It’s all been leading to this… I guess it seems quiet on the PhD thesis front, but it isn't. As you'll know from my last update, I have submitted my thesis, and this is where another chapter begins (if that makes sense!). Given my Viva Voce is really close now, presumably my examination committee…

A poem for the day from Seamus Heaney (with a wee bit of interaction from myself) vm.tiktok.com/ZNdvXsRxy/

Histories of Women’s Football in Britain and Ireland This beautiful book, edited by Fiona Skillen, Helena Byrne and Gary James, was published by Peter Lang and launched at the Irish Embassy in London this month (September 2025). I'm thrilled to have written a chapter in the collection, writing…

Aye Write book festival I'm really excited to be featuring on a panel at the Aye Write Book festival, following the publication of Women Who Dared, From the Famous to the Forgotten, published by Edinburgh University Press. 'This is a vibrant, defiant and deeply human collection of stories about…

PhD thesis submitted. And that's it! After two crazy years, which were marred by horrendous grief and major surgery, I've managed to stick to my self imposed deadline and submit my thesis. I feel flat, rather than ecstatic, but only because I can't shake off the feeling that my commitment to my…

Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday, the 26th of May, marked six months since my beautiful daddy died on the 26th of November 2024. It marks six painfully long months since I caressed my fingers around his, his voice no longer even a whisper, his light fading. In the early hours of that…

It seems insane that we are having to beg a Labour government to give then tiniest measliest shit that an American company has stolen an entire industry FROM A PIRATE SITE but, here we are. 2025 man. chng.it/F7GYJDMVtn

BBC Radio 4 is to introduce a 90-minute slot for audio drama this spring, months after the organisation shared plans to stop broadcasting plays on Radio 3👇

Call it brutal, as indeed it is by design, but my goodness it is also beautiful, in the life that it once had and in the extraordinary eerie and yet somehow buoyant presence it has now. I waited too long to gaze upon this majestic beauty. Have you been to St Peter’s Seminary?

Could you fill this bookcase with new books? If so, what with? Today is #scotwriterpitch2025, here on BlueSky for the first time after dumping toxic Twitter, hurrah,so please follow the hashtag, then repost and like according to the book pitches which catch your eye. @peterurpeth.bsky.social

When Enoch’s lifelong best friend disappears overnight she asks if Helen is a victim of violence and coercion or the architect of a cruel betrayal. But can Enoch be trusted? Is she hiding an even darker truth? #scotwriterpitch2025

The Women Who Built Glasgow City The Sideline podcast and Glasgow City FC are hosting a special screening of my 2020 Royal Television Society award winning film, The Women Who Built Glasgow City. I'm thrilled about this as the premiere screening scheduled to take place at the Everyman Cinema in…

Women Who Dared It's lovely to be included in this important new book from Edinburgh University Press. It's called Women Who Dared and is 'stories of resistance, power and defiance from the women who dared to make history'. It's edited by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw and the forward is by the…

On the road It's been a while since I've posted a wee update on my thesis progress, but I have a very good reason. I've been busy, writing, and as of yesterday (20th March) I completed a full draft of my thesis. I'm going to pause and take a wee moment to appreciate this. The last 18 months have…

That cable in the aisle at the inauguration is seriously messing with my head. Do they not have mats? Do they not do health and safety…

Notes of a life.

Hello Bluesky writing community. Can you write a 75 word story? Then why not submit to Paragraph Planet who publish a new story every day. Here’s mine from yesterday.

Making funeral arrangements for the kindest irishman, the most caring, considerate gentleman and the best daddy. I am heartbroken. Dad was 91, a long life, but I have lived all my 56 years alongside him and this makes it harder to lose him. My core, is gone. I am discombobulated by his absense 💔

How are we all doing over here? The world is a incredibly horrifying place for so many so hoping everyone is as well as they can be just now.

A weird thing happened today…I was listening to Desert Island Discs on my way to visit dad in hospital. A new episode came on with gardener and writer Sarah Raven (who I had never heard of) and I really enjoyed it. When I got home, this was through my letterbox….what a spooky synchronicity…

Here’s a rainbow over my house. Sure, why don’t you make a wish, it’s worth a try.

Introducing my dog, Cuisle. The cutest Irish terrier there ever was ☘️💚☘️

First post…I guess hello should be the beginning.