“Saint Brigid’s Dual Biographies
Written by Philip Freeman, published by Four Courts Press, priced at €19.95
All we know about the historical figure of St. Brigid is that she was born in Ireland around the middle of the fifth century. She established a dual-gender monastery at Kildare during the time Christianity was still fairly nascent in the region. Two biographies of her life are presented in their original Latin scripts as well as their English translations. The “Life of St. Brigid” by Cogitosus and the unnamed “Vita Prima” were both penned more than a century after her demise. These accounts significantly differ in that while Cogitosus endorses the primacy of the Kildare church, there is no mention of St. Patrick, while Vita Prima depicts Brigid as subordinate to Patrick, giving precedence to Armagh over Kildare. Both works, as hagiographies, depict her life as a succession of miraculous events, demonstrating her deep faith.
Leadership Lessons from Warriors, Rebels & Saints
Penned by Moshik Temkin, published by Profile Books, priced at £18.99
Moshik Temkin delves into the question of whether leaders are shaped by history (Marx’s viewpoint) or whether they contribute to shaping history (Machiavelli’s viewpoint). In doing so, he focuses less on famous historical figures, instead highlighting the roles played by those known as “warriors” (fighters for rights and freedom), “rebels” (those opposing dictators), and “saints” (selfless individuals). The narrative covers figures from biblical era up to the present times. Clara Lemlich, a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, and Leonora O’Reilly, an Irish child of immigrants fleeing the Great Famine, are featured as warriors fighting for workers’ rights and women’s suffrage during the early 20th century in New York. The narrative also features BR Ambedkar, an “untouchable” Hindu caste leader, and Martin Luther King, a contrast to Margaret Thatcher’s societal views.
Homage: Admiration for 50 Noteworthy Minds
Composed by John Quinn, published by Veritas, priced at €24.99″
John Quinn, a veteran of RTÉ radio broadcasting for 27 years, had the opportunity to converse with individuals from diverse sectors like arts, education, politics, commerce, science and economics. This text provides a tribute to 50 individuals who shared their thoughts, interviews, talks and written work with him. Quinn offers insight into the background of each participant and places their contributions into context. The collection includes standout pieces like Jonathan Bardon’s condensed history of Ulster; Maeve Binchy’s unconventional advice for budding writers, which includes eavesdropping and lip-reading; a poignant poem “The Letter” by Michael Coady; Gerry Fitt’s career overview; Brendan Kennelly discussing how his childhood in Kerry moulded him; Dervla Murphy describing the origins of her dual love for cycling and travelling and, most notably, a heart-wrenching composition by Gordon Wilson dedicated to his cherished daughter Marie.