What The Book!

Brigid Carrick is a retired nurse and midwife who was born and raised in Dublin before emigrating to Melbourne in the early 1970s. Drawing on her own experiences of working in Ireland during a time of enormous social change, she has turned to creative writing later in life. After publishing several short stories, Brigid has now released her debut novel, The Belfast Express, a powerful historical novel inspired by the real-life Contraception Train and the women who challenged Ireland's restrictive laws. Proving it's never too late to follow your dream of becoming an author.

Michelle Jackson is an Irish bestselling author and travel writer whose novels are inspired by her travels around the world. Known for books including One Kiss in Havana, Three Nights in New York and Journey to the Heartland, her writing blends romance, adventure and Irish storytelling with glamorous international settings. Michelle is also a regular travel contributor across Irish media and shares her passion for books and travel through her platform, The Novel Traveller

Yvonne's guest this week is Ciaran Casey and we discuss his new book, 'Leadership in Tune', a fresh and deeply human approach to leadership in today’s complex world. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Ciaran explores why connection, trust and emotional intelligence matter more than hierarchy and control. In this conversation, he shares insights from his Conscious Relational Impact Model™ and explains how leaders can create environments where people feel valued, empowered and inspired to contribute fully.

Gerry Creighton is an Irish Global Elephant & Animal Care Consultant and an author. His memoir Raised by the Zoo tells the remarkable story of growing up in Dublin Zoo, where his father worked as a zookeeper. Part childhood memoir and part social history, the book offers a vivid and often humorous look at an unconventional upbringing in Dublin surrounded by animals, alongside a deeply personal reflection on family and his life.

Siobhan Maher is a Dublin-based writer, poet and photographer whose work combines nature, reflection and wellbeing. Originally trained as a scientist, she moved into creative work later, developing a distinctive style that blends her own photography with poetry - photopoetry. Her books, including Journeying and Dawning, are all about slowing down, noticing more and finding a bit of calm and clarity in the middle of everyday life.

Domhnall O'Donoghue is an actor, author and travel journalist whose work appears regularly in titles like The Irish Times, The Sunday Times and the Belfast Telegraph. He’s received multiple awards for his travel writing. Alongside his journalism, he writes dark comedy novels - including Colin and the Concubine, Crazy for You and The Wonderful Life of Connie Maguire. His debut book, Sister Agatha: the World’s Oldest Serial Killer, was published in 2016, with its sequel out now. 

Maria Colgan is an Irish author and creator of the Just for Today affirmation series, a collection of empowering, easy-to-digest books designed to support self-worth, resilience, and emotional well-being. Through simple daily messages like “I will be brave” and “I will love myself,” Maria’s work focuses on helping people reconnect with themselves in a gentle, practical way.

Ruth O'Leary is an Irish Times bestselling author of contemporary women’s fiction. Based in Dublin, her debut novel The Weekend Break (2024) quickly entered the Irish Times bestseller list and launched a three-book deal with Poolbeg Books. Her follow-up novel A Week to Remember (2025) continues her focus on stories of friendship, self-discovery and life’s unexpected turning points. Her third book is out now, The Last Week of Him, in all bookshops nationwide.