On Reading, Exhibitions, Writing Life, Writing Festival, Short story collection

Out and About: ISLA Festival Instituto Cervantes

L-R Mary Costello, Catherine Dunne, Roger Mateos Miret, Katya Adaui (Photograph (c) Shauna Gilligan)

Portraying the Human was just one of the events of ISLA at the Instituto Cervantes in Dublin. ISLA brings together literary voices of Ireland, Latin America and Spain.

Portraying the Human was moderated by Irish writer Catherine Dunne who brought together the common threads and themes of works by Irish writer Mary Costello (A Beautiful Loan), Roger Mateos Miret (El Verano de los Inocentes) and Peruvian writer Katya Adaui (Aqui hay Icebergs/Here Be Icebergs).

One of the startling messages to emerge from the discussion and readings – and how great to hear the distinct work read aloud by each writer – was the importance of the life of the mind; how vital it is to write about what obsesses us or consumes us.

Writing – and reading – helps us make sense of our place in the world, like a pinning on a map, but it also shows us that growth is possible from suffering and gives sense to our observed world. Above all, as Catherine Dunne said, concluding the session: PAY ATTENTION!

Congratulations to all involved on such a wonderful event and ISLA Festival.

Contemplation, On Reading, Writers Read, Writing Life

Additional – personal and necessary – reading

While I occasionally post about some of my reading habits, there are, naturally, many books, articles and so on that I read without mentioning them in blogposts. I’ve noticed how many of these are personal writings that feel necessary reading right now.

Here are a few I’ve read this summer that use beautiful writing to explore personal experiences with societal/political/cultural structures which, though devastating at times, reflect something universal, shine a light, and speak truth to power.

Picture of “A Death in Malta” by Paul Caruana Galizia (Photo taken in Malta)
Picture of “Blunt Trauma” by Ivy Bannister
Picture of “Bequeath” by Melora Wolff

Collaboration, Exhibitions, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing Workshops

John Hewitt International Summer School 2026: Words and Heart

It was wonderful to be able to do two firsts this year: attend some of the John Hewitt International Summer School and visit beautiful Armagh.

View of Armagh from the Armagh City Hotel showing trees and on a hill in the distance city spires including those of the Cathedral.

I attended various readings which were, without exception, moderated beautifully, and provided moving explorations of our human experience. Sarah Gilmartin interviewed Éilís Ní Dhuibhne; Paul Maddern introduced readings by Moyra Donaldson and Connie Voisine, Jessica Traynor and Abeer Ameer; Wendy Erskine interviewed Jan Carson. Everyone was generous with their words and time.

The Freedom to Write Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann event on Wednesday 29th featured an incredible presentation from International Human Rights Lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC followed by an in-depth interview with Irish PEN’s Lia Mills. The audience was invited to write postcards of support for imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli – represented on stage by an empty chair – who has been imprisoned in Georgia since January 2025. How powerful are words and heart when we come together.

Photograph of two black-and-white images from Brigid O’Brien’s exhibition “Home” showing people at home, talking and smiling and in the second image in their garden

I also attended a beautiful exhibition “Home” by Brigid O’Brien – a taste above. And lastly, how could anyone visit a literary festival without coming home with a book haul of signed books? In the photograph below, just some of the books:

  • Connie Voisine “And God Created Women”
  • Wendy Erskine “The Benefactors”
  • Abeer Ameer “Inhale/Exile”
  • Moyra Donaldson “the thirteenth moon”
  • Susannah Dickey “Into the wreck”
  • Sinéad Morrissey “Among Communists”
  • Jan Carson “Few and Far Between”

Congratulations to Niamh McNally and all the John Hewitt International Summer School for a brilliant and friendly festival. I look forward to returning, and hopefully attending the whole Summer School. Brava!