Treacle Town
Shortlisted for the Children’s Books Ireland Awards
Con O’Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities for him and the rest of his gang is all too apparent. No money. No prospects. A social design that entraps inhabitants of Treacle Towns up and down the country.
Connor is desperate to get away, to find another life where he can experience happiness and fulfilment. When he stumbles upon the new world of slam poetry, Con senses a glimmer of hope – a hope that might just lead to his escape from Treacle Town.
But it won’t be easy.
Latest reviews
“Treacle Town” by Brian Conaghan is a tough but ultimately inspiring read. It’s set in Brian’s hometown of Coatbridge and the setting and context will be familiar to many of our students, and anyone involved with 'Young Teams'. The story unfolds in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarianism, and personal tragedy. The main protagonist, Connor, is stuck in a world of deprivation and unemployment, and desperate to escape from the pointless gang warfare and lack of opportunities. He happens across the world of slam poetry online and sees that this could offer a glimmer of hope for him, and that he was allowed to become part of that world. He joins a group in Glasgow and realises that he is not stuck and he can succeed. Meanwhile, his friends are still mired in the despondency of ‘Treacle Town’, and he has no option but to pull himself free. This is a thought-provoking, emotional, and compassionate novel. The relationship with his friends and the pointlessness of their lives read true, and I loved the interplay between Conner and his dad.
Join our mailing list
Get our newsletters to stay up to date with programme news, resources, news and more.
