A Girl's Writing Is Never Done (c) Shauna Gilligan 2026
I’m delighted to have a poem “1922” included in Washing Windows Too: Irish Women Write Poetry (Eds: Nuala O’ Connor and Alan Hayes), a new anthology featuring 100 Irish women poets who have not published a full poetry collection.
Congratulations to all the contributors! And thank you to Nuala and Alan for including my poem.
Pre-order your advance copy from the wonderful Books Upstairs until 14 March after which the book will be available to bookshops island-wide.
Margo and I are delighted to be invited to sign copies of Mantles: Encountering Brigid (Arlen House) at 2pm this Saturday 11th December in The Maynooth Bookshop.
We would love if you joined us!
Note: Copies of Mantles are also available in all Kildare and Roscommon libraries to borrow – just check with your librarian for stock.
I’m delighted to announce that Mantles: Encountering Brigid (Arlen House: 2021, Dublin) is published! It is currently exclusively stocked by Maynooth Bookshop (shortlisted for Irish bookshop of the year in the Irish Book Awards, winner of the Leinster category) – buy it here.
Margo and I are delighted with the critical praise so far:
“….thoughtful, evocative…the book is a rich meditation on folklore, tradition and contemporary experience.” Lia Mills, author of Another Alice
“This book will inspire many others to search out and walk in Brigit’s footsteps.” Mary Condren, ThD. author of The Serpent and the Goddess, and National Director, Woman Spirit Ireland.
“The interweaving of artworks by Margo McNulty with the writings of Shauna Gilligan can only be compared with the overlapping plaited strands of Brigit the Goddess and Brigid the Saint.” Clodagh Doyle, Keeper, Irish Folklife Division, National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, Mayo.
We were delighted to partake in Samhain @ Sult in Kildare Town on Wednesday 24th November, the first public reading from Mantles. It was wonderful to read surrounded by such inspiring artwork by Sult Collective and to be accompanied by live music from James Blennerhassett. We hope to mark the publication with another event soon!
This publication forms the final part of the Creative Ireland funded collaboration between myself and artist Margo McNulty.
We are grateful to Alan Hayes at Arlen House, our publishers, and Kildare County Council and Roscommon County Council, our funders.
Shauna Gilligan Writer 