4th Annual Derry Radical Bookfair 2020

On Saturday 1st February 2020, Pilots Row Community Centre will host to the 4th annual Radical Bookfair at it’s Rossville Street home in Derry.

Organisers of the annual community project have confirmed that the Bogside venue will host one of the largest number of independent radical press, book sellers, publishers and distributors from the length of Ireland with participants travelling from Scotland, England and Wales for the one day event.

A spokesperson for the Derry Radical Bookfair said “We are delighted to once again confirm that we are able to add the Derry Radical Bookfair to the city’s political calendar after previous successful book fairs. The day long event receives a fantastic response to from the city itself and across the northwest as it is able to provide easy access literature not normally found in usual bookshops and outlets. The radical book fair is an important event which gives a great opportunity to independent booksellers and publishers due to the availability to network and create links and new important contacts.

“We welcome everyone to the Radical Bookfair with different political visions, ideas, practices and radical traditions. We pride ourselves in creating a space for books of local, national and international interests including social and labour history as well as themes covering radical feminism, queer liberation, anarchism, marxism, republicanism and environmentalism. It is also a day in which a number of campaign groups have the opportunity to table stalls so as to highlight ongoing concerns such as human rights, environmental and social justice issues.

“This year we will be continuing with a series of book launches as well as several talks throughout the event which will again add to the overall community spirit that the book fair has created within a venue such as Pilots Row. For many the event ties in well with the week long events leading up the the annual Bloody Sunday March for Justice.”

Derry Radical Bookfair takes place on Saturday 1st February 2020 from 12pm
until 5pm at the Pilots Row Community Centre in Rossville Street.

September 29, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Book launch: Radiant Things

Radiant Things is a new series of pamphlets produced by Industrial Workers of The World local branch in Derry.

The series will reprint and commission writing on subjects we find relevant to the struggles we are engaged in today. Based in Derry, as we are, we draw on a history of resistance and struggle – and of historical connection to a wide range of international equivalencies and solidarities.

This history gives us confidence to learn from the mistakes of the past and envisage new futures for the form our struggles will take.

Derry Radical Bookfair will see the launch of Issue #1, available by donation.

January 25, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Book Signing: Eamonn McCann – War in an Irish Town

Join author Eamonn McCann for a signing of his classic book, War and an Irish Town, at the Haymarket Books stall at Derry Radical Bookfair on 26 January, 3:30-4:00pm.

First published in 1974, War and an Irish Town describes what it was like to grow up Catholic in a northern ghetto, the development of the civil rights movement, and its transformation into an armed conflict against the British state. Republished with a new introduction, it remains an indispensable and unmatched account of the region’s life and struggle.

January 20, 2019January 20, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Barricades are Beautiful: In Conversation with Sarah Wilson

2.30pm – 3pm Barricades are Beautiful – In conversation with Sarah Wilson

‘Barricades are Beautiful’ – In August of 1969, Sarah Wilson from the London-based radical screen-printing group Poster Workshop came to Free Derry to make posters and teach screen-printing to local people. In ‘War and an Irish Town’, Eamonn McCann describes how there was a hall found for her to work in and a “team of children” helped her to produce “a series of striking and effective posters which soon festooned the area.” Poster Workshop were the makers of several iconic posters from the era, including “The Falls Burns – Malone Road Fiddles” and “Do you trust the Mad Major?” (see Discussion above for images).

The Radical Book Fair is pleased to welcome Sarah on Saturday 26 January at 2:30pm for a public conversation with Eamonn McCann. We look forward to hearing memories of this period, her thoughts about the role of Poster Workshop in a wide range of struggles, and about design as an act of solidarity. A new publication from Four Corners Books, ‘Poster Workshop 1968-1971’ will also be launched (see Discussion for details).

This event will be preceded by a drop-in radical screen-printing workshop in the book fair, with the support of the Derry Print Workshop, from 12 noon-2pm.

These events take place in association with Loitering Theatre http://www.loiteringtheatre.org/, who will be filming some aspects of the day. Just let us know on the day if you prefer not to be filmed.

January 19, 2019January 19, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Reading: MAKARONIK le Dave Duggan (Cló Iar Chonnacht, 2018)

2pm – 2.30-pm Reading: MAKARONIK le Dave Duggan (Cló Iar Chonnacht, 2018)

Léamh agus Comhrá le Dave Duggan A reading and conversation with Dave Duggan, in a bi-lingual event.

MAKARONIK le Dave Duggan (Cló Iar Chonnacht, 2018) Úrscéal ficsean eolaíochta, suite i nDoire 2584, ina bhfuil saoirse pearsanta, dualgas agus dílseacht pléite ann.

A science fiction novel, set in Derry, in 2584, in which matters of personal freedom, duty and loyalty are played out. Scéal daonnachtúil é, ina bhfuil fórsa ar leith ag an focal ‘rogha’.

A humane story, where the word ‘choice’ has a particular force.

Mairfidh an imeacht dhá theangach seo 30 nóiméad. This bi-lingual event will last 30 minutes.

Fáilte roimh cách. All welcome.

For more details on other talks, discussions and signings: www.derryradicalbookfair.wordpress.com

January 14, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Talk: MISNEACH IN AIMSIR NA nÉIGEANDÁLAÍ

1pm – 2-pm Talk: MISNEACH IN AIMSIR NA nÉIGEANDÁLAÍ

Grúpa radacach ar son leas na cosmhuintire agus na teanga dúchais atá i Misneach.

Tabharfaidh beirt bhall de Mhisneach caint ar ghnéithe éagsúla den streachailt atá ar bun ar son todhchaí na nGael agus na hÉireann trí chéile. Labhrófar ar ról agus obair Mhisneach, ar ghéarchéim na Gaeltachta, ar an bhfeimineachas mar chuid de chúis na nGael agus ar an mbunús eacnamaíochta atá leis na trioblóidí polaitiúla, sóisialta agus timpeallachta atá ag bagairt ar na Gaeil agus ar an gcine daonna go léir.

Fáilte roimh cách. All welcome.

For more details on other talks, discussions and signings: www.derryradicalbookfair.wordpress.com

January 14, 2019 by Free Derry Leave a comment

Annual Derry Radical Bookfair Celebrates Its Third Year

On Saturday 26th January, Pilots Row Community Centre will once again play host to the 3rd annual Derry Radical Bookfair in Rossville Street.

Organisers have confirmed that the Bogside venue will now host one of the largest number of independent radical press, book sellers, publishers and distributors from the length of Ireland with participants travelling from Scotland, England and Wales for the one day event.

A spokesperson for the Derry Radical Bookfair said “Following on from previous years book fairs we have had a fantastic response to such a successful event by making this happen annually for those of us across the northwest to access literature not normally found in mainstream bookshops. It will also give an opportunity to independent book
sellers and publishers a chance to network and create important links in order to continue their work.

“All participants are welcome to the Radical Bookfair with different visions, ideas, practices and radical traditions. Books of local, national and international interests including social and labour history as well as themes covering radical feminism, queer liberation, anarchism, marxism, republicanism and environmentalism. There will
also be a number of campaign groups tabling stalls in an effort to highlight ongoing human rights and social justice issues.

“Throughout the day there will be a number of talks and book launches planned which will again add to the day long event within Pilots Row.”

Derry Radical Bookfair takes place on Saturday 26th January from 12pm
until 5pm at the Pilots Row Community Centre in Rossville Street.

December 28, 2018 by Free Derry Leave a comment