A bit of fiction fatigue after lots of judging reading, so cleansing my palette with the poems of Thomas Kinsella, a writer I admire so very much.

Bob Monkhouse-esque.

Reminds me that I was surprised to find that in the National Portrait Gallery in London, there's a painting of Pegg Woffington.

I know disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes, but, trust me, not winning the league/a European trophy is in the 'world's tiniest violin' category when it comes to the experience of most football clubs.

Saw this on the FB Bohs fan page – by Pierce Richmond.

Tragically, I can't go to this, but you should.

Student protesters, May 22, 1989, Tiananmen Square. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I still see this photo and feel their hope.

My son had his vaccines today and one kid in his class wore his uniform instead of the tracksuit he was supposed to wear, so had to go do his vaccines topless. Hopefully he'll have lived that down within fifteen years or so.

It's impossible to have a lovely cup of tea without declaring it a lovely cup of tea.

Helen, Annie & Laura drifted apart at 18 & are now drawn back together, but can old friends ever let us become new people?
If stories of friendship & regret, with added family tangles, are your thing, you can preorder #Greener from your local bookshop or online 🫶
Out 18/4/24 🍃

This. Huge congratulations to Ana Paula Maia and Zoë Perry, as well as to the incredible other presses and titles on the shortlist. Our thanks to the judges and to the Republic of Consciousness Prize team, for their hard work, diligence, and a fantastic evening last night.

I finished this lovely book yesterday. It celebrates the simple things in life and follows the friendship between Leonard and Hungry Paul who are two quiet, ordinary men living in and navigating a noisy world. A book full of warmth and wisdom. Mumblin' Deaf Ro Bluemoose Books

Between Clontarf Rd station and Connolly there's a construction about the size as the Moni Stand at Dalymount, but it's used only for keeping a digger dry.

Edinburgh, Monday.

Just a little reminder that Rita Bullwinkel will be in the UK on 20 and 21 June. Catch her in London @dauntbooks Marylebone High St and Bristol Storysmith discussing her knock-out novel HEADSHOT🥊
Tickets available now, details here👇🏻
dauntbookspublishing.co.uk/rita-bullwinke…

I wrote about Patrick deWitt’s novels for London Review of Books lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/…

A few tickets remaining for Snowflake, a celebration, Thursday 18 April at Samuel Beckett Theatre, 7pm. Booking :
eventbrite.ie/e/one-dublin-o…