#ContentiousSpaces

Travellers drama Contentious Spaces is surely just the start of Rosaleen McDonagh’s long and illustrious career as a novelist Rosaleen McDonagh’s Unsettled, an essay collection, was, for me, one of the standout pieces of Irish writing back in 2021. Her debut novel offers similar insight into the world of some of Ireland’s mo...

"The novel’s strengths lie in its author’s intimate knowledge of not just the travelling community, but of the fight of all marginalised people for dignity and respect"

Thanks to Estelle Birdy for this considered, incisive review of #ContentiousSpaces

www.independent.ie/entertainmen...

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh - read an extract The Traveller families who live in Saint Rita's are on borrowed time. In just a week they will be evicted by the local council, threatening not only their homes but also their history and the stories ...

Read an extract from 'Contentious Spaces', the groundbreaking novel from #RosaleenMcDonagh on @rte.ie. Thanks to #DerekOConnor for featuring it!

Read more here: www.rte.ie/culture/2026...

Available in your local bookshop!

#ContentiousSpaces #BookRecommendation

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

"A stirring, uncompromising and authentic read"

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... via @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... via @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social

'A stirring, uncompromising and authentic read' writes @maireadhearne.bsky.social

www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

“A stirring, uncompromising and authentic read”

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... - via @maireadhearne.bsky.social 💙📚

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... from @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

From @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

An uncompromising and authentic debut!

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...
#booksky #spéirgorm

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

On @maireadhearne.bsky.social

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

Huge thanks to @maireadhearne.bsky.social for this engaged and effusive review of #ContentiousSpaces

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... via @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | @skeinpress.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-... @maireadhearne.bsky.social

Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh | Review Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from Rosaleen McDonagh (March 2026) and is described as 'unflinching...a haunting story'

"A stirring, uncompromising and authentic read, Contentious Spaces is a profound and compassionate debut, one I highly recommend."

#BookReview of #ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh from @maireadhearne.bsky.social

@skeinpress.bsky.social #booksky

Cover of Contentious Spaces by Rosaleen McDonagh

A stirring, uncompromising and authentic read

#ContentiousSpaces by Rosaleen McDonagh

'The Traveller families who live in Saint Rita’s are on borrowed time'

OUT NOW w/ @skeinpress.bsky.social

Read my review:
www.swirlandthread.com/contentious-...

#booksky #spéirgorm #bookreview

Sinead Burke onstage with Rosaleen McDonagh

Rosaleen, wearing a red suit and pink framed glasses, smiling

Anne Burke holding a microphone and smiling

The crowd, seated amongst bookshelves

Some more photos from Thursday's launch of 'Contentious Spaces', courtesy of the brilliant @paulageraghty.bsky.social 👏

Thank you again to all who joined us!

#ContentiousSpaces is available to order via our website: skeinpress.com/product/cont...

Skein Press Thought-provoking writing

Special thanks to Anne Burke and Sinéad Burke for their contributions, to @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social for hosting and to @deptcde.bsky.social @artscouncilireland.bsky.social for their support

You can order #ContentiousSpaces now via skeinpress.com or find it in all good bookshops 📚

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for the launch of #ContentiousSpaces by Dr Rosaleen McDonagh last night

It was a remarkably powerful evening in celebration of a truly remarkable writer 💫

So lovely to see #ContentiousSpaces making its way to readers 💜

Contentious Spaces ‘Rosaleen McDonagh is a writer of huge and vivacious talent and this is a brilliant novel, so vivid and urgent and addictive.’ – Kevin Barry

‘Rosaleen McDonagh is a writer of huge and vivacious talent and this is a brilliant novel, so vivid and urgent and addictive.’ – Kevin Barry

Launching in March 2026, you can pre-order now via our website: skeinpress.com/product/cont...

#ContentiousSpaces #NewIrishFiction

Unveiling our first publication of 2026...

'Contentious Spaces' is the debut novel from acclaimed Irish writer, playwright and performer Rosaleen McDonagh

#ContentiousSpaces #NewIrishFiction