Tag: The Lonely Crowd

Contemplation, On Reading

Books of the Year 2025

I was delighted when John Lavin of the great Lonely Crowd asked me to write about my book of the year. Over the past year I’ve read so many great books, both newly published, and classics. I’m currently reading another brilliant one (Tania Hershman’s It’s Time: A Chronomemoir Guillemot Press, 2025). So how did I narrow my list down? I selected a fiction and a non-fiction book that chimed with each other and touched on something akin to magic, in how these two texts explored the body, and creativity, and pathways to and of living.

Check out the Lonely Crowd‘s Books of Year Part 1, Part 2 (where you’ll find my recommendations), and Part 3.

Wishing everyone continued happy reading. May the written word bring you peace and comfort in these last weeks of 2025 and into the new year of 2026.

Image of a sandy path leading out of a forest towards a beach with the sea in the distance, Wexford. Photograph (c) Shauna Gilligan
New Publication, Writing News

Poet of the month over at The Lonely Crowd

I’m honoured to be Poet of the Month for August over at The Lonely Crowd. Many thanks to editor Dr John Lavin for accepting my three poems. Read about my process here.

The first poem, “Self-Butchery In Two Parts”, looks at changing bodies, surgery, and personal V medical approaches to health. You can listen to me reading the poem on the same page.

The second poem, “Daughter, Frizzante (In Padova)“ explores my changing relationship with my adult daughter, and contemplates the roles of mothers and daughters separated by geography.

Finally, the third poem, “Rule of Thirds” touches again on my interest in female relationships. Here I move beyond my own life and attempt to step into “incarceration time” (where the day is set out in thirds) by imagining a fictional imprisoned mother’s wishes for her free daughter, on the cusp of adolescence.

The Lonely Crowd also feature a short story of the month, such as August’s story by Lisa Blackwell. Why not scroll through the great selection of diverse work or purchase one of their excellent journals.

Author Photo on The Lonely Crowd: by Ger Holland (taken at The Irish Writers Centre, December 2024)