublin and Belfast - have not done nearly enough groundwork; This island cannot afford to suffer another Brexit referendum debacle because of a lack of readiness; and  Stormont is now verging on fully dysfunctional. One of the big areas we need to prepare for is elections. For decades, Irish citizens in the North have argued that they should, by right, be included in the selection process for the Irish head of state.  People in Donegal, of course, already have a vote. But their friends, neighbours and co-workers in Derry - which for centuries has been Donegal’s traditional county town and which, since the border has become fully porous, is the de facto  regional capital - are excluded.  Twenty-seven years on from the Good Friday Agreement, which consolidated our right to citizenship, Irish passport holders and Irish speakers, living on this island, are refused a role in electing their leader. So, to raise this and other issues, we invited the three presidential candidates to Derry. In part, were asserting our right to hear from them directly how they propose to lead and represent us. And in part, were asserting our right to hear from them how they will oversee the constitutional changes that will emerge over the duration of their presidential term and which will directly impact on our lives.  But most of all, we wanted them to come to acknowledge – and support – our right to participate in the process. To this end, we booked St Columb’s Hall one of the North West’s oldest and renowned civic forums, which has previously played host to suffragette leaders such as Emmeline Pankhurst, political leaders such as Éamon de Valera, trade union leaders like Eleanor Marx and civil rights giants such as John Hume. It is, and has long been, a crucible for discussion and for change. We then engaged an Irish-speaking moderator and a panel of experts - unpaid volunteers from both sides of the border and both sections of the Northern community, who brought expertise in many fields from constitutional law to education and human rights, to ask questions of the candidates on our behalf. We also organised a production team and a sound engineer to allow us to live-broadcast the event. On September 9, as soon as we had our ducks in a row, we sent invitations to the three candidates asking them to take part in a hustings at the hall on October 8. We gave them a deadline of September 30 to respond, and we waited.  We followed up again through personal connections. And we waited.  We followed up on social media, repeatedly. And we waited.  Local and national media chipped in with news reports and OpEds on the event. And we waited. Meanwhile, all the candidates appeared on RTÉ explaining how they supported a united Ireland. Surely, we thought, this would be a perfect opportunity to come to Derry and elaborate? So we reminded them of our offer. And we waited. In fairness, Catherine Connolly’s campaign did get back to apologise that their candidate had a Dáil vote on the Budget the night of the debate and needed to be in Dublin. But we heard nothing at all from the other two candidates. Not a word, not a line, not an email. It was as if we didn’t exist. We had decided not to release tickets for the event until October 1, but in the interim hundreds of people from all over the island had got in touch with us to say they wanted to come. This had actually alarmed us a little in that we wanted to make sure that priority would be given to people from Donegal and Derry. But, the deadline slipped away and, in the end, we couldn’t make it happen. Until the next time.

The late Hugh Gallagher, on left, with Kevin Hippsley, at the launch of A Foyle Tale at Ráth Mór in 2019 . Our great friend and most-talented colleague Hugh Gallagher has died this morning (September 29), at the age of 76, after a long illness. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé. Over the past 40 years, Hugh had worked with virtually every publishing organisation in the North West, starting his media career as a volunteer and later staff photographer with Fingerpost in the mid-80s. A gifted humorist, he published his first book, The Spectator and Other Derry Stories (illustrated by Cormac Downey) in 1990 with his good friend Eamon Deane's Yes Publications. In his spare time, he became the lensman for Cityview , the official Derry City FC programme, travelling up and down the country with The Candystripes after their re-entry into senior football. And he also worked for many years with the Derry Journal and the Derry News as both a columnist and freelance cameraman. With an archive of more than 40000 images, Hugh was, for a generation, a first source of pictures for Guildhall Press, Hive Studio Books and Colmcille Press/Cló Cholmcille. And he was always particularly delighted to cover book launches, loving nothing better than to swap stories with old friends and fellow authors. Hugh published two books with Guildhall Press: A View of Derry (2008), a superlative collection of local photographs; and A Foyle Tale: The Toucan Venturer in Derry , which recounts the remarkable true story of how he worked as a supervisor on the attempted refit of a grounded ship, to bring supplies to famine-struck Ethiopia, and ended up living on board. A dyed-in-the-wool Creggan man, Hugh was very proud to contribute to any book, periodical or pamphlet that promoted his home turf. He had lived in the same house in Melmore Gardens for 75 years. His photographs adorn virtually every wall in Ráth Mór - and can also be found in almost all books to emanate from the centre. In retirement, Hugh kept busy writing short stories for the local newspapers, and magazines such as Ireland's Own. He also loved to publish and exhibit collages from his extensive archive. You were nobody in Derry until you had appeared in a Gallagher picture spread. His generosity and community spirit was also evident to anyone who ever dealt with him. Ráth Mór General Manager Kevin Hippsley paid tribute to his friend saying: ‘Hugh was a real talent, but so modest with it. Nothing was too much trouble for him - he loved to help and to see a job done well. He was a warm presence about the office, lifting us with his humour. But there was a great wisdom there too - and he contributed so much to so many books and so many projects. 'He is a real loss to all of us in the publishing sector, to Creggan and to Derry. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal.' Former Derry Journal Editor Pat McArt paid this tribute: 'His archive of life in Derry over the past 40-50 years has got to be priceless. He was a chronicler of the everyday, of people going about their daily doings. 'These photos were never meant for newspapers or other media, but simply to record lives. That was what interested Hugh. I doubt if anyone else has anything that comes near. 'Condolences to his family and friends. He was a lovely man.'

Our friends at the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival are producing a series of podcasts to mark their tenth anniversary, the first of which is available by clicking on the image. This year's litfest runs from October 16 to 19 and will be launched by the author and journalist Roy Greenslade at Donegal County Museum on Friday 17 at 7.30pm. Colmcille Press authors Jim Simpson and Pat McArt will both be giving talks as part of this year's event. The full programme will be available shortly.

Suaimhneas síoraí ar ár gcara mór, an t-údar Pat Bradley, a fuair bás inné. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of our friend and author Pat Bradley, who died in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital yesterday aged 90. Pat was a one-man ambassador for democracy, for the Irish peace process and for Derry. From East Belfast to East Timor, and from South Armagh to South Africa, he spent his career running elections, surviving wars and delivering democracy. He was also a most entertaining story-teller and brilliant writer, whose memoir, 'Ballots, Bombs and Bullets', casts an unflinching insider's eye over Northern Irish political scene during some of his darkest days. However, even after retiring as Chief Electoral Officer, the man who famously announced the result of the Good Friday Agreement Referendum in 1998 (which earned him a cameo in Derry Girls) was determined to continue his mission to bring democracy to the world. For many years, Pat worked with the United Nations, the Commonwealth Office and the European Union, introducing (or enhancing) democracy from Africa to Eastern Europe to Asia. The learning, and thick skin, he acquired from his work in Northern Ireland would serve him well. In all, he worked as the lead advisor for elections in five continents, in more than twenty-five countries including Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Russia, South Africa, and Yemen. In the throes of his distinguished career the Bishop Street man was threatened many times, shot at, kidnapped and bombed. On his first polling day in 1974, just a few months into the job, he was petrol-bombed while taking ballot boxes both in and out of a station in a republican area - and was also forced to remove, at some risk, a giant Union Jack draped over the door of a station in a unionist area. A man of imposing stature, he went nose-to-nose with the toughest of the tough at home and abroad - including Ian Paisley and Margaret Thatcher - but he always stuck to his task 'without fear, bias or rancour', his abiding goal to serve the public fairly and faithfully. He also worked ferociously hard - travelling up to Belfast every day on the six a.m. red-eye, getting back to his Talbot Park home sometimes in the small hours of the following morning. Despite spending a lifetime among the most powerful people in the world, Pat was always gentle, modest and humble – and a joy to work with. A recipient of the St Columb's College Alumnus Illustrissimus award in 2008, he was awarded both an MBE and a CBE, which he said made it easier for him to travel in certain parts and gave his opinion greater weight at the top tables. But he wore all his awards very lightly and never referred to them once in his memoir. His book is one of the most eminently-readable accounts of how democracy works at the coalface - full of colourful stories about personation and electoral abuse, and vignettes of political mischief and civil service interference. His favourite story was about how an Eglinton returning officer once got up out of his seat to sniff a would-be voter, and then told him he was remarkably fresh for someone who had been dead for three months. As a how-to manual for students of democracy across the globe, 'Ballots, Bombs & Bullets' may never be bettered. And Pat Bradley, a giant of democracy, will never be forgotten.

In the first of a new series of podcasts from Colmcille Press, Felicity McCall talks to Garbhán Downey about her new short story collection What We Did on Our Holidays . Many thanks to Declan McLaughlin (Music), Oisín Farrell (Production) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.

Autumn is becoming the season for literature in Donegal and we're delighted to say that our authors will be giving readings and lectures at the county's three keynote festivals over the next couple of months. The Ulster-Scots writer and poet Alan Millar (bottom left), who is currently working on a new poetry collection Hinba - The Lost Isle of St Columba, will be reading at the Frances Brown Festival, taking place in the Twin Towns (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) from October 9-12. The Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival, October 16-19 - now marking both its tenth year and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen - will feature a writing masterclass from Pat McArt (top left), whose memoir War, Peace and the Derry Journal was one of the highlight's of last year's proceedings. It will also include a talk from True Colours novelist Jim Simpson (bottom right). And Felicity McCall will be reading from her new short-story collection What We Did on Our Holidays at the Allingham Arts Festival, November 5-9 in the run-up to her book's official launch at Derry's Central Library on November 15. More details, and schedules, for the three jam-packed literary are available here: https://www.francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com/literary-festival https://lkcqlitfest.weebly.com/ https://www.allinghamfestival.com/

Photograph by Stephen Latimer What We Did on Our Holidays, the new short story anthology from writer-broadcaster Felicity McCall is to be launched at Derry's Central Library on November 15. The collection - which the Royal Literary Fellow has described as 'part-memoir' - features themes such as intergenerational PTSD, alcoholism and parental dementia. Early readers of the book have been very praising of McCall's new book. Irish Times Northern editor Freya McClements commends its 'Insightful reflections on living with the legacy of conflict...suffused with warmth, empathy and the joy of acceptance.' Award-winning writer Bernie McGill states: 'The characters in Felicity McCall’s acutely observed stories walk the earth haunted by the ghosts of the past. Stark and unflinching, empathic, humane, this collection is a celebration of "the vital pulse of existence", conveyed in a hand that has the lightest, the most sensitive of touches.' McCall will be discussing her work at the Allingham Festival (November 7-8) and will also host launches at the Reading Round Group (November 17), and at Foyle U3A (November 18). What We Did on Our Holidays will be available from bookshops from next month - and also from Colmcille Press - for £10.

Tá Colmcille Press tar éis scríobh chuig na trí pháirtí is mó sa Deisceart agus chuig an neamhspleách Catherine Connolly, ag tabhairt cuireadh dóibh páirt a ghlacadh insan gcéad Toghchán Uachtaránachta an Tuaiscirt an mhí seo chugainn. Tá an ócáid ​​sceidealaithe do Halla Naomh Colm Cille ar an 8 Deireadh Fómhair, agus tabharfar cuireadh freisin d’aon iarrthóir neamhspleách a ainmneofar ina dhiaidh sin roimh dhúnadh na tréimhse ar an 24 Meán Fómhair. Cuirfidh painéal saineolaithe ón Iarthuaisceart - Mary Durkan, Amie Gallagher, an tOllamh Colin Harvey, Pat McArt, Catherine Pollock agus Terry Wright - ceisteanna ar na hiarrthóirí, agus beidh cathaoirleach Colmcille Press, Joe Martin, i gceannas ar an ócáid. Roghnaíodh an painéal d’aon ghnó chun éagsúlacht phobal an iarthuaiscirt a léiriú, agus áirítear leis baill ó Dhoire agus ó Dhún na nGall araon, agus iad siúd nach mbeadh sé de nós acu tacú le hathaontú. Is é an aidhm plé leathan, oscailte agus dírithe ar an todhchaí a chinntiú. Bíonn Halla Naomh Colm ar cheann de na hionaid díospóireachta is sine sa chathair, agus roimhe seo bhí ceannairí sufraigéidí ar nós Emmeline Pankhurst, ceannairí polaitiúla ar nós Éamon de Valera, ceannairí ceardchumann ar nós Eleanor Marx agus seaimpíní chearta sibhialta ar nós John Hume i láthair ann. Is breogán í, agus is fada í, le haghaidh plé agus athraithe. Tagann an díospóireacht i ndiaidh foilsiú leabhar Paul Gosling 'A New Ireland: A Five Year Review' ag Colmcille Press i samhradh na bliana 2025, ina ndéantar scrúdú ar na hullmhúcháin do reifreann aontachta.

Colmcille Press has written to the three largest parties in the South and to the independent Catherine Connolly, inviting them to take part in the North's first ever Presidential Hustings next month. The event is scheduled for St Columb's Hall on October 8, and any independent candidate subsequently nominated before the window closes on September 24 will also be invited. A panel of experts from the North West - Mary Durkan, Amie Gallagher, Professor Colin Harvey, Pat McArt , Catherine Pollock and Terry Wright - will ask questions of the candidates, and the event will be moderated by Colmcille Press chair Joe Martin. The panel has been deliberately chosen to reflect the diversity of the northwestern community, and includes members from both Derry and Donegal, and also those whose tradition would not be to support reunification. The aim is to ensure broad, open and future-focused discussion. St Columb’s Hall is one of the city’s oldest centres of debate, previously playing host to suffragette leaders such as Emmeline Pankhurst, political leaders such as Éamon de Valera, trade union leaders like Eleanor Marx and civil rights giants such as John Hume. It is, and has long been, a crucible for discussion and for change. The debate follows Colmcille Press's summer 2025 publication of Paul Gosling's book 'A New Ireland: A Five Year Review', which examines the preparations for a unity referendum.