I was delighted to have my novel The Case of the Vanishing painting chosen by Edgeworthstown Library for their One Mystery, One Town project, whereby the whole town read the same book over the course of several weeks
This was a highly imaginative undertaking, lead by librarian Kim Taylor, and teacher Enda Ward.
Students from St Mary’s National School created artwork and book covers inspired by the novel as well as creating fictitious newspaper pages dealing with incidents in the book, while some inventive students even created a board game based on The Case of the Vanishing Painting.
The project was covered by RTE News both on TV and radio on World Book Day and was really successful in making reading into a fun-filled activity.
It was a privilege to be invited as the opening speaker at the Aras Inis Gluaire Literary Festival in Belmullet in County Mayo. A great few day of wonderful talks and events.
It was good to be back in County Clare, during which I visited Ennis CBS, Ennis Gaelscoil, Barefield National School, and Lahinch National School, all organised by Feargal O’Dulaing of the wonderful Ennis Bookshop.
I had an action-packed week around World Book Day, with visits and readings in Clonmel, Blackrock, Dundalk, Cork City, Finglas, Dublin City, and Ballingeary.
It was good to be back in County Clare for Literacy Week in Ennis, during which I visited Ennis CBS, Ennis National, and Barefield National School. Here I am with Feargal O’Dulaing of the wonderful Ennis Bookshop, after I heard the good news that my latest book The Case of the Vanishing Painting, was Number Two in the top ten of Irish bestsellers.
It’s been great to see such a positive response to my new novel, The Case of the Vanishing Painting, the first book in a new mystery series that I’m writing for O’Brien Press.
I was delighted to sign the visitors book, and copies of my novels, in Galway’s iconic Kenny’s Bookshop, which was visited in the past by acclaimed writers like Roald Dahl, Edna O’Brien, Graham Greene, Mary Lavin, and Brendan Behan.
I was pleased to work with two Meath primary schools, Lismullen NS, Navan and Scoil
Cholmcille Skryne, over a two-month period, to help the children explore the history of the revolutionary period in their local areas.
The project is an initiative of the Meath County Council Decade of Centenaries programme,and is managed by the County Library service.
The picture shows l-r Brian Gallagher, Maedhbh Rogan-McGann, Ciarán Mangan, Dympna Herward, Tom French, Cllr Nick Killian, Cathaoirleach of MCC, Barry Lynch DoS, Jackie Maguire CE MCC.
Drama on Newstalk recently broadcast “HIGH DENSITY”, my comedy-drama about the housing crisis that explores the tensions that arise in a community when one resident in a small cul-de-sac refuses to sell her home to a developer who wants to build apartments on the site.
HIGH DENSITY” is told partly from the perspective of Councilor Benny Kelly, a shifty local representative who is in cahoots with the developer. He also writes an anonymous weekly newspaper column called The Secret Councilor, a juggling act that enables him both to comment on, and drive events.
Deirdre Finnegan is the only resident in a crescent of cottages who is holding out against a developer. The developer is offering the owners 150,000 Euro plus one of the new apartments – but only if all eight cottage owners agree to sell their sites. As a member of the local residents’ association Deirdre clashes with the reactionary Mick Delaney, who is keen to take the inducement.
With other committee members divided on which outcome would be best for the area, the stakes are raised when Emma Johnson, a journalist who is also on the committee, writes an inflammatory article for her paper.
With past resentments and betrayals coming to the surface, the conflicts go beyond housing, and battle lines are drawn. But just when it seems that matters might be resolved, a dramatic intervention takes place, with the outcome twisting in a direction that none of the participants expected.
Brian Gallagher 