News & events
Ian Hill
Launch of Where Are You Really From? 15 April 2010Launch of the Outrageous Bike Adventure February 2010 Great Irish Book Week 24 to 31 October 2009Tales of the Dogs 16 September 2009
Aspects Irish Literature Festival
'Dream On' is no. 1
John Hewitt Summer School 27 - 31 July 2009
Towards Inclusion - 24 June 2009
Anyway, Where Was I? – 9 October 2008
Uncle Hugo – 2 October 2008
Hard Roads – 16 October 2008
The Yellow Door -- 15 November 2008
Ian Hill
Blackstaff Press would like to pay tribute to the author and journalist Ian Hill who passed away on Friday 16 July 2010.
Not only was Ian a Blackstaff author, he was also a great friend to the company over the years and was a familiar face at Blackstaff events and launches. In his journalism career he regularly featured Blackstaff books and authors in his columns. He was fiercely committed to the culture and literature of Northern Ireland.
He will be sadly missed.
Blackstaff Press launch, Where Are You Really From? On Thursday 15 April 2010 Blackstaff Press celebrated the publication of Where Are You Really From? The launch took place at the Central Library in Belfast. Author, Tim Brannigan was joined by friends, family and members of the press who were treated by Tim to a reading from his first book. The Central Library in Belfast is a special place for Tim, and a perfect venue to celebrate the publication of his first book, this is where Tim wrote much of his incredible memoir.    |
Geoff Hill and Colin O'Carroll launch their OZ adventure at the King's Hall in Belfast on Saturday 13 February 2010
Author and adventurer Geoff Hill set off last week on his latest big bike adventure with fellow writer Colin O'Carroll. The pair will circumnavigate Australia on Tiger 1050s, taking 10-12 weeks to cover the 15,000 miles of the legendary Highway One before the road is decommissioned in 2010.
With them will be film makers Matt Curry and Gareth McGrillan who will be producing a TV series, which BBC and Channel 4 are already interested in.
Geoff, who's already ridden from Delhi to Belfast and Chile to Alaska for the best-selling books Way to Go and The Road to Gobblers Knob, is facing his mightiest challenge yet: the wombats of Oz. The trip will result in a new book to be published by Blackstaff Press in October 2010, provisionally titled Oz: Geoff and Colin's outrageous Australian adventure.
You can follow Geoff and Colin's adventures on their daily bog www.adelaideadventures.com |
 The Great Irish Book Week will take place from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October 2009, and two new titles from Blackstaff Press have been selected to be part of this special promotion of great Irish publishing.
Flying Finn by Stephen Davison
Tales of the Dogs by John Martin
These titles from Blackstaff Press have been selected by the organiser of the GIBW, Publishing Ireland, and an independent panel who are passionate about the success of Irish publishing. Flying Finn and Tales of the Dogs contribute to the national identity and show what is best about Irish publishing.
GIBW Sampler - Be Inspired - Gems from Irish Publishing
Take a look at the fantastic sampler containing an extract from each of the 30 titles involved in GIBW. You will receive a free copy of the sampler with the purchase of a stickered book during Great Irish Book Week 2009.
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A Real Celebration of the Irish and their Greyhounds
Launch of Tales of the Dogs: A Celebration of the Irish and their Greyhounds
16 September 2009 We were really excited here at Blackstaff Press to hold the official launch of our fantastic new title, Tales of the Dogs: A Celebration of the Irish and their Greyhounds, at the famous Shelborne Park Greyhound Stadium, Dublin.
The launch was held on 16 September 2009 with the support of the book sponsor, the Irish Greyhound Board, who really helped to make this a special evening. We could not have found a more fitting location for the launch of this definitive chronicle of greyhounds in Ireland. Incidently, this was also Sarah's brthday, Marketing Executive at Blackstaff Press, she says that with the fantastic atmosphere, the wine and the food, she would not have wanted to spend her birthday anywhere else! On the evening, Irish Greyhound Board Chairman, Dick O'Sullivan, and author, John Martin, spoke about the importantance of the book as a record of the sport of Irish greyhound racing. John signed copies for the many guests in attendence.    | | | | |
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Apsects Irish Literature Festival
23 - 28 September 2009
| Aspects is 18 and celebrating this September!
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| | | At the grand-old age of eighteen Aspects continues to be the longest-running, and most beloved of literature Festivals in Northern Ireland. As it comes of age in 2009, the festival can both reflect upon the wealth of household names that have passed through its doors over the last 18 years (from Seamus Heaney to Marian Keyes, from Jack Higgins to Colin Bateman) and more importantly they are using this landmark year to present by far the most impressive programme of the festival’s illustrious history. Blackstaff Press is extremely proud that our author’s are playing a big part in this. |
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| The Line Up
Thursday 24 September
1.15pm Dream On-John Richardson reading Long Gallery
7.00pm Glenn Patterson, Claire Kilroy reading-Long Gallery
9.00pm Harry Clifton, John Boyne reading North Down Museum
10.30pm Rachel Austin Music Event-Vin Cafe
Friday 26 September
1.15pm Anne-Marie Fyfe Writing Workshop North Down Museum
7.00pm Ian Sansom,Sean O’Reilly reading, Long Gallery
9.00pm Anne Enright, Leontia Flynn reading North Down Museum
Saturday 27 September
1.00pm Fergal Keane (includes lunch) Long Gallery
7.00pm Chris Agee, Aidan Matthews Long Gallery
9.00pm Luka Bloom music event North Down Museum
Sunday 28 September
3.00pm Niall Stanage North Down Museum
7.00pm Cahal Dallat, Enda Wyley and Anthony Toner music/reading Vin Cafe
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| For ticket enquires contact the Box Office on 02891 271200 , buy in person from North Down Museum or visit www.aspectsfestival.co.uk
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'Dream On' Hits the No. 1 Spot! Since receiving fantastic media coverage at the British Open, 'Dream On' has continued to ride high in the book charts, especially on Amazon where it has been no. 1 in the Sports Chart since last Friday.
PRAISE FOR 'DREAM ON'
‘I recommend this book to anyone
who plays off any handicap
from 10 upwards’
John Inverdale
BBC 5 Live
‘Well done...
364 days, that’s
pressure’
Sam Torrance View John's likes and dislikes in this months Featured Author Q & A, and find out more about how he had the crazy idea to challenge himself to break par in one year! |  |
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Blackstaff Press at John Hewitt Summer School
The 22nd John Hewitt International Summer School will be held at The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre between 27 and 31 July 2009. The Summer School is a five-day festival of culture and creativity, with something for everyone.
Blackstaff Press authors attending the Summer School include Gillian McIntosh and CL Dallat. Gillian will mark the centenary year of the birth of WR Rodgers, a contemporary friend of John Hewitt, with her talk: "One of those phantom Irish volumes': WR Rodgers and the Character of Ireland, 1949 - 1969". CL Dallat will Chair 'Panel Discussion: 'Past Belief: Hope in the Suture?'
Blackstaff Press titles will be available to purchase from Books Upstairs who will provide a Bookstall at The Market Place Theatre during the festival.
Launch of Towards Inclusion: Protestants and the Irish Language
Thanks to everyone who attended the launch of ‘Towards Inclusion: Protestants and the Irish Language’, on Wednesday 24 June 2009, especially because of the sweltering weather we were having in Belfast that day. The launch was held in the Council Chamber and Canada Room at Queen’s University, Belfast. It was the perfect setting for us all to celebrate Ian Malcolm and the release of his first book.
Dr Adamson, former Major of Belfast and prominent advocate of Ulster-Scots, gave a speech full of praise for Ian’s research and dedication to the Irish language, along with a few very funny anecdotes. Ian thanked his family, teachers and friends for their support throughout his journey with the language. He also thanked Aodán Mac Póilin of ULTACT Trust for their assistance and encouragement, making the publication of the book possible.
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  .JPG "Patsy Horton and Aodan Mac Poilin") |
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Launch of Anyway, Where Was I?
Geoff Hill's Anyway, Where Was I? was launched in La Boca in Belfast city centre on Thursday 9 October.
There are few Blackstaff authors who can command the level of popular affection that Ulster's tallest journalist can muster; and nobody else whose mum bakes their celebrity son a special cake to celebrate the launch of his latest bestseller!
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Launch of Uncle Hugo Fans, friends and BBC colleagues alike turned out in force for the launch of Uncle Hugo on Thursday 2 October, the story of the wee man from Strabane. Hugo had special words of affection and thanks for wife Joan, daughter Suzanne, and the mainstays of his hugely successful radio programme, Trish Coyle (a.k.a. Trish Coyle from the banks of The Foyle) and Joanne Murphy (the wee woman with the big stick). |    | | |
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Launch of Hard Roads The Hein Gericke shop in Belfast hosted over one hundred fans for the launch of Stephen Davison's Hard Roads on 16 October 2008. Over one hundred and twenty copies of the book were sold on the night, and top racers such as Steve Plater, Ryan Farquar, Michael Dunlop and Michael Rutter were on hand to sign copies and to give an unqualified seal of approval for Stephen's best roadracing book to date. |
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Launch of The Yellow Door Towards the end of last year, The Yellow Door: Our Story, Our Recipes launched at The Yellow Door Deli in Portadown. Long known as one of the best places in NI to have lunch, the deli was transformed for the evening with stunning flowers, lights and music to give a perfect party atmosphere. With champagne mojitos flowing and the very best canapes circulating, this was a definite highlight of the launch season. |