{"title":"Books by Matt Cooper","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780717196012","title":"Who Really Owns Ireland?","description":"\u003cp\u003eLeading journalist Matt Cooper examines the key players behind the scenes of Irish property ownership – who really controls the valuable land where we live, work and play and how did they acquire it? Who are the new foreign investors and why are they buying property and land in Ireland? What does it mean for ordinary citizens when the ownership of shopping centres, wind farms, forestry and data centres comes from outside?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComprehensively researched and filled with riveting detail, this compelling account of the Irish property landscape is about our offices, hotels and pubs and the power of those wealthy enough to accumulate these properties. This eye-opening book is a must-read for anyone interested in Ireland and who \u003cem\u003ereally \u003c\/em\u003eowns it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘It's not possible to understand Irish society, politics or the economy without knowing who owns land and property. Brilliantly researched and written with verve, clarity and narrative punch, Matt Cooper's study is the essential guide to the ground beneath our feet and the roofs above our heads.’ \u003cstrong\u003eFintan O’Toole\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘Land is essential for homes, and in this book Matt Cooper provides a vital interrogation of who owns and controls it and how it is impacting on the housing crisis, a must read for anyone interested in understanding Ireland's housing crisis’ \u003cstrong\u003eRory Hearne\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204053270706,"sku":"9780717196012","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780717196012.jpg?v=1790000762"},{"product_id":"9781804188989","title":"Dynasty","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe real story behind Dunnes Stores, the most quintessentially Irish shop of all, and the family drama behind it\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the story of the extraordinary family behind one of Ireland's most famous businesses, Dunnes Stores, over three generations and covering nearly 80 years of retailing but going back as far as the 19th century. \u003cbr\u003eWith drama worthy of the popular TV drama \u003ci\u003eSuccession\u003c\/i\u003e, a real-life Irish family drama shows the children of a dominant founder argue as to who should run the supermarket empire after his death and take the money from it, and how they dealt or not, with addictions and ill health, including alcoholism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is the story of excess, success and failure.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57685736096117,"sku":"9781804188996","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":55896465965429,"sku":"9781804188989","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804188996_319c2778-b227-47cb-9a70-38dc720f3471.jpg?v=1792598904"},{"product_id":"9781398115866","title":"Northampton Buses and Coaches","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing the deregulation of the bus industry in 1986, the transport scene in Northampton didn’t alter as drastically as in some other UK towns and cities. There was, however, a series of gradual changes as the ‘green’ buses of Northamptonshire gradually disappeared.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith the cavernous Greyfriars bus station featuring throughout, this collection of previously unpublished photographs explores this interesting period between deregulation and the modern bus scene.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298007134581,"sku":"9781398115866","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398115866_3c46cc55-6ed9-4b6e-ba42-d18844bbb79e.jpg?v=1786018015"},{"product_id":"9781398124158","title":"Isle of Wight and Central South Coast Buses","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe principal bus operator on the Isle of Wight is Southern Vectis, the name a nod to the Romans who once inhabited the island. In more recent times, from the reign of Queen Victoria, the popularity of the island increased – as has the provision for transport. Dr Beeching’s axe saw the once extensive rail network on the island reduced to just 9 miles of mainline track after 1966. This remains the same today with Island Line serving eight stations between Ryde Pier and Shanklin. This presented bus and coach companies with the opportunity to expand their operations to fill the gaps. Matt Cooper explores these operations on the island from the late 1990s before venturing across the Solent to the mainland to look at bus and coach operators running along the central South Coast. Loosely covering the area between Dorset and Sussex, the operators within it are as varied as the vehicle types to be seen. Both the ‘tourist trail’ and the routes travelled regularly by local residents are documented here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith a superb array of images, this book will be of interest to South Coast bus enthusiasts and will hopefully inspire visits to this beautiful part of the country.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298117005685,"sku":"9781398124158","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398124158_b88cf9e5-be71-426f-bca6-e53693807cbb.jpg?v=1786018325"},{"product_id":"9781398122642","title":"Buses in the Midlands: 1990s and 2000s","description":"\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1990s and 2000s the bus and coach scene across the Midlands evolved at a much greater rate than that of the preceding decades. From 1986 the subsidiaries of the National Bus Company were privatised along with several municipally owned companies across the region, the largest of which was the bus operations of West Midlands PTE. Independent companies came to try their hand by setting up new routes or networks and were joined by some established coach operators wishing to exploit new opportunities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book looks at numerous coaching operations as they criss-cross this centrally located region, with established National Express services being joined by new ventures such as Stagecoach-owned Megabus. The region largely covers the area once served by Midland Red, with many operators, bus types and liveries to be seen, along with changing road layouts, bus stations and transport infrastructure. During this period tram systems returned to both Nottingham and Birmingham with bus services altered and adapted. Through a wealth of fascinating images and informative captions, Matt Cooper documents the transition from the post-privatisation era to the modern day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298442490229,"sku":"9781398122642","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398122642_afe55799-9d0c-4bb7-a639-d9d37fd86d3e.jpg?v=1786018273"},{"product_id":"9781398128248","title":"Buses and Coaches of South West England and Wales","description":"\u003cp\u003eOver the past thirty years the bus and coach scene across South West England and Wales has seen continual change, from the minibus era to the low-floor revolution. A vast array of vehicle types have been operated, with inter-company transfers by the larger groups of particular interest as well as those vehicles acquired ‘second-hand’.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile many of the smaller operators have come and gone, a good number still provide vital transport links, often filling gaps left by the larger companies. Much consolidation has taken place over the past three decades with many companies now under the control of the industry’s major organisations. Numerous municipal operators once existed in Wales but all bar two have now closed or been taken over by larger companies. Some surprising moves are also detailed here, such as First Group’s virtual removal from Devon and Cornwall and the considerable expansion of the Stagecoach and Go-Ahead groups. The areas covered make up large parts of the ‘tourist trail’ in these regions with associated operations detailed alongside routes taken regularly by local residents.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatt Cooper’s carefully curated selection of images captures the transition from the post-deregulation era to that which exists today via a fascinating route that features a wide range of companies.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368755802485,"sku":"9781398128248","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398128248_5f562c2c-a674-40d6-aba5-ccae0dc99755.jpg?v=1786018430"},{"product_id":"the-ridgeway-by-bus","title":"The Ridgeway by Bus","description":"\u003cp\u003eKnown as ‘Britain’s oldest road’, The Ridgeway path links Avebury, Wiltshire, with Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire. For over 5,000 years the path has been used for a variety of reasons and today remains one of the most interesting trails to explore. Over its 87-mile length it crosses the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, passing through two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatt Cooper explores bus and coach operators along the course of The Ridgeway, sometimes deviating from the path to visit nearby centres of interest to document the recent bus and coach scene there. His vibrant selection of images covers a forty-year period up to the present day and showcases the wide variety of vehicle types, liveries and types of service to be found here. The bus and coach industry has changed considerably since the 1980s, along with the needs and requirements of passengers and the technology in use, and this is reflected in the photographs presented here. With a superb array of images, this book will be of interest to the bus enthusiasts of central southern England and hopefully inspire visits to this beautiful part of the country.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57503832342901,"sku":"9781398132689","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781398132689.jpg?v=1786867545"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-matt-cooper.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}