IRREPRESIBLE republican raconteur and wit Barry McElduff will be coming to a venue near you soon to launch his new book under the title of his famous catchphrase Keep ’Er Lit.

During the 2011 Assembly elections, Tyrone MLA Barry ended a very worthy political interview on BBC TV by cheerily urging host Noel Thompson to "Keep ’er lit." People have taken to using it more and it’s always heard during the regular appearances by ‘Wee Barry’ on Stephen Nolan’s top-rating Radio Ulster morning show and with Hector Ó hEochagáin on RTÉ Radio.

Now Barry (a former columnist with An Phoblacht) has produced a handy tome of 92 short stories and anecdotes garnered from his experiences of republicanism, GAA and community activism and titled Keep ’Er Lit.

In his introduction to Wee Barry’s wee book, Tyrone GAA All-Ireland winner Peter Canavan says:

“Me and Barry went in two different directions: I wanted desperately to win an All-Ireland and Barry wanted desperately to free it.”

Peter describes the collection as “Barry’s unique take” on Tyrone, Ireland and life in general.