Category: Contemplation

Contemplation, Writers Read

Reading and Consideration

Now that the brighter days are here (though they have already started to shorten), I’m starting another reading and consideration bout; a lovely mix of stories, poetry, philosophy, essays, fiction and non-fiction. I assembled the pile for physical balance rather than any particular order. The following books appear from top to bottom in the photograph above:

  • Mary O’Donnell Walking Ghosts (Mercier, 2025)
  • Mary Oliver A Poetry Handbook (HarperCollins, 1994)
  • Max Porter Shy (Faber, 2023)
  • Susan Sontag As Consciousness is Harnessed to Flesh (Picador, 2012)
  • Nóirín Ní Riain Sacred Rituals (Hachette, 2023)
  • Greg Dinner Fragments (Ogham & Dabar Books, 2025)
  • Gerald Dawe Catching the Light (Salmon, 2018)
  • Philip Marsden Under a Metal Sky (Granta, 2025)
  • Jan Zalasiewicz How to Read a Rock (The History Press, 2022)

Contemplation

Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann Statement on Gaza

Irish Times headline 05/06/2025 (Link below)

The statement was covered in mainstream media such as the Irish Times, the Irish Independent (Martina Devlin), and the Sunday Independent with a short but powerful article by Co-Chair of Irish PEN, Dr Liz McManus.

According to PEN International (02/06/2025) this has now been the deadliest war for writers since the second World War.

The Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann Statement on Gaza opens with the words of Fatima Hassouna, writer, photographer, and journalist killed in Gaza on 16 April 2025: ‘If I must die, I want a resonant death… a death that the whole world will hear’. It then goes on to say:

We, the undersigned writers of the island of Ireland, call for immediate action to bring an end to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Since 7 October 2023, at least 181 journalists, 120 academics, and 23 writers have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon, making it the deadliest period for journalists (173 Palestinian, two Israeli, and six Lebanese; source CPJ updated on 28 May 2025; see also The Guardian) […]

[…] We stand in solidarity with Palestinian, Jewish, and Israeli people who are opposing the genocide perpetuated by the current Israeli government […]

Please take a few moments to read the full statement.

Also consider becoming a member of Irish PEN/ PEN na hÉireann. The aims of Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann are to promote friendly co-operation among writers in every country in the interests of literature, responsible freedom of expression and international goodwill.

Contemplation, On Reading, Writers Read, Writing Life

Brevity and Letting Words Sit

I was delighted to be able to attend a number of literary events recently – it’s not often that I am in a position to do so – and whilst in Strokestown for the Strokestown International Poetry Festival and in Maynooth Bookshop for Mary O’Donnell’s launch, I picked up some gems of poetry and short story collections.

Photograph showing the covers of the seven books listed below

As a predominantly long-form prose writer, I treasure the chance of brevity, beauty, and letting words sit for a while. Here’s my reading list:

  • Nuala O’Connor Menagerie (Arlen House) – poetry
  • Vona Groarke Infinity Pool (Gallery Press) – poetry
  • Mary O’Donnell Walking Ghosts (Mercier Press) – short story collection
  • Alan Hayes and Nuala O’Connor (eds) Washing Windows V (Arlen House) – poetry (by 303 poets – and I’m delighted to have a poem in here!)
  • Celia de Fréine Even Still (Arlen House) – short story
  • Noelle Lynskey Featherweight (Arlen House) – poetry
  • Eilish Martin ! All’arme/? And what…if not (Macha Press) – poetry (stunning art work and production)