A selection of testimony from non-survivors I held my son’s head under the water until he drowned, so that he wouldn’t die alone out there. Also, the screaming is not something you would want a…
Tagged By Irish Poetry
A Few Words about the 2012 Summer Edition of The Stinging Fly
In the editorial of the 2012 summer edition of the Irish literary magazine The Stinging Fly guest editor Dave Lordan reminds us of writing’s inglorious history – its bureaucratic origins in the formation of empire…
Fáilte Romhat
Fáilte romhat And after the handshake it emerged he’d also been using coins with her picture on it and even accepting post from `the ‘Royal Mail’. He’s even been laughing, like the rest of us,…
Writers shouldn’t ever feel too proud or glorious. We should remember our horrible origins
The following is my editorial in the Summer 2012 issue of the Irish literary magazine The Stinging Fly, which I am guest editing. Writers shouldn’t ever feel too proud or glorious. We should remember our…
Anatomy of a Public Outcry
Anatomy of a Public Outcry Those with short, uncommented upon hair but exquisite tax returns, cannot forgive you being regularly mistaken for Jesus, or the lead singer in Poison. The ninety eighth caller to Four…
Speech by Clare Daly T.D. at the Dublin launch of Kevin Higgins’ Mentioning the War
Speech by Clare Daly, Socialist Party & United Left Alliance T.D., on Wednesday June 6th, 2012 at Dublin launch of Mentioning the War: Essays & Reviews (1999-2011) by Kevin Higgins. ‘I have to say I…
I have been reading Sarah Clancy’s: Thanks for Nothing, Hippies
For a long time it seemed that Irish poetry could be about anything from pisspots to pig-slaughtering but it could not be about politics. There were notable exceptions of course – John Montague’s magnificent Rough…
Son of Capitalism
Son of Capitalism I am. My first name: Crisis. I’ve made of every taxi driver, every hairstylist an economist; they know now not to buy Italian, sovereign debt. Fifty five months ago this morning, the…
Airport
AIRPORT After the Report of the Mahon Tribunal What you have heard is true. But don’t let them cry out as we leave. Don’t spare them indignation and disgust as we depart. For the television…
Cruiser
Cruiser When the boat pulls into Lecarrow Harbour shadows fall on smaller craft. The skipper, high on his fly bridge, bow-thrusts his way to the quay wall. Firm above him rises the mast for VHF…
When You Came Home This Evening
When You Came Home This Evening Love, your hat was a toothpaste top unscrewed to reveal hair crazier than your mother. Your nose was a sick baby Robin and your knees two creaking floorboards. Your…
Review of Smith and Reilly: Arise and Go
Album Review: Arise and Go, Stephen James Smith and Enda Reilly, 2011 (on iTunes, on Facebook). Stephen James Smith- SJS to the scene- is one of the wonderboys of Irish Spoken Word. I first met him…
The Kindest Revolution?
A review of Ghost Estate by William Wall, Published by Salmon Poetry 2011 ‘…& are we supposed to sympathise when the gentry find themselves in the same boat or plane as everyone else?’ From ‘Job…
Considering The Issues
Considering The Issues If you got (but never opened) an envelope from a convicted smuggler, which turned out to contain five thousand Euro you knew nothing about. If you know what you think it’s okay…


