@munsterlitcentre.bsky.social Super Cork International Short Story Festival running again with its usual style and international as well as local flavour. Delighted to read my work there @mercierpress.bsky.social @epoquepress.bsky.social

Mary O’Donnell: Eastern practices like reiki may not cure the common cold, but that doesn’t mean they are without merit www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

If this is just as it appears to be, these guys are every bit as nad as the Taliban

Yes!

Thanks @eatthestorms.com and let's keep stormin'!

@jacqbetula.bsky.social has lined up a really interesting collection of events at Circling the Square (see below). It's a delight for me to also take part with the poetry tribe!

POETS! Next week award-winning poet and facilitator @markgranier.bsky.social will be kicking off his beginners course 'Poetry for the Curious' online! irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/poet...

Super article here in @irishtimes ‘Gotcha’ claims about Heather Humphreys’ husband have no place in modern Ireland www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

I'm looking forward to this very much!

Contrast this man's home—then and now! FREE PALESTINE

FREE PALESTINE! SPEAK, MARCH, REFUSE TO WORK, REFUSE TO BE SILENT!

The Aosdána General Assembly took place yesterday, and here's a shot of some of the gathering who attended this all island, inclusive affiliation of artists from many disciplines. Thanks to the Registrar and Asst Registrar for heading up the day long occasion @aosda.bsky.social

I'm very much looking forward to reading from my poetry at this wonderful festival, which every year remembers our great poet and friend Dennis O'Driscoll. With thanks to @jacqbetula.bsky.social @mercierpress.bsky.social @epoquepress.bsky.social @poetryireland.bsky.social

So delighted to be part of this!

‘Blood pooled in the palm of her outstretched hand and a single red tear rolled down her wrist. Truth be known, it turned his stomach. She had been crying and her knickers were on the bathroom floor.’ Read ‘Knickerbocker Glory’ by Lisa Blackwell. thelonelycrowd.org/2025/08/10/s...

On Sundsy Miscellany @sundaymiscellany.bsky.social tomorrow! Thanks to producer Sarah Binchy

And from reviewer @lorrainecourtney.bsky.social

In the Sunday Independent today. With thanks to Lorraine Courtney! @lorrainecourtney.bsky.social

I'll be speaking about my short stories on Arena @rtearena tonight @writing.ie @julianday.bsky.social @irishstudiesshu.bsky.social @speccoll-kuleuven.bsky.social @wakeforest.bsky.social @booksireland.bsky.social @marycostello.bsky.social @mercierpress.bsky.social

Friday night, United Artists Club, I'm giving a reading from my short story collection WALKING GHOSTS & being interviewed by woman-about-town and superb poet Enda Wyley @mercierpress.bsky.social @writing.ie @molimuseum.bsky.social @lcollins232.bsky.social @thestinging.bsky.social

I am happy to be included in the Versopolis listing of poets from Ireland, but more than anything, I am profoundly grateful to @maryodonnell.bsky.social for writing such a generous and incisive short essay on my work. Thank you so much Mary 🙏🍃 www.versopolis.com/poet/580/lee...

What outstanding news! Eilis Ni Dhuibhne new Laureate fir Fuction!

Wexford Dog Days of July

All welcome at Dublin's United Artists Club, July 26th, when I'll be interviewed by the talented writer/poet Enda Wyley and will also give a reading. Free event. Summery readings, future dystopia, and luck or misfortune in love! @mercierpress.bsky.social @writing.ie @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social

More reasons to stay in Ireland in July and August. No queuing for culture in 40C temps. Just this.

A Tired Man by Attila József, translated from Hungarian by George Gömöri and James Atlas.

Cullenstown Strand, where the river pushes into the sea

Thank you @mariegethins.bsky.social and good to meet!

A poem set on the south Wexford coast

And a happy Midsummer night to us all! 🌙 #laphraoigwhiskey

I attended the launch of @davidbrennan.bsky.social lsunch in @Winding_Stairs Bookshop last night. A brilliant occasion to set this highly original novel off into the ethers! @epoquepress.bsky.social

My new short story collection, plus the review header . . . #WALKINGGHOSTS @mercierpress.bsky.social @univie.ac.at @thelondonmagazine.bsky.social @writersweek.bsky.social

Something to soothe, even temporarily, in harsh, cruel times.

It was unfortunately inevitable. Without unequivocating international support, little can change to reverse the situation.

Spread the love and acceptance #pridemonth

AND WHAT DO WE DO? In Netanyahu’s grotesque world view, even Gaza’s four year-olds are barbarians www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

BANSHEE issue 19 is out. I'm thrilled to have an essay in there. With thanks to editor @mollyhenningsen.bsky.social and all the b'shees!

At last! Poetry guidance that encourages the use of bazookas! www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the...

My short story collection was launched last night in Hodges Figgis and it was jammers. So grateful to Dee at @mercierpress.bsky.social Prof Paul Delaney TCD, cousins, friends, writer troopers like me, Marc Gijsemans for pics and Alice of @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social

Kildare Sunday

And the first launch event is in the Maynooth Bookshop on Wednesday @6.30!

Art of Ageing, my article in today's Gloss Magazine @sophiegrenham.bsky.social @dublinbookfest.bsky.social @cauverymadhavan.bsky.social @irishexaminer.bsky.social

Writing! Ageing! So what! But the people I talked to hold a range of views on the subject @mercierpress.bsky.social In The Gloss on Thursday

“Do you think male authors have to worry about relatability? No. They get to let the work speak for itself.” Great piece by @arabellesicardi.bsky.social, that chimes with women writing essays/NF that draw on their lives. arabellesicardi.substack.com/p/be-honest-... HT: @alexanderchee.bsky.social

Good news on new publications including my own @mercierpress.bsky.social @martindoyle.bsky.social @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social @dubraybooks.bsky.social @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social @thebookcentre.bsky.social @writing.ie

@maryodonnell.bsky.social on the inspiration behind the poems ‘Tenderness’ and ‘The Walls of the Heart Show Graffiti’, published in Issue Fourteen. thelonelycrowd.org/2025/04/12/k...

My new collection of short stories 'Walking Ghosts' (Mercier Press), author's copies arrived today! With thanks to Ed Dee Collins. Looking forward to a few book hooleys incl in the Maynooth Bookshop and Hodges Figgis. Dates n details next week!