A Girl's Writing Is Never Done (c) Shauna Gilligan 2026
I’ve been thinking a lot about the hard work of creativity, of life. How the best always seems the most simple and the clearest. How behind this clarity is years and years of graft and inspiration and struggle.
Ira Glass says “You just have to fight your way through that….”
This short video encapsulates all of this – take 2 minutes, 18 seconds out of your day and enjoy!
THE GAP by Ira Glass from Daniel Sax on Vimeo.
This is the week when there are so many “best of” lists that it feels like too much pressure to finish the already large to be read pile before engaging with these lists and adding even more to your to be read pile.
So I have decided to revisit books that have given me joy – without searching out books from my bookshelves but going on memory and finding books within easy reach.
What books remain with me, years after reading them…..A small pile. A delightful pile. A pile of well-read and well-worn books that await fresh eyes.
And one book, yes, the faded yellow Salinger at the top of the pile, from my teenage years when I wrote my name and followed it with an exclamation mark! And the second from my childhood – Watership Down. Both of these to hand as I have passed them on to my teenagers. The rest are more recent reads, but diverse and wonderful – poetry, non-fiction, short stories and a novel.
In advance of the 31st December …. Happy Reading and Happy New Year!
Duality was launched at Kildare Community Library on Friday, 11th October as part of The Kildare Readers Festival.
It was a great night with a warm introduction by Celine Broughal and a moving launch speech by Lucina Russell (Arts Officer County Kildare). The hard work in creating and collaborating melts away when artists and readers find joy and meaning in the work.
The audience questions were engaging and thought-provoking and provided great discussion.
Thank you to all who came along on the night, participated and supported us. We are very grateful. We are looking forward to further readings and exhibitions of the art work over the coming months and into 2020 – more details soon!
(L to R: Shauna Gilligan, Celine Broughal, Lucina Russell, Margo McNulty)
Photographs: Used with permission and thanks to Kildare Community Library/Kildare Readers Festival.
Shauna Gilligan Writer 