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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Percentages by Nuala O'Connor
The woman on the TV news is listing tariffs, but my ear is only half open to the drone of percentages due to land on chewing gum and vapes, communion wafers and negligées, on tinfoil, snowploughs, and gym equipment. Until, among all this, plus tents and motorcycles, the newsreader says there will be tariffs on poetry. I drop my fork, loaded with pear and melon chunks, and yelp, 'A tax on poetry?' then a farm flashes onto the screen, and I see hens upon hens upon hens. Nuala O'Connor's sixth novel, Seaborne, was shortlisted for An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year. Her fifth poetry collection, Menagerie, was published by Arlen House this year.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Beginner's pluck: Freelance writer and editor Anna Carey
Always into music and writing, Anna played in bands at college, and afterwards, but she made writing her career. During her MA, Anna gained a placement at the Sunday Tribune. 'I was there for five years. Then I freelanced for three years before working at The Gloss, as part of the launch editorial team,' she said. 'I've been freelancing since 2009, writing for The Irish Times, the Sunday Times, and the Sunday Business Post.' Between 2019 and 2024, she worked on a historical project with RTÉ. Anna's first book, The Real Rebecca, won the Senior Children's Book of the Year at the 2011 Irish Book Awards. Two of her following six books were shortlisted for the award. The Making of Molly, 2016, and The Boldness of Betty, 2020. During lockdown I was working on an adult novel about the film industry in the 1940s but I wasn't enjoying it. 'I was also trying a horror novel,' she said. Anna has always loved good romantic comedies, and in 2023, decided to write one: 'I pitched the idea, and began writing in spring last year, with an Arts Council grant. 'I loved writing it so much, I didn't want to finish.' Who is Anna Carey? Date/ place of birth: 1975/ Dublin. Education: Dominican College in Drumcondra; Trinity College, Dublin, German and history of arts; Dublin City University, MA in journalism. Home: Marino, Dublin. Family: Husband Patrick Freyne, journalist, and Anna's former bandmate. The day job: Freelance writer and editor. In another life: 'At Trinity, I dropped out of the Musical Society Chorus in favour of the college newspaper. I fantasise that I'd stayed and became a West End star.' Favourite writers: Joan Aiken; Eva Ibbotson; David Nicholls; Jaime Hernandez; Nancy Mitford; Marian Keyes. Second book: 'It's about Laura's sister Annie.' Top tip: 'Write the book you want to read.' Instagram: @urchinette The debut Our Song Hachette Books Ireland, €16.99 After college, Laura gave up music for a corporate job, while her bandmate, Tadhg, became a superstar. Now, he wants her to help him finish writing a song the duo started in college. Should she, when things had ended so badly? The verdict: I'm in love with this book! It taught me the mechanics and emotions of being in a band.
Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tributes flow for ‘unflinchingly honest' poet Paul Durcan on his death at age 80
Mr Durcan who was born in Dublin in 1944, was one of Ireland's best known contemporary poets. He published more than 20 books and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the Irish Book Awards in 2014. He was hailed as an unflinchingly honest and witty poetic voice by Tánaiste Simon Harris. 'In the quiet spaces of ordinary moments, he found inspiration. His body of work was both accessible and deep, and this is shown in his fantastic final selection of 80 of his finest poems, published in celebration of his 80th birthday last year,' he said in a tribute. 'With his passing, Ireland has lost one of its most distinctive and authentic voices — and his work, which often turned the mundane into the extraordinary, will live on for generations.' The Poetry Society, which publishes The Poetry Review, described Paul Durcan as 'an extraordinary storyteller'. Mr Durcan won many accolades, including the Patrick Kavanagh Award in 1975. His family said he would be sadly missed by his wife Nessa and his daughters Sarah and Siabhra, his son Michael and his sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, and his nine grandchildren. Speaking to the Irish Times, his daughter Siabhra said that her father's passing was 'very sudden' but that he had been unwell in recent years.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Renowned Irish poet Paul Durcan dies aged 80 as his legacy ‘will live on for generations' & tributes paid
ONE of Ireland's most renowned contemporary poets has passed away after six decades working in poetry. Acclaimed poet Paul Durcan passed away at the age of 80 this morning. Advertisement 2 Acclaimed Irish poet Paul Durcan passed away at the age of 80 Credit: Getty Images - Getty His family stated that he would be "sadly missed" by his wife Nessa, his daughters Sarah and Siabhra, his son Michael, his sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, and his nine grandchildren. Talking to The Irish Times, his daughter Siabhra revealed that her father's passing was "very sudden". She said: "He had been unwell in recent years, so he had spent the last several years in a nursing home in The funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date, the family stated. Advertisement READ MORE ON NEWS Tanaiste "In the quiet spaces of ordinary moments, he found inspiration. "His body of work was both accessible and deep and this is shown in his fantastic final selection of eighty of his finest poems, published in celebration of his 80th birthday last year. "With his passing, Ireland has lost one of its most distinctive and authentic voices - and his work, which often turned the mundane into the extraordinary, will live on for generations." Advertisement Most read in Irish News Durcan was born in Dublin in 1944 and began his He was Ireland Professor of Poetry from 2004 to 2007 and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement at the Irish Book Awards in 2014. His work is also known to younger audiences due to it being featured on the He was also the winner of the Whitbread Poetry Prize and the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award. Advertisement His publications include A Snail in My Prime, Crazy About Women, Greetings to our Friends in Brazil, and Cries of an Irish Caveman. Durcan also appeared on Van Morrison's 1990 album Enlightenment. DURCAN'S ARCHIVES Last year, the National Library of Ireland obtained his archive, which covers the period from the 1960s to present day. It also included hundreds of his notebooks, letters and cards. Advertisement The Director of the organisation described it as a collection of exceptional and importance. The library revealed that the archive shows Durcan as a prolific letter-writer and includes correspondence with famous writers, including Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel and John McGahern. 'SURREAL IMAGINATION' At the archive event last November, Durcan's friend Catriona Crowe said: "The great thing about him was he kept notebooks all the time. "If ever you were out having dinner with him, he'd have a notebook, and he might take it out and write down a line that struck him, or something came into his head. Advertisement "So they're all there, and they're kind of an invaluable resource for students of poetry. "The thing about Paul that singles him out, I suppose, is that you spend your time laughing when you're reading his books, because he has such a surreal imagination. "I mean, imagine writing a poem called 'Making Love Outside Aras an Uachtarain'. "He is a really interesting publicly engaged, poet, who loved giving readings, who responded very well to his audiences and who wrote very, very serious poetry that had a surreal and hilarious twist to it so he was constantly surprising." Advertisement 2 His legacy 'will live on for generations', Simon Harris said Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Extra.ie
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
RTÉ reveals first cast photo for Marian Keyes adaptation The Walsh Sisters
RT have revealed the first cast photo for their upcoming comedy-drama series The Walsh Sisters . The six-part series, which will air later this year, is based on the novels of best-selling Irish author Marian Keyes. Starring Louisa Harland, Caroline Menton, Danielle Galligan, Mirad Tyers and Stefanie Preissner, The Walsh Sisters follows the titular sisters – Anna, Rachel, Maggie, Claire and Helen – as they navigate the ups-and-downs of their late 20s and 30s. The cast also includes Aidan Quinn, Carrie Crowley, Jay Duffy, Samuel Anderson and Debi Mazar. 'It's impossible to overstate how thrilled I am with this production,' said Marian Keyes. 'Stefanie Preissner's scripts alchemised the vibe of my novels into a new and compelling thing.' 'This probably sounds like a strange thing to say but even if I wasn't involved in this, I'd be dying to see it,' she continued. 'I'm so grateful to all the individuals who worked so hard to make this beautiful series and I'm very excited for the world to see the finished product.' Keyes has sold over 40 million books and her work has been translated into 36 languages. She has won 5 Irish Book Awards and was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2022. She is considered among the most successful Irish novellists. The Walsh Sisters is produced by the multi-award winning studios Cuba Pictures and Metropolitan Pictures for RT in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflex Rights.
