Books by Brian Gallagher

God's Foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25).Reflecting on his own life and on the lives and teachings of a range of spiritual writers, Brian Gallagher discovers God's foolishness, 'wiser than human wisdom'. He gladly acknowledges the influence of these women and men on his personal spirituality, a spiritual heart.He calls them 'prophets, leaders, saints', and though human wisdom held little expectation for any of them, God's foolishness saw them with very different eyes.

Set me Free: Spiritual Direction and Discernment of Spirits offers a remarkably clear and rigorous account of the practice of spiritual direction. Thorough, well researched and well written, it will be welcomed by spiritual directors, pastoral ministers and all people interested in the life of the Spirit.The author bases his study of discernment on a sound theology of the Holy Spirit, a psychology of human freedom, and practical examples from his and others' experience of the spirits. Built on a life-time of ministry as a spiritual director, supervisor and teacher in spirituality, he believes that discernment of spirits is integral to the ministry of spiritual direction and all forms of pastoral ministry; and that people become more discerning only through growth in inner freedom. Spiritual directors discover rules for discernment in their own experience of the ways of the spirits in their lives. This has definite parallels for other pastoral ministers and clear implications for the formation programs that prepare them for ministry. 'Brian Gallagher offers a remarkably clear and rigorous account of the practice of spiritual direction… He describes the pastoral practice that is at the heart of spiritual direction: a spiritual director discerning their inner movements while contemplatively listening to a directee. The sacred ministry of spiritual direction will come to nothing without a discerning heart. Importantly, he distils the core insights of others and integrates them with his own wisdom born of fifty years' experience as a spiritual director. Gallagher's book is filled with psychological, theological and spiritual insight. If you are a beginning spiritual director or an experienced practitioner, or one who provides formation and ongoing supervision in the art of spiritual direction, your ministry will be enhanced by reading and re-reading this book.' (Michael Smith sj)

Life Processes and Living Things contains worksheets for Key Stage 2 (KS2) covering humans, other animals, green plants, variation, classification and living things in their environment. The teachers' notes give background information, ideas for extensions, answers for pupil pages, resources needed and teaching/safety notes.

The activities in Physical Processes will help pupils to learn about electricity, forces, motion, light, sound, and the Earth and beyond. The teachers' notes give background information, ideas for extensions, answers for pupil pages, resources needed and teaching/safety notes.

In 1920s Canada, a summer of fun for three friends is destroyed by a frightening crime. Almost a century later, teenager Ciara Farrelly visits her dead grandfather's Ontario home and tries to solve the mystery surrounding it.

During the War of Independence, friends Johnny, Stella and Alice grapple with conflicting loyalties - then matters come dramatically to a head on the night the Black and Tans set Balbriggan ablaze during a murderous night of vengeance.

Materials and their Properties contains innovative worksheets to teach Key Stage 2 (KS2) pupils about grouping and classifying, changing materials and separating materials. The teachers' notes give background information, ideas for extensions, answers for pupil pages, resources needed and teaching/safety notes.

Twins Dylan and Emma Goldman move from Washington to Belfast when their journalist father is sent to cover the turbulent early days of the civil rights movement. The complicated friendships prove life-threatening when the simmering tensions in Northern Ireland erupt into violence in the summer of 1969.

Dublin, 1922. Working class Annie Reilly is thrilled to win a scholarship to Eccles Street School. Through a classmate she meets Peter Scanlon, a student in Belvedere College. Peter sides with the rebels in the Civil War and carries messages for them. When Annie's life is threatened, he has to decide where his loyalties lie.

When Emer Daly saves Jack Madigan from drowning it seems that the two children will be friends for life. Eight months later, however, they are on opposite sides in a life and death struggle, when Dublin city is torn apart in the Easter Rising. With their young lives in turmoil, what will come first - friendship, family or loyalty to a cause?

When her home is destroyed in the 1941 Luftwaffe bombing, Grace Ryan moves in with relatives. There she meets Barry Malone, a boy from Liverpool. Barry begins to suspect their teacher Mr Pawlek of spying for the Nazis. But what starts as an exciting adventure puts their very lives in danger.