Laurel Cottage

17/02/2022

02/11/2021

Mike was delighted to receive the following from Welsh long jumper Gwyn Williams who represented GB on numerous occasions reaching the finals at the Commonwealth Games before going on to coach several world ranked jumpers and sprinters. I asked if we could publish it here and Gwyn said OK

"Hello, Mike.
This is Gwyn Williams.
I have just finished reading your excellent book which I was given as a birthday present last week. What a read ! I loved it.
You put together a great story of your journey in life up to the present .
It is rare in Athletics to read a life story of such quality. Many athletes’ books are dominated by times, distances and championship results. I have rarely read such a well- balanced, enjoyable recording of your early years with family, school, academic career, business ventures, media involvement etc plus the key to everything in life - the story of those people who influenced, inspired and helped you to progress in your athletics’ career.
At the heart of it you clearly mapped out the challenge of the journey of highs and lows
along the rocky uphill path to the goal of becoming a successful, world class athlete.
Well done and congratulations, Mike.
Gwyn. "

Mike Bull Sample

19/10/2021

Just been watching Jonathan Rea keeping his chances of winning a 7th Superbike World Championship alive in Argentina. As one of our greatest ever he naturally features in Steven Beacom's 100 'Ulster Sporting Legends'
Keeping my fingers crossed Jonathan can reel in Toprak Razgatlioglu's lead in Indonesia next month✌️
https://www.cottage-publications.com/shop/books/sports-books/100-ulster-sporting-legends/

07/10/2021

Not having been since before Covid, I'm looking forward to getting up to Donegal again soon. It a brilliant place both summer and winter – in summer you have the wonderful coast and mountains while in winter ther can be few greater pleasures pulling your chair an inch or two closer to a roaring fire in a cosy pub while an Atlantic storm blatters against the windows!
Have a look inside Ros and Seán's "Donegal's Wild Atlantic Coast" to take you there ...

From the golden sands of Marble Hill to the towering cliffs of Sliabh League, from the machair heaths of Rosbeg to the scoured rocky outcrops of Bloody Foreland, from historic towns to busy ports, Donegal’s 1,132km Atlantic coastline is an ever changing delight for both visitors and the hardy peop...

02/10/2021

Alongside our books we also have a range of artists prints: Here's a few of Armagh from the creative hand of Joe Hynes. You can see more on our website at https://www.cottage-publications.com/product-category/prints/co-armagh-prints/armagh-prints/

29/09/2021

Meanwhile in Ballyhay at Laurel Cottage's world HQ

24/09/2021

Try our sample pages feature to see the great background story of the man standing on top of the colum in Comber square

Meet some of the famous people from County Down, from the inventor of milk chocolate, Hans Sloan to Harry Ferguson, father of the modern tractor

17/09/2021

Feasting on a cornucopia of sport over the summer watching meticulously prepared athletes performing superhuman feats it's easy to forget that underneath they are just as prone to the same nerves, doubts and fears that affect us all when we're faced with major challenges. Mike Bull eloquently captures this in the opening chapter of his autobiography which I've included below and is well worth a read. If you've ever competed in sport it'll stir memories!

06/08/2021

Very entertaining interview with Mike last night on the Colin Murray show on radio5 live. You can catch it on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000yfmk (the interview starts 39 minutes in)

Colin Murray with late night conversation and in-depth interviews.

02/08/2021

There's been an amazing response to Mike's video with the BBC – apparently it's the top trending item on their website with over 1 million views as a result of which Mike's due to be interviewed today by Jeremy Vine.
For anyone who doesn't know where to get the book either click on 'shop now' above or go to www.cottage-publications.com

31/07/2021

Good to see short video about Mike trending really strongly on BBC Online. You can get his just published autobiography from our website (postage free in UK) by clicking on the shop now button above.

Mike Bull is a double Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympic finalist in the sport.

29/07/2021

Lovely article by Audrey Watson in yesterdays Belfast Telegraph:

A I actually started writing the book many years ago in 2002, when I sold my gym (Mike Bull’s Health Studio) and house in Bangor and went to live full-time in Spain. Someone said to me, ‘If you’re going to go and live in Spain you may as well do something positive — write a book’. So I sta...