Category: On Reading

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)

On Reading

January Reading

Some of my reading for the new year: a lovely mix of poetry and prose. The photograph shows books (from top to bottom) by: Celia de Fréine, Isabel Allende (my book swap from the Irish Writers Centre Nollaig na mBan event), Maeve O’Sullivan, Samantha Harvey, Susannah Dickey, Dawn Watson, fran lock, Anne Tannam, Patrick Chapman, Neil Hegarty, and Deborah Levy.

On Reading, Writers Read

The Listeners: Reading and Open Mic

L to R: Daragh Bradish, Jean O’Brien, Shauna Gilligan, Eithne Lannon seated in Revels, Rathfarnham at The Listeners.

Thanks to poets Daragh Bradish and Ron Carey for the invitation to read as a guest writer at the November Listeners session in Revels in Rathfarnham. I enjoyed reading from Mantles and discussing all things Brigid.

It was a great evening and so lovely to hear poetry from Jean O’Brien, Darragh Bradish, Maurice Devitt, Eamon Mag Uidhir and Eithne Lannon among others. I look forward to the next Listeners session in December!