Tag: Poetry

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!

Collaboration, Exhibitions, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing News

Swift and Vanessa Festival 2026

I’m delighted to be taking part in two events in the Swift and Vanessa Festival in Celbridge, County Kildare.

On Thursday evening, July 16th, join me for a Literary Evening where I will interview Mary O’Donnell about her latest novel – which is brilliant, by the way – Sweep the Cobwebs off the Sky (époque press, 2026). Geraldine O’Brien will interview Martina Murphy about her DS Lucy Golden series. The event takes place in the Hunting Room in the gorgeous Castletown House. Book your tickets here.

On Saturday afternoon, July 18th, I’m interviewing Dearbhla Mescal about her debut publication, Finding Joy – in itself a joy – in the lovely Church of Ireland Christchurch. Book your tickets here.

The festival runs until 19th July and has an astonishing array of events for all ages and tastes. I look forward to participating and attending many of the events.

Contemplation, On Reading, Writers Read

And it’s reading and re-reading time…

Seven books on wooden stairs, list of books below this photograph.
  • Paul Maddern (ed) Queering The Green (poetry)
  • Mary O’Donnel Sweep the Cobwebs Off the Sky (novel)
  • Liz McManus Tiny Bruises (short stories)
  • John O’Donnell Mr Hoo and Other Stories (short stories)
  • John MacKenna The Lock-keeper’s Wife (novella)
  • Moyra Donaldson The Thirteenth Moon (poetry)
  • Katriona O’Sullivan Hungry (memoir)

The above photograph and list show some of my current reads and re-reads. I often re-read books that stay in my mind – whether it’s for beautiful writing, the love of a character, or to remind myself of how something was structured. I also return to anthologies, in particular, because it’s rare to read one cover-to-cover on first reading. Always (not almost always, but always) I will find a new treasure of a word, a line, a complete something that will give me a new perspective or feeling about what it means to be human.