Another drink, said the Pooka, with the bark of a foreign tree entangled in his horns, an exile in the southern region of the mind, burnt by a strange sun, leaping between skyscrapers, dancing in a pub, drinking bitterness. Continue reading
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Most of the stories date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and many deal with miserable school experiences. You won’t be surprised to read of Bob Geldof tormenting the priests at Blackrock College by asking inconvenient religious questions, or Edna O’Brien recounting how she sinned by the hour Continue reading
Ó Chréanna Eile From Other Earths
Bilingual poems afford us the opportunity to appreciate both languages. What is most appreciated is the effort taken by these poets to make the English translations poems in their own right. This means that even if you do not read Irish, you can appreciate the themes, thoughts and imagery in this collection. Continue reading
Vale Edna O’Brien (1930-2024): an Irish country girl
Edna was a fearless teller of truths, a superb writer possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed. Continue reading
The Woman Who Lives Beside Ballymacpeake Mass Rock
by Michael Boyle The Woman Who Live Beside Ballymacpeake Mass Rock There are no half measureswith her. Even in gettinga cupán tae in yer hand.But the full spreadof fancy sandwichesand sweet cake at the table.Oh herself and the girlswill never pour ye outan ordinary a wee Black Bush.You’ll get a fill of the glassand then … Continue reading
New Irish Australian Research: Irish Women in the Antipodes
What struck me particularly about these stories was the spirit and fight of women in the face of discrimination and adversity. Continue reading
Srúill dhorcha Dark stream and other poems
D’fhiafraigh sí san amhrán/
arbh eol duit cad is grá ann
She asked in the song if you knew what love was but didn’t hear your answer, and the world went on its way, Continue reading
Flann O’Brien: an interview with Rónán McDonald
Joyce had a huge influence on Flann O’Brien. Like others of his generation, he struggled to get out from under the Joycean shadow Continue reading
Poems of Reflection from Colin Ryan
In that other universe you won’t make the same mistakes; Sa chruinne eile úd/
ní dhéanfaidh tú/
na dearmaid chéanna Continue reading
Three Irish Novels
For lovers of Tóibín’s Brooklyn, rediscover Eilis 20 years older… Continue reading
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