Can’t resist a little Gilbert Whitean tribute on hearing my first one of these of 2019 this morning!

Was in England last weekend, visiting friends for St Patricks, and we found our way to Adlestrop. I love the poem and the way it captures the ineffable; and the magic of its final rhyme. The railway station is long gone, but the bus shelter has a tribute. I was also glad to look out over the Oxfordshire countryside. There was a robin singing rather than a blackbird, but I did hear a warning chuckle …

My third Guardian Country Diary piece is on this lovely and intriguing spot.

I am delighted and honoured that my poem “After the Fact” is forthcoming in the 50th issue of Crannóg. Due for publication on 1st March in Galway! Many thanks to the editors.

My Country Diary piece on Oxford Island is in today’s Guardian:

Thanks to Pascal Downing at the Discovery Centre for all his insights and helpfulness.

My first contribution to The Guardian’s Country Diary appeared yesterday:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/06/country-diary-light-bellied-brent-geese-eelgrass-strangford-lough

Kez Armstrong, formerly Warden at Castle Espie, and Graham McIlwaine of the Irish Brent Goose Research Group were very helpful to me as I wrote this piece. Thanks to them both.

I am delighted that my poem ‘Itch’ is included in this new anthology of 250 Irish writers to celebrate 250 years of Dublin bookshop Hodges Figgis. I was honoured to read as part of the launch of the anthology at The John Hewitt Hillsborough Literary Festival last Sunday, with Ruth Carr, Medbh McGuckian, Deirdre Brennan and Kate Newmann. Thanks to Alan Hayes, editor.

I was delighted to be commissioned by The Guardian to write a short piece on the Sperrins for a feature on wild places. Although I no longer live there, the Sperrins will always be close to my heart, so it was great to have the chance to sing their praises.

Check out the piece at:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/apr/19/11-uk-best-wild-places-chosen-by-outdoor-experts-walking-cycling-adventure

Look what was lying on my mat when I got in from teaching in Dungannon today! Galway’s Skylight 47 with my poem Sehnsucht secreted inside. My first time to hold this publication in my mitts and what a gorgeous layout and style of publication. Great to be in company so many esteemed writers and many thanks to the editors, Bernie Crawford, Nicki Griffin, Marie Cadden and Ruth Quinlan.

I am delighted and honoured that the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has given me a grant from the General Art Award Scheme (National Lottery funded) under the Support for the Individual Artist Programme. This will contribute towards the costs of completing a draft of my first novel. Ironically, I received word of the award, just as my prose writing group were meeting. These folks (you know who you are!) have been such an important support and inspiration to me as I have been writing this novel, that it felt only right that they were among the first to know and to share the good news with.

I would also especially like to thank Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama, for the consideration given to my application, and ACNI’s generosity and support, especially in these straitened and uncertain times. It will make a real difference to me and to my novel.