Ruairí McKiernan
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Scroll down for ordering options. Available from a variety of stores/websites and author direct.

Next events:  
  • - Wednesday Jan 20th, Ireland Funds leadership webinar, 11am GMT (7pm Perth) Register
  • - Thursday Jan 21st, Irish Support Agency (Australia), 8am GMT (7pm Sydney) Register


An Irish Times no.1 bestseller.
​
'Engaging, provocative, and sincere, Hitching for Hope recounts a journey both deeply personal and explicitly political. A testimony to the spirit of Ireland, it is
 
an inspirational manifesto for hope and healing in troubled times.'

Following the collapse of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy, Ruairí McKiernan questions whether he should join the mounting number of emigrants searching for greater opportunity elsewhere. McKiernan embarks on a hitchhiking odyssey with no money, no itinerary, and no idea where he might end up each night. His mission: to give voice to those emerging from one of the most painful periods of economic and social turmoil in Ireland’s history. Engaging, provocative, and sincere, Hitching for Hope is a testimony to the spirit of Ireland.  

Available internationally on paperback, eBook, and audiobook.



Buy a signed copy of Hitching for Hope including postage to anywhere in the world.

€18.00
Shop
"This book has also helped me in my own journey of understanding what's important in life and what I want to do later in life." - Eliza

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"Fantastic book, I'm on my 2nd reading of it because it inspired hope within myself" - John

Regular free online book conversation events.

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Thanks to Culture Ireland for promotion and publicity support

UPCOMING FREE 1-HOUR ONLINE PUBLIC EVENTS

Registration links below. (Currently being updated)

* Check correct time zone for each country.

UPCOMING EVENTS
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  • Tuesday Jan 19th, London Irish Cultural Centre (UK), 11am GMT CLOSED RECORDING FOR FUTURE BROADCAST

  • Wednesday Jan 20th, Ireland Funds leadership webinar, 11am GMT Register

  • Thursday Jan 21st, Irish Support Agency (Australia), 8am GMT (7pm Sydney) Register

  • Saturday Feb 06th, Afri Féile Bríde event (online) details coming soon
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  • Thursday Feb 11th, Irish Network Washington DC (US), 6.30pm EST (11.30pm GMT) Register

  • Sunday Feb 28th, United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco (USA), 2pm PST (10pm GMT / Ireland) Register

Registration links here. More going live soon.

PAST EVENTS 2020:
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  • Wed Nov 25th with Liverpool Irish Centre (7pm GMT) (UK)
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  • Dec 3rd with Irish American Business Chamber and Network (USA), 4pm EST (9pm GMT)

  • Dec 7th, London Irish Centre (UK), 2pm GMT (9am EST)

  • Dec 8th, University of Colorado, Denver Gaels and Irish Network Colorado (USA) 3pm MST (9PM GMT)

  • Dec 9th with Irish Embassy South Africa (South Africa), 7pm GMT+2 (5pm GMT)

  • Dec 10th, Irish Netherlands Business Assoc  (Netherlands), 7.30pm GMT+1 (6.30pm GMT)

  • Dec 11th,  Irish Center Mohawk Valley (USA), 7pm EST (midnight GMT)

  • Dec 13th Rian Immigration Centre Boston (USA), 5pm EST (10pm GMT)

  • Dec 14th, Irish-Hungarian Business Circle (Hungary), 6.30pm GMT+1 (5.30pm GMT)

  • Dec 15th Commodore Barry Arts and Cultural Center (USA), 7PM EST (midnight GMT)

    2021
  • Jan 7th Northampton Irish Support Group (UK), 7pm GMT (2pm EST)
  • Jan 9th Knoxville Irish Society (USA), 4pm EST (9pm GMT)
  • Jan 11th, First Fortnight festival, Ireland
  • Jan 12th Monaghan County Library (First Fortnight Festival)  (Ireland), 7.30-8.30pm GMT (2.30pm EST)
  • Jan 13th Irish Community Services Chicago (USA), 10am Central Time (11am ET, 4pm Ireland) 
  • Jan 14th, Irish Cultural Centre of Western New England (USA), 7pm EST (Midnight Ireland) Register
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Ruairí has signed copies of Hitching for Hope in over 30 bookshops throughout Ireland. It is available in all main bookshops and online. Scroll down for more info and links.

SAMPLE MEDIA LINKS 

  • Listen back to interview on Today FM with Matt Cooper
  • Watch Ruairí's TEDx talk here
  • Rewatch livestream launch event with special guests Lynn Ruane, Frances Black and Colm Mac Con Iomaire.
  • Watch on Facebook, and YouTube.
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Buy a signed copy of Hitching for Hope including postage to anywhere in the world.

€18.00
A personalised signed copy of Hitching for Hope.

Please leave any instructions for messages and postal address and allow adequate time for delivery while considering possible Covid-19 postal restrictions in or to your country.
Shop
'A modern travel tale—part personal pilgrimage, part political quest—that captures the power of human resilience.'
Where to buy 
​Available internationally on paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

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Hitching for Hope is available in all main bookshops in Ireland and in selected bookshops internationally. Over 30 shops around Ireland now have signed copies. See list here for international shops and websites stocking the book and please get in touch if you are having any trouble sourcing it. Where possible please consider supporting local independent bookstores. Special bulk discount and signed copies are also available. ​ISBN: 9781603589574

Buy a signed copy of Hitching for Hope including postage to anywhere in the world.

€18.00
Shop
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Sample list of global outlets below. For personalized signed copies please see above link or get in touch. Ebook and audibook versions also available.

North America
Amazon US 
Amazon Canada
Bookshop.org
Barnes and Noble 
Book Depository
Chapters 
Chelsea Green Publishing
(Use coupon CGP35)


Ireland 
Amazon UK 
Kennys 
Easons
O'Mahonys 
​Charlie Byrnes

Gutter Bookshop
Book Depository

UK
Amazon UK 
WH Smith
Waterstones
Blackwells
Bookshop.org UK

Book Depository

Australia
Booktopia 

Book Depository
Amazon.com.au

Global
Book Depository


Audiobook
Audible 
Libro  
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'Tale of hitchhiking in post-recession Ireland is a timely comfort read....proves that sometimes hope and history really can rhyme.'
​

- The Sunday Times

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‘Ruairí takes note of what many of us sometimes fail to see.’
—Christy Moore 

‘This book is a paean to nuance, decency and possibility.’
—Colum McCann

‘..an easy and uplifting read.’
—Peggy Seeger

“An epic journey…powerful and insightful."
- Damien Dempsey
About the author
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​Ruairí McKiernan is an award-winning social innovator, campaigner, writer and speaker.  In 2012 was appointed to the Council of State by President Michael D Higgins, where he served a 7-year term. A business graduate originally from County Cavan, Ruairí is a Fulbright scholar, the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organisation, a founding member of the Uplift campaigning organisation, and part of the founding team behind Gaelic Voices For Change. He is also the host of the chart-topping Love and Courage podcast a regular contributor to the media on social justice, youth and community issues, civic leadership and wellbeing. Ruairí is married to Limerick-born  singer, songwriter, musician and meditation teacher Susan Quirke and they live in Lahinch, on the west coast of County Clare.


Virtual events - oppportunity to collaborate

Ruairí and his publisher Chelsea Green Publishing are currently collaborating with book clubs, festivals, libraries, schools, colleges, community groups and others to offer virtual conversational style virtual book events. To date these have reached thousands of viewers and participants in countries all over the world. These are generally 60-minute events. Recent partners have included Culture Ireland (Ireland Performs series), the New York Irish Center, and the Irish American Heritage Museum. The events are hosted via Zoom and Facebook live and involve a conversational style talk on the book's themes (e.g. kindness, courage, resilience, community spirit) followed by a questions and answers session with the audience. Sometimes musicians and other guests feature. The events are streamed direct from Ruairí's home in the west of Ireland and can be offered at no charge to hosts who can commit to promoting them among their network. Support is provided around marketing and media. The events are easy to organise and manage and no technical know-how is required. We can be flexible around international time zones as long as it's sometime between 8am and midnight Irish time. For more information email info@hitchingforhope.com

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Buy a signed copy of Hitching for Hope including postage to anywhere in the world.

€18.00
A personalised signed copy of Hitching for Hope.

Please leave any instructions for messages and postal address and allow adequate time for delivery while considering possible Covid-19 postal restrictions in or to your country.
order now
“You will not be able to put it down.’
—Frances Black
 
‘Funny, philosophical, and moving”
—Amanda Palmer
 
‘..an authentic and utterly compelling narrative.”
—Brian O’Connell

‘Making a reader stop and think is something we should all
​want to achieve, and Ruairí succeeds.'
—Lynn Ruane 

 ‘This is a tale that will resonate all over the world.’
—Bill McKibben
 
‘..a breath of fresh air’
—Joanna Macy


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Photo used under Creative Commons from leppre
  • Home
  • About
  • Book
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  • More
    • Become a patron
    • Articles
    • Opportunities
    • Photos
    • Retreats in Ireland
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  • Contact