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Today I’m settling down with one of my Jennifer Johnston novels in honour of a great writer.

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This will be great because ⁦‪@paulmcveigh.bysky.social‬⁩ is great. So now you know www.waterstones.com/events/book-... ⁦ #irishwriters #books #shortstories‬⁩

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‘I hear her voice right now in my head. It was mellow, rich, smooth and honeyed. If she had done advertising voiceovers, you'd have bought anything that voice urged.’ My memories of coffee dates with the iconic #writer #JenniferJohnston #irishwriters www.e-pages.dk/irishindepen...

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If you do one thing today listen back to this interview with Ailbhe Smyth on the Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ www.rte.ie/radio/podcas...

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Ridiculously pleased to spot this sign on a Costa coffee shop door as I ducked out into the rain. Slán abhaile everyone this evening

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Currently reading

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Great to hear Ailbhe on @rteradio1.bsky.social just now! 🤩🎖️🇫🇷

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Irish girls were innocents abroad as they arrived in UK in their hordes to train as NHS nurses in the 1950s, 60s+70s. They left behind a conservative, controlling atmosphere and took a leap of faith. My review of a fascinating ⁦‪@FourCourtsPress.bsky.social‬⁩ #book in today’s Irish Independent

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The Edna O’Brien film Blue Road is a fascinating, considered, loving but not hagiographic, nuanced portrait of a magnificent and complex writer. Wonderful use of archive material especially 1930s children singing and playing. It’s a must-see. Well done to writer and director [email protected]

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#Taoiseach’s refusal to engage in serious #Dáil debate about #rent market is yet another bad sign re transparency in the new #Irish government. My @independent.bskyb.social column We need to talk about rent controls - not just deflect and bluster like the Taoiseach

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Happy Valentine’s Day from my favourite place (my reading nook)

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Met with a great bookclub to talk all things #Bronte at National Yacht Club #DúnLaoghaire. Reader, they gave me cake @lilliputpress.bsky.social

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Stormy out there but Roger Casement is standing his ground

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Is there a braver wee flower than the #snowdrop? No wonder it’s a symbol of hope #spring

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Intel invested €17bn in its Leixlip plant. Is it realistic that US multinationals like that will uproot? Probably not. But Trump’s regime makes it much more politically challenging for US corporations to establish new operations in Ireland. Analysis here: www.rte.ie/news/2025/02...

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Magnifique! Medal and woman both. And she wears it well. So proud to be there @MansionHouseDub.bsky.social as Ailbhe Smyth is awarded Légion d’Honneur by @FranceinIreland.bsky.social at a ceremony with Ambassador Céline Place. Huge turnout for this joyful recognition of her body of work.

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n a world of escalating global tensions and cyber attacks, it’s time for Ireland to get serious about its own #security and #defence. My column #Russia #neutrality #UN #Nato #defenceforces www.e-pages.dk/irishindepen...

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Got a #novel in you? Interesting in #writing #historicalfiction? I’m teaching this one-day masterclass @IrishWritersCtr.bsky.social Sat March 8 @LilliputPress.bsky.social irishwriterscentre.ie/courses/hist...

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Joseph O’Connor and what he might read to you #books @penguinbooks.bsky.social @dubraybooks.bsky.social

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My friend’s daughter (middle name #Bridget for her granny) made these delicious sponge cakes. Happy #LáFhéileBríde #Brigid #StBrigidsDay #Imbolc and a big shout out to all the Bridgets, Brigids, Bridies, Bredas, Brides and Bríds. Especially the Bridies because my mother was one.

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‘Prison taught me how to listen,’ says writer and prison teacher Carlo Gébler launching #AColdEye @newislandbooks.bsky.social @booksupstairs.bsky.social

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Eye-catching street #art Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners @dlrcc.bsky.social

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Toughest job in Cabinet and why

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The Ceann Comhairle needs to back down on her peculiar willingness to recognise the technical group as an opposition party before scenes in the Dáil degenerate further. This is on her.

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Micheál Martin and Simon Harris today lead a new government on the back of an opaque deal with “profoundly corrupt” Michael #Lowry. This does not serve the Irish people and does not serve democracy. My column #Dáil34 #Dáil #Ireland www.e-pages.dk/irishindepen...

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Could just as easily be 1525 as 2025 #Dublin #Dalkey #castles #Ireland

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Just because it suits Dáil arithmetic, are we all supposed to develop amnesia about “profoundly corrupt” (said the Moriarty Tribunal) Michael #Lowry? The key part he’s playing in government formation diminishes standards in public life and the weight we attach to a major inquiry

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#Kneecap represents an irreverent generation unshackled from the weight of the #Troubles and #Belfast’s history. My column #Oscars #Baftas www.e-pages.dk/irishindepen...

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Great to hang out with Paul McVeigh today at the Black Box in Belfast talking Charlotte #Bronte and then more Charlotte Bronte @lilliputpress.bsky.social

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My day is off to a good start. Coffee and a window seat on new improved #Enterprise a great eg of cross-border cooperation. I’m en route #Dublin to #Belfast to talk all things #Charlotte #Bronte ⁦‪⁦‪at BlackBoxBelfast.bysky.social ‬Lilliput.bsky.social #books

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Popped into ⁦‪@DubrayBooks‬⁩.bsky.social #DúnLaoghaire and signed some more copies of #Charlotte my #Bronte novel. Really appreciate their support. ⁦‪@Lilliput.bsky.social #books

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Sitting in @AbbeyTheatre.bsky.social waiting for #Emma matinee to begin #Austen. Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon

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Great talking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Kathy Clugston about #CharlotteBronte +her Irish connections ahead of my Wed lunchtime interview with @paulmcveigh.bsky.social #BlackBox in #Belfast. BBC interview is 35 mins into #TheTicket #books @lilliputpress.bysky.social www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

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My thought for today comes courtesy of Emily Dickinson: ‘The absence of the Witch does not/Invalidate the spell.’ #poetry #wisdom #lifelessons

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Today in our frosty garden. Isn’t nature wonderful?

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Elon Musk has been rabble-rousing in the UK and Germany but this week he turned his sights on Ireland. My column in @irishindependent.bsky.social

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A brilliant and insightful interview with @martinadevlinbooks.bsky.social on the Inside Books podcast, covering everything from Martina's writing life to her latest novel on Charlotte Brontë - listen to the episode below! 📚 soundcloud.com/insidebooks

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The #Bronte sisters wrote women characters with emotional depth who were independent and resourceful, like themselves.’ I talk to Sarah Gill about my fascination with the #Haworth #writers @LilliputPress.bsky.social www.image.ie/living/page-...

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Here’s an audio version of #Dubliners by #Joyce containing each story as a standalone. #TheDead is last. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVN_...

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If you do one thing today read #TheDead - the final, standout story in #Dubliners. Set today on the Feast of the #Epiphany (also #NollaignamBán) it features central character Gabriel Conroy’s own epiphany in this lyrical conclusion featuring #snow: death unites all. #Joyce #books

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A reminder it won’t always be #winter. I love this @dunlaoghaire.bsky.social street #art

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What I’m looking for in our next #president of #Ireland and why I think these #women would be worthy candidates to run for the office: ⁦⁦‪‬⁩Ailbhe Smyth, Susan McKay, Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Paula Meehan. I say why in my column @nwci.bluesky.social

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‘And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us new, untouched, full of things that have never been, full of work that has never been done, full of tasks, claims, and demands.’ -poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1892-1910). All worthy but to which I’d add: full of possibilities #2025

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments