BRIAN GALLAGHER

Big changes are coming to late-Sixties Belfast. At first life seems normal for Sammy and Maeve, two children from the opposing republican and loyalist communities. Sammy tries to avoid trouble with his unemployed father, while Maeve has lived with her aunt and uncle since her mothers death.When twins Dylan and Emma Goldman move from Washington to Belfast they strike up friendships with Maeve and Sammy. Gradually the nationalist girl and loyalist boy overcome their suspicions of each other, and all four children become friends. But even as they have fun at local sports clubs, attend the Goldmans barbeques, and secretly make their own radio programmes, they cant ignore the trouble that is slowing gripping the country. And when the simmering tensions in Northern Ireland erupt into violence it threatens not just their friendships but their very lives.

In a time of war, how much would you risk to help a friend?Young Johnny Dunne works hard at Balbriggans Mill Hotel, but still finds time to enjoy life with his friends, Alice and Stella. Though the three come from different backgrounds Johnny had a harsh childhood in an orphanage, Alice is the daughter of the hotel owner and Stella the daughter of the Commanding Officer at the nearby RAF Gormanston. theyre inseparable, living at the hotel and playing together in the town band.But with the War of Independence raging, the friends face difficult decisions. Stella is pro-British, Johnny is pro-independence, and Alice is somewhere in between.Then Johnnys secret role, spying for the IRA on the Crown forces, puts him in danger. And Stella and Alice have hard choices to make choices that threaten their lives

In the Dublin of 1922 with Civil War about to break out, working class Annie Reilly is thrilled to win a scholarship to Eccles Street Convent School. A little frozen out by her old friends, yet not wholly accepted by all of her new classmates, she is pleased to be befriended by Susie ONeill an easy-going girl from a much more comfortable background. Through Susies brother, Annie meets Peter Scanlon, a neighbour of the ONeills and a pupil at Belvedere college. Having been radicalised by the execution of Kevin Barry, another Belvedere pupil, Peter becomes involved with the rebels who oppose the Treaty with Britain, and who are in conflict with the forces of the newly formed Irish Free State.As families and friends across the nation are forced to choose sides, and with Peters conservative parents unaware of the dangerous role their son is adopting, Annie and Peter find their friendship coming under strain.Torn socially between her old friends and the exciting opportunities her new school presents, Annie is further confused when fighting breaks out on the streets of the city, with Irishmen now fighting other Irishmen. When Peter comes under suspicion from the police he asks Annie to cover for him. Reluctantly she provides him with an alibi, knowing that this also places her at risk of arrest - and with it the loss of her vitally-important scholarship.While all of the friends try to enjoy normal life - engaging in after-school classes, sports and concerts - there is no escaping the conflict that is rocking the country. Annie and Peter argue, but despite disagreeing with his secret activities as a messenger for the Die Hards, Annie keeps his secret.Annies father, who drives a hackney that is often used by government officials, is targeted by the rebels, and Annie is kidnapped at gunpoint to force her father to co-operate in an assassination bid. Knowing that both sides have become increasingly brutal and ruthless, Peter is horrified when he learns of the danger that Annie now faces.Torn between his convictions and the debt that he owes to Annie, Peter has a stark choice to make. And when he risks everything for his friend, Annie too has to struggle with loyalty and the notion of informing on a friend, when other peoples lives are in the balance.

Orphan Johnny Dunne has fled Balbriggan, where he spied for the rebels in Irelands War of Independence. Now he has a new and even more dangerous mission. Rebel leader Michael Collins engages in a cut-throat secret war with British Intelligence: and Johnny, Irelands youngest spy at only fourteen years of age, finds himself at the centre of the action. In a Dublin full of gunmen, soldiers, police informers and the dreaded Black and Tans, Johnny has to watch his every move.But its hard to turn his back on the past, especially on his friendships with Alice Goodman, and with Stella Radcliffe, the daughter of a British officer, who risked her own life to save his.As the War of Independence grows more lethal, the three friends must decide where their loyalties lie. Then a secret from Johnnys past changes everything

What Happens When Your Best Friend ought to be Your Enemy?Liam and Nora form an unlikely friendship when he lends her a helping hand during a music competition. Liams father, a mechanic, is a proud trade union member, while Noras father is a prosperous wine importer. When Jim Larkin takes on the might of the employers in 1913, resulting in strikes, riots and lockouts, Liam and Noras friendship is challenged and their loyalties torn.Caught up in events that they dont fully understand, the two come face to face with hardship and danger, but also find humour and generosity as they set out on an adventure that may make or break their friendship, but will definitely change their lives forever.The historical events of the Dublin 1913 Lockout vividly portrayed through the lives of two young friends.

When her home is destroyed in the Luftwaffe bombing of the North Strand, Dublin in 1941, Grace Ryan is forced to move in with relatives in a different part of the city. There she meets Barry Malone, an English boy sent to neutral Ireland to escape the terrible air raids on his native city of Liverpool.Wary of each other at first, Grace and Barry become friends when she acts to stop him being bullied in his new school. Barry later saves Grace from losing her part-time job in a shop and, with school about to end, a summer of fun stretches before them in the sports club run by his teacher, Mr Pawlek.However, Barry begins to suspect Mr Pawlek of spying for the Nazis and he enrols Grace in his attempts to find proof. But what starts as an exciting challenge becomes increasingly risky, and their friendship is put to the test when their very lives hang in the balance.

Its time to choose: friendship, family or loyalty to the cause.When Emer Davey saves her neighbour Jack Madigan from drowning, it seems that they will be friends forever. But eight months later, they find themselves on opposite sides in a life-or-death struggle, as Dublin is torn apart by the Easter Rising.Emers father is an officer in the Irish Volunteers who believes that armed rebellion is the only way to gain independence from Britain. His daughter has inherited his passion and is determined to help the rebels in any way she can.Jacks dad is a sergeant in the Dublin Metropolitan Police. They share a deep respect for the law and are sure that Home Rule can be achieved through peaceful politics and helping with the war effort. These two young friends find their loyalties challenged as the terrifying reality of war sets in and the Rising hits closer to home than either could have imagined.Beautiful writing Sunday Independent on Stormclouds

When teenager Ciara Farrelly visits her dead grandfathers Ontario home she uncovers a secret from his childhood.Back in 1928, twelve-year-old Mike Farrelly made friends with Wilson, a lonely, rich boy whose family had emigrated from Ireland, and Lucy, a feisty Ojibwe girl from a local reservation. The three spent the bright, warm summer holidays having adventures together. But then a murder was committed, and Mike, Wilson and Lucy found themselves in danger. Suddenly, they had to trust each other, not only with their secrets, but with their livesFollow their story with Ciara as she traces its echo down the years and find out what really happened one summer, long ago.

A valuable painting leaves the train station in Galway in a guarded carriage. When the train arrives in Dublin, the painting is gone.Suspicion immediately falls on Mr Kavanagh, the trains guard. Twins Deirdre and Tim know their father isnt the thief, and theyre determined to find out who is.Along with their friend Joe, they race against time to track down the painting but as they close in on the thief they find themselves up against powerful enemies. Soon the children are battling not just to clear Mr Kavanaghs name but for their very lives!

Dublin, 1943, and Roisin Tierney has changed her identity to evade the police in Nazi-occupied Ireland. With spies and informers a constant threat, Roisin must choose her friends carefully, and keep her Jewish heritage hidden at all costs.With her mother a prisoner in Spike Island Concentration Camp, and her father shipped abroad for forced labour, Roisin wants to resist. But who can you trust in a country ruthlessly policed by the Gestapo? Her friend Kevin is sympathetic, but has a politician father who carries out German orders. Her other friend Mary is anti-Nazi, but has secrets of her own to conceal. Some Irish people are Nazi sympathisers, some reluctant collaborators, and some fighting with the resistance, so its hard to know where to turn. But Roisin knows time is not on her side - and sooner or later shell have to risk everything for the chance of a better future.

Winds of Change explores the challenges faced by a range of characters against the backdrop of Land League agitation, evictions and boycotting in 1880s Ireland. The story is told through the eyes of three Irish children: Clara Parkinson, Molly OHara, and Aidan Daly, whose contrasting circumstances result in differing responses to the unfolding turmoil.Despite their differing backgrounds, Clara, Aidan, and Molly become friends a friendship that in the tinderbox climate of the Land War brings real physical dangers. Meanwhile Molly has to grapple with her divided loyalties when her father takes part in evictions with the Royal Irish Constabulary.Interspersed with time-slip elements from the present day, with student Garret Byrne exploring his familys past, the story is set during the pivotal period of late 1880 to early 1881, a time when the face of Ireland was changing forever, with dramatic and sometimes shocking consequences for our cast of characters.

Ireland, 1911A secret signal flashes in the night Its an SOS. Is someone being held prisoner?Friends Tim, Deirdre and Joe set out to investigate. What starts as a diversion while on holiday in Carlingford quickly spirals into a dangerous adventure. Can they solve the case before its too late? And who can they trust?

Dublin, 1912.The long summer stretches out before twins Tim and Deirdre. Their friend Joe is over a hundred miles away in Limerick but when Deirdre spots a boy who looks exactly like him on a Dublin beach, the twins realise they have a puzzle on their hands!As they begin to uncover the facts about Joes double, they realise theres a big family secret to be revealed.Can the friends solve their biggest mystery so far?