A Girl's Writing Is Never Done (c) Shauna Gilligan 2026
I am delighted to be the MC for an afternoon of fine readings as part of Arlen House’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in Dublin’s Books Upstairs this coming Sunday, 5th October at 4pm sharp.
Writers Rosemary Jenkinson, Ger Reidy, and Celia de Fréine will be launching their latest publications and Alison Wells and TC Arkle (travelling from the UK for the event) will read from Fire: Brigid and The Sacred Feminine. We would be delighted if you could join us!
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)
I was honoured to have been awarded the Jack Harte Bursary 2025 for professional writers and am delighted to report that I had a most wonderful productive week of writing at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig.
To have an entire week free from everyday obligations and distractions, a week dedicated to thinking and talking about writing…and in gorgeous surrounds, with delicious and healthy food, and to be able to engage in new writing and editing is such a rarity. It was great also to connect with other creatives in a variety of disciplines, and an honour to visit some of the visual artists in their studios and see stunning work in progress. I am most grateful to Jack Harte, The Irish Writers Centre and Anna and her team at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig for this award – the gift of a week immersed in creativity.
Below are a few photos from walks around the house, grounds, and lake.
Shauna Gilligan Writer 