Two weeks ago I sold my house and bought another. I had been thinking about it for about six months as for the past few years I have been struggling with a large mortgage. The process is by no means over – until contracts are signed there is still the potential for either…
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The first person I went to see at the West Cork Literary festival was David Mitchell, one of my all time favorite writers. Most famous probably for ‘Cloud Atlas’ which was made into a film. He arrived straight from the airport for a very late appearance at 9.45 pm, having agreed last minute to join…
DetailsSaturday 28 May 16 1 pm Holyhead, Wales. I’m sitting on the ferry at Holyhead waiting for it to leave port after my months residency in Stidwio Maelor in Wales. Sad to be leaving but already looking forward to coming back next year. Ideally to respond more to the landscape and atmosphere of the area-…
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Saturday 7th may This day last week I drove to Dunlaoire to get the ferry. I arrived there at 7.30 am and was very surprised at how little traffic there was. When I drove up to the Stena line gates everything was locked and there was not a soul in sight. I knew something had…
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Arise O sun God and Greet thy People: A week in Annamaghkerrig. Arise O sun God and Greet thy People. (Garrison Keillor) According to a composer I met in Annamaghkerrig these are the only words an artist wants to hear when he/she has unveiled a new work. He was staying in Annamaghkerrig for…
DetailsNovel progress: 19,300. Four weeks. Hmm, a bit behind… I am heading off to the Tyrone Guthrie centre in Annamakerrig this morning for a week. It was the home of the theatre director Sir William Tyrone Guthrie until he died in 1971, very kindly leaving it to the Irish state as an artist’s…
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New Years day 2016 I am starting 2016 in a different frame of mind to any I ever remember having before. All my life I have been an optimistic person and I have been grateful to whatever quirk of nature or nurture made me like that. I’d wake up in the morning looking…
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I wrote the following piece in Achill last week. I was exhausted after working hard all summer and the break was great. There was no wifi in the house so I paid regular trips to Marty Mac’s in the evenings. Needless to say I’ve been so busy since I got back that I’m only getting…
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We are all excited about the Junefest, the community based festival here in Newbridge which has taken place for the last few years at the beginning of June. This year it will run from 2nd- 19th June- with loads of events from history to astrology to music and art and theatre. There’s Luka Bloom in…
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In the olden days (ie about 20 years ago) there was that cosy image of curling up with a book in front of a fire but nowadays it’s much easier to turn on the central heating than dealing with coal and ashes and firelighters and there’s a guilt thing about taking time out…
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Some months ago I visited a friend’s house and her young daughter brought me to her playroom to show me her ‘Sylvanian families’ house. She did not have any of the furniture or Sylvanians for it and hoped to be able to save for them. The fervent tone of her voice reminded me of myself…
DetailsI’ve been thinking about the new thing Facebook has of putting together a summary of your year in pictures and posts. Something has stopped me sharing mine- list of successes for the year mostly. I’m not sure why – maybe I had a sense that it was overkill, like boasting again about the great things…
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