WATCH: Ryan Tubridy sends message of support ahead of Tipperary author’s debut book launch

Cahir native Noel O’Donnell is set to unveil his first novella, The McCarthys of Ballyhenry, at Cahir House Hotel on Friday, 21 November 2025, with the event commencing at 7pm. The launch promises an evening of readings, music, and poetry, all celebrating the work of a rising Tipperary writer.

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Hughie O’Donnell will host the event, while Noel’s daughters, Jennifer, Emma, and Shauna, will perform selected readings from the novella. Local musician Richard Delahunty will provide live musical accompaniment, and acclaimed Cahir-born poet Margaret Galvin will contribute her reflections and respond to Noel’s work.

Signed copies of the book will be available on the night for €14.99, with all proceeds going to The Cari Foundation and The Dillon Quirke Foundation. Admission is free, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Inspired by the testimonies of those who spent time in St Joseph’s Industrial School in Artane, Noel’s novella explores themes of love, faith, sacrifice, and resilience, set against the backdrop of a fictional Tipperary village. The book also showcases the work of Irish creatives, with front cover artwork by Cork artist Stephen Conway and interior black-and-white illustrations by Rónán Dedenys of Cahir Arts.

Following the launch, The McCarthys of Ballyhenry will be available at Woodview Texaco Service Station, Cahir Post Office, Cahir Arts, and select bookshops across Tipperary. A digital edition will also be offered through lettertecbookstore.com.The launch provides an opportunity to support a local storyteller while contributing to two notable charitable causes.

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