Nuala Ní Chonchúir's Blog, page 15

QUOTABLE QUOTES

'Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read good books, have good sentences in your ears. Be by yourself as often as you can. Walk. Take the phone off the hook. Work regular hours.' Jane Kenyon

LONG GAZE BACK LAUNCH

Anne Enright launching the book (me taking pics in the background!)
Pic by The Liquor Rooms The Long Gaze Back launch last night was a big success: well attended by both writers and punters, lovely atmosphere in The Liquor Rooms, GREAT speeches by anthology editor Sinéad Gleeson (she referenced the Catherine/George furore) and by writer and launcher, Anne Enright. I so wish I had recorded Anne's speech. She spoke about gender bias in publishing and considered the way 'The cat sat on the mat' would be treated depending on whether a man or a woman had written it. Naturally, she was hilarious and pin-point accurate on the 'insightful' VS 'emotional' reactions it would get.

She also spoke about the first Field Day Anthology which famously neglected women writers. When Nuala Ó Faoláin challenged the editor Seamus Deane, he said 'I forgot.' Last night Anne Enright said, 'I don't know if they forgot or if they couldn't read.' Ó Faoláin hoped that ' the next time an anthologist bends to his task, he won’t be able to forget that there are watchful women out there.' There are, TG, the ever-watchful Sinéad Gleesons of this world.

Editor Sinéad GleesonI bought the anthology in Books Upstairs in the afternoon and devoured a few stories between the café there and dinner in Cornucopia. I read Eilís Ní Dhuibne's moving, funny and surprising story of a widow's grave-maintenance efforts. Lia Mills's Egypt-set story features a perimenopausal woman who is having to relearn herself. I also read June Caldwell's energetic baby-eye-view comment on the madness that goes on in Ireland's maternity services. I can't wait to read more. (Anne Enright subsequently read an extract from her story at the launch so I read the rest of that on my long bus journey back to the 'Sloe.)

Mariel Deegan of New IslandAs many of the writers who were there formed a circle and signed a huge pile of books for the publisher, New Island. (There are pics of this magic circle on Twitter - check out the venue's feed). It was great to see old pals Siobhán Mannion, Niamh Boyce, Eimear Ryan, June Caldwell, Mary Costello, Lisa McInerney, Eilís Ní Dhuibhne and Lia Mills. And to meet new-to-me writers Róisín O'Donnell and Anne Devlin. It was also good to meet Bert Wright in person and to chat with IWC Director Valerie Bistany, who has brought such energy to her role in that organisation.

This book would make an excellent Christmas present for the book-worm in your life. It's beautifully produced (hardback, gorgeous design by Martin Gleeson). It costs €19.99 and you can buy it here.

(The lighting in The Liquor Rooms was not conducive to taking pics so apols for the poor quality photos.)

IRELAND'S OWN - MISS EMILY REVIEW

I think everyone in Ireland is familiar with  Ireland's Own , an institution of a publication from Wexford. There is something nostalgic and sweet in its familiar comic-soft pages and retro covers. It's a homely magazine of history, folklore and features on everything from country singers to holy wells. Its tagline is 'The week wouldn't be the same without it!'.

Miss Emily being reviewed there earlier this month was a thrill - it definitely beats being featured in the RTÉ Guide. Big thanks to Dan Conway for a fantastic review and to my brother Ronan (and his auntie-in-law) for bringing it to my attention.

Click on the image and zoom in to read the review. It's a goodie.

SPIRIT OF FOLK 2015

Dunderry HouseThe Irish Times Book Club discussion at Spirit of Folk Festival in Meath, on Saturday, was about Miss Emily. Myself, Gary Quinn of the IT, and two book club readers (Sarah and Lorraine) had a discussion in front of a warm audience in the Hall of Heroes.


Admiring the fairy doors Juno tries archery Heart wishesThe Hall of Heroes The Irish Times Book Club in the Hall of Heroes

Bohemian Woods, who make beautiful fairy doorsWe arrived the night before and stayed in Dunderry, the big house in Dunderry Park, where the festival takes place. Our room was cosy but, naturally, there were a lot of shenanigans about the place which made it hard to sleep.


The fabulous Inni KSpirit of Folk is a small festival featuring re-enactors, music, archery, spoken word, lots of wellness stuff like yoga and massage, a great camp fire, willow sculptures etc. There is no beer tent (it's byo), there's a small selection of food vendors, and other stalls selling hippy clothes, silver jewelry, fairy doors etc.

We enjoyed the gorgeous weather as we wandered from field to field, listening to music and watching craft and battle demos. I was thrilled to see Inni-K perform live as I have been following her with interest this year. She didn't disappoint with her own moving songs plus a waulking song and a lively port à beul.

Juno ButterflySpirit of Folk is totally family friendly and there was a lovely atmosphere on site, with fairy woodlands to explore and a good children's area with macramé and face painting, among other activities. I'd recommend it to anyone for next year.

Thanks to the festival and especially to Gary Quinn of the Irish Times for having me along. Good, clean fun was had by all.

SUNDAY BUSINESS POST - MISS EMILY REVIEW

I had a fab time at the Spirit of Folk Festival in Meath and at the Molly Keane House in Waterford this past weekend. Blogpost to follow. I came home from my WiFi free weekend to find a review of Miss Emily in The Sunday Business Post, by the lovely Sarah Gilmartin. (Thanks to John Foyle for the pic). Click & zoom to read.

MISS EMILY VIRTUAL TOUR - #5

The wonderful writer Lia Mills interviews me about Miss Emily on the last stop on my virtual tour; we talk editing, Elena Ferrante and reviews. Here.

SPIRIT OF FOLK FESTIVAL, MISS EMILY GIVEAWAY etc.

I feel I am talking to the wall here but, as I use the blog as a class of archive for myself, on I go. There's lots happening this week (is there ever not?!).

I can't attend the Culture Night 'Make Them Visible' event in Dublin for Oxfam which features a new flash fiction of mine but, if you're in Dublin, you might like to go. Oxfam Books, Parliament Street, 6.30pm. More here.

The reason I can't go is that I will be in a field in Meath. This field. I am taking part in the Spirit of Folk Festival on Saturday with the Irish Times Book Club. Reading from Miss Emily and chatting to the truly lovely Mr Gary Quinn. We'll be on the Hall of Heroes stage at 5pm. The sun is meant to shine this weekend so hopefully it'll be a mud-free zone.

On Sunday I head to the Molly Keane House in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, to teach an all-day novel writing class. (Booked out). Molly's is a beautiful house and I'm delighted to be back there again.

Meanwhile Cathy McNally gave Miss Emily a great review on her blog. It's here. And she is giving away a copy of the book too.

YEATS: THE STOLEN CHILD

'WB Yeats: Sex, Death & the State of the Nation': I've a piece on 'The Stolen Child' on this Yeats celebration programme on RTÉ Radio 1 tonight. 10pm.

OXFAM REFUGEE STORY

I have a story called 'Blue Rose', about the beautiful woman above, in Oxfam's Culture Night exhibition in Dublin. It was published in the Irish Times yesterday along with responses to other photos of refugees by Eoin MacNamee and Rita Ann Higgins. Here.

VIRTUAL TOUR FOR MISS EMILY - #4

My virtual tour for Miss Emily takes me to the fantastically talented Rachel Fenton's blog today. Rachel isn't only a writer, she is an artist too and she is one of the most imaginative people I know. I'm delighted to stop-off with her to yap about the novel. Here.