Well, I have recovered a little. I was delighted at my award of the Poetry Ireland Tyrone Guthrie Centre Mid Career Bursary. It is a great honour and I am especially pleased that it comes at this time for me. I am also delighted to be in the company Rachael Hegarty and Dolores Stewart. Congratulations to them also! I will spend a week later on this year at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre working on poems towards my next poetry collection.

I am also pleased to have got word from Skylight 47 that my poem “Soothed” is forthcoming in Issue 12 to be launched in Galway in September. Many thanks to the editors.

My Country Diary piece on the Gobbins cliff path is out in today’s Guardian.

Thanks to Nichola Monk for organising the trip, with Ann Lightbody and the Queen’s Uni Bangor birders.

I have just got word that I have been awarded one of these! Needless to say, I’m utterly delighted. That’s it, no further details for now, but I’m really looking to the experience and the poems that could take flight!

Delighted to have received Cyphers 87 in the post today. I had to miss the launch at the Strokestown International Poetry Festival because it coincided with International Dawn Chorus Day (a lot of internationals in that sentence!). Such a shame! I would have enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate my poem Haecceity, which was included in this issue by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin (Ireland Professor of Poetry), who steadfastly continues to edit this inspiring magazine. It’s great also to be in the company of the likes of Rachael Hegarty, Eilish Martin & James Finnegan. Thanks also to the assistant and consulting editors, and  to Áinin Ní Bhroin.

A quick update also on Sunday’s Showcase in the Downpatrick Arts Centre. It was a wonderful afternoon, ably and warmly hosted by Olive Broderick. I was comforted and inspired by the Centre’s cat and wolf portraits! After John, Ray and myself read, and Martha sang (what a voice!), there followed a wonderful array of local talent, including some marvellous spoken word poets. Good to meet Colin Dardis and Geraldine O’Kane of Poetry NI also.  The whole experience was really enjoyable and affirming, a genuine celebration of the importance of the written word, and especially of poetry. Poems on a Sunday Afternoon resumes in the autumn.

I celebrated International Dawn Chorus Dawn by leading an early morning field trip around the Lagan towpath, as part of the Queens Open Learning programme. I was delighted with the turn-out, both human and avian. Among the choristers we encountered were blackbird, robin, chaffinch, wren, goldfinch, blackcap, greenfinch, blue tit, great tit, willow warbler, chiffchaff, grasshopper warbler, coal tit and dunnock. There were a few warning rattles from mistle thrush, and we got a splendid sighting of a silent song thrush; perhaps the cold turn in the weekend weather made them a little reluctant to serenade? Anyway, it was a lovely start to the day and wonderful to meet so many people interested in birds and appreciative of their song. Birds are inspirational ambassadors for message that we must protect biodiversity for the sake of all species, including our own.

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.