'It gets into the nitty-gritty of why a catfisher would do this' - Galway author Ciara Broderick signs big-money deal as debut novel bought by UK publisher

A debut novel from Galway follows a young Irish woman who catfishes men online. Her concealed identity is on the verge of being exposed by a popular true-crime podcast. The UK publisher bought the novel's rights. The narrative echoes a podcast series by The 2 Johnnies about a serial catfisher who contacted over 30 men, including GAA players and the presenter Johnny B O'Brien. The book frames online deception, public exposure, and connections to real-life cases, blending fiction with recognisable elements of contemporary Irish media and scandal. The plot raises questions about accountability, media scrutiny, and online identities.

"A debut novel by a Galway author about a young Irish woman who deceives men online and whose identity is about to be revealed on a popular true-crime podcast has been bought by a UK publisher."

"The plot of Catfish by Ciara ­Broderick has echoes of the podcast series by The 2 Johnnies about a serial catfisher who was in contact with over 30 men, including GAA players and the presenter Johnny B O'Brien."

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