Welcome to Ballygobbard

If you’ve read the bestselling Aisling series of novels, you already know Ballygobbard, the rural Irish town where the most unexpected things can happen. If you’re from nearby Knocknamanagh, you might even be forgiven for calling it Ballygobackwards, owing to the decades long GAA feud that just won’t put itself to bed.

But BGB, as the locals call it, is anything but backwards. On one main street it has a clatter of pubs, a shop, the Scouts Den and a beauty salon where you can now get lash extensions and lip filler. There’s also a butcher, a bustling charity shop and, most recently, a state-of-the-art new gym, not to mention the eco-farm and yurt resort out the road. By rights it should be twinned with New York.

What makes BGB extra special though, is its people. In these new, original stories from Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, we go deeper than ever into their homes and lives and discover that there’s more to this thriving population than meets the eye.

How to I follow the story?

Hit the button below and you’ll receive a new instalment straight to your email inbox every Thursday, plus a monthly behind-the-scenes post from Emer and Sarah.

Who are Sarah Breen and Emer McLysaght?

Sarah Breen’s background is in print journalism, specifically magazines. She lives in Dublin 7 and dreams of the day Oasis will reunite.

Emer McLysaght has worked extensively in journalism and radio and is a columnist at The Irish Times. She is self-admittedly the bigger Aisling of the two and lives in Dublin 8.

Contact: ballygobbardproject@gmail.com

Editorial: Catherine Gough

Branding: Lauren O’Neill