Publishing March 2026, Contentious Spaces is the debut novel from acclaimed Irish writer, playwright and performer Rosaleen McDonagh.

The Traveller families who live in Saint Rita’s are on borrowed time. In just a week they will be evicted by the local council, threatening not only their homes but also their history and the stories that have shaped them. Charlene, a proud young beoir suffers a humiliating betrayal. Her mother, Kate, is left to navigate unbearable loss while holding the family together. Her cousin, Sheena, strives to find her place in a new environment that is quick to dismiss her. Her uncle Tommy fights despair as his teenage son spirals out of control.

As eviction day draws closer, the families struggle to preserve their dignity, finding strength in one another as they navigate an unknown future. Unflinching, Contentious Spaces is a haunting story about identity and loyalty, shame and resilience, grief and love, and the defiant power of voices that refuse to be silenced.

Praise for Contentious Spaces

‘Rosaleen McDonagh is a writer of huge and vivacious talent and this is a brilliant novel, so vivid and urgent and addictive.’ — Kevin Barry

‘A breathtaking, propulsive novel that I kept wanting to go back to. We never hear these stories (Traveller stories from within; least of all women), and it is of cultural significance to tell them, but this is also such a story — harrowing, humane, original.’ — Niamh Campbell

‘This deeply authentic novel explores the fierce tension between duty to one’s people and the burning desire for personal freedom. And as the tight knit community is broken up and scattered, the individuals realise that they are left to mourn not only a young woman but an entire way of life. A searingly honest portrait of Pavee life, unique in Irish literature.’ —  Mark O’Halloran

‘An extraordinary novel, written with fierce compassion and a clear moral gaze, Rosaleen McDonagh has created something sublime out of fracture and loss. A tender, defiant, beautiful book.’ — Stuart Carolan

‘A beautiful and disturbing book on the reality of so many Travellers’ lives. The humanity and the dignity of the characters in spite of their struggles shine through, and this, I believe, is a true reflection of most Travellers I know. It’s a book for anyone interested in learning about the lived experiences of Travellers in Ireland.’ — Anne Burke

‘Beset by tragedy, these characters still somehow soar, their inner commentaries full of tenderness, sorrow and even humour, as their thoughts are given voice by a gifted writer with outstanding powers of observation. When, in an early scene, Maryanne outsmarts a racist, she channels the sparkling intelligence that pervades this beautiful and compassionate work.’ — Kevin Brew 

‘Through layered characters and interwoven stories of grief, love, resistance, and survival across generations, the novel foregrounds Traveller identity and collective strength.’ — David Friel