I’m an author and journalist.
My latest book is Pretend We’re Dead, a novel about a group of slackers hanging out and killing time in mid-1990s Cork City. Think a book version of a Richard Linklater movie, or indeed a book version of a Douglas Coupland book.
Other novels include !!SuperHyperMEGASTAR!! (2020), a comedy which crosses Cyrano de Bergerac and The X-Factor; Devil Hang Over Me, a tight, menacing psychological thriller (2020); Red Raven, a Young Adult urban fantasy (2020); YA mystery Shiver the Whole Night Through (2014); The Polka Dot Girl (2013), a noir-style detective story with a twist (all the characters are women); and Even Flow, a thriller about a gang of feminist vigilantes (2012). In 2007 I brought out a non-fiction book called GAA Confidential, and released a comic novel as an e-book (Cold! Steel! Justice!!!) in 2011. My books have received excellent reviews, which you can read on the right-hand side of my homepage.
For two decades I’ve written reviews, features and opinion columns for several newspapers and magazines, including the Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Guardian and RTÉ Guide. Several short stories have appeared in literary journals in Ireland, UK and US. I’ve also written a play, which has had actor readings in Manhattan and Belfast, while one of my film scripts placed in the top 5% of 6,000 entrants to the Nicholl Fellowship competition, run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars).
I live in the west of Ireland, and am currently writing a new book and working on a screenplay adaptation of The Polka Dot Girl with New York-based French filmmaker Éléonore Pourriat (debut feature, Je ne suis pas un homme facile, was released by Netflix in 2018).
Have a look around the site for news and excerpts from my books, and various articles from down the years, or check out my Amazon author page for my other books. Please email darraghmcmanus(AT)yahoo(DOT)com re. journalism work, or if you’re a publisher interested in any of my books.
April 28th, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Hi Darragh, I tried to send you an email via your address at the end of your radio article in WE review..but it came back to me!! Anyhow, I read and enjoy your articles every Saturday but I just had to email you to thank you for making me laugh this morning re your cyclist tirade!! Hilarious and so true.
From a big fan!
Anne
(That even rhymes.).
October 15th, 2014 at 5:18 am
Hi Darragh.
I just read an article you wrote about smoking, “Make tobacco illegal or back off and leave us alone”.
It was a very clear, logical, articulate and interesting, due to the fact that it wasn’t robotic and repetitive – it felt like you were just in the room talking to me! It was awesome.
I very rarely look up a journalist, and when I do it’s usually just to see what they look like. However, I knew you weren’t just another guy reporting the facts and findings. Now after flicking through your site here, I realize my hunch was right.
You have a new fan and his name (my name of course) is … ME 😀
I hope to become a successful screenplay writer and YouTube comedian, but I’m currently battling social and generalized anxiety – I’m very hopeful and optimistic nonetheless.
I know how to write and I know Im a damn good writer too, but I was wondering if you could give me a few quick tips on how to get organized and concentrate on the task of writing itself?
Live long and prosper,
Kev
January 15th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
Daragh
I have been in touch with you in the past re over-coverage of sport on radio at weekends…particularly Newstalk and all local stations. I agree that this is because it is cheap and provides a silly soapbox for football pundit bollixes!
I am not very stupid! I love watching a football match of any kind, but I do not want the Dunphys of the world to provide a couple of hours of inate analysis of what I have just seen.
However, Daragh, my main gripe with radio today is the continuous coverage of peoples’ medical problems. We all have medical issues, so we are not all terribly interested in listening to the, no doubt, very serious quesions,of other peoples’ medical issues!
I am an inveterate listener of radio, so if you feel like listening to a gripe, comment or critisism,please feel free to give me a ring or a mail here in the depths of county Longford!
Regards
Eamonn Tynan
086 678 8617
ectynan@gmail.com
January 15th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
The word is “Inane” not “inate”!
Eamonn
August 16th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Hello Darragh,
my name is Harri Hampson. I’m a Birmingham City University Student studying Visual Communication Illustration. I’m doing research for my dissertation, and I happened to stumble across one of your articles in ‘The Guardian’ online, titled ‘What becomes of Illustration in Fiction?’ I’ve read the article, and I was wondering if I can ask you questions about the article please? Is it okay with you?
kind regards
Harri Hampson
August 16th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Hi Harri,
Yeah that’s fine – do you want to email me? darraghmcmanus (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
August 20th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Hello Darragh, it’s Harri here. I emailed you a coupled of questions the other day, but I just want to ask, is your email address ‘darraghmcmanus@yahoo.com’? Kind regards, Harri
February 11th, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Liked your article on Sinn Fein. I too cannot vote for a party that still needs to run things past an army wing . Keep up the good work. A lost votor. Kieran Sullivan.
February 11th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Thanks Kieran!
June 6th, 2020 at 6:40 pm
Ola! just rereading your Irish Independant articles from Oct 2016 and Mar 2017, ‘Driven crazy by obsession with America’ and ‘Let’s yank the plug on obsession with America’, so good I cut them out and saved them. As on the ball then as it is now. Hibernia’s media never moves on!!
June 8th, 2020 at 9:24 am
Thanks Seamus! Much appreciated