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Cork Stories
Cork Stories, edited by Madeleine D’Arcy and Laura McKenna, is a collection of short fiction set throughout the neighbourhoods of Cork city and county by writers who live or have lived in Cork. It is a sister anthology to Belfast Stories, Galway Stories and Galway 2020. Some of the stories present vivid portraits of the neighbourhoods using specific landmarks and detail; others capture the spirit of the neighbourhoods and its people. Together the stories celebrate Cork and the people who live there. Writers featured in Cork Stories Kevin Barry, Tadhg Coakley, Danny Denton, Martina Evans, Marie Gethins, Danielle McLaughlin, Oonagh Montague, Mary Morrissy, Grainne Murphy, Jamie O’Connell, Mel O’Doherty, Eileen O’Donoghue, Anne O’Leary, Tina Pisco, Sean Tanner, William Wall and Fiona Whyte.
198 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 28, 2024
Cork Stories published April 23rd with Doire Press and is a marvellous anthology consisting of eighteen short stories collated and edited by Madeleine D'Arcy and Laura McKenna. Location is the key connection between all these stories with each one based in the city or county of Cork. All contributors, a mix of well-established and less well-known writers, have some link to the city, all having lived at some point in Cork, and in many cases, still do.
The idea for this collection stemmed from the fact that Doire Press had previously published Galway Stories (2013) and Belfast Stories (2019). Madeleine D'Arcy saw an opportunity and, with the support of Doire Press and the assistance of Laura McKenna, the project was born.
Cork has a wealth of writers that we love to celebrate via a myriad of festivals, our wonderful bookshops and a culture that has always given space for the written word. With playwrights and writers, poets and bards, singers and musicians, actors and entertainers, the city is a great place for many to hone their trade.
Cork Stories features the work of writers that will be familiar to some of you, such as Kevin Barry, Gráinne Murphy, Jamie O'Connell, Danny Denton and so many more, but it is also an honour to read the work of writers who are stepping up and bringing their own twist to the form. The short story is said to be a challenge to perfect as within a few pages, the reader needs to be immediately immersed and spat out the other side, with a feeling that they have read something complete and contained. As with any collection there are some stories in Cork Stories that have a greater impact than others but I do think that the joy of such an anthology is that pick'n'mix idea of catering to the varied tastes of the readers.
A diverse assortment of fiction, Cork Stories highlights the unique charm and character of Cork through the voices of those who have walked its streets. With a mix of contemporary and historical narratives, this vibrant blend is a wonderful addition to this series and is a treasure trove of storytelling, a really timeless compilation.
The idea for this collection stemmed from the fact that Doire Press had previously published Galway Stories (2013) and Belfast Stories (2019). Madeleine D'Arcy saw an opportunity and, with the support of Doire Press and the assistance of Laura McKenna, the project was born.
Cork has a wealth of writers that we love to celebrate via a myriad of festivals, our wonderful bookshops and a culture that has always given space for the written word. With playwrights and writers, poets and bards, singers and musicians, actors and entertainers, the city is a great place for many to hone their trade.
Cork Stories features the work of writers that will be familiar to some of you, such as Kevin Barry, Gráinne Murphy, Jamie O'Connell, Danny Denton and so many more, but it is also an honour to read the work of writers who are stepping up and bringing their own twist to the form. The short story is said to be a challenge to perfect as within a few pages, the reader needs to be immediately immersed and spat out the other side, with a feeling that they have read something complete and contained. As with any collection there are some stories in Cork Stories that have a greater impact than others but I do think that the joy of such an anthology is that pick'n'mix idea of catering to the varied tastes of the readers.
A diverse assortment of fiction, Cork Stories highlights the unique charm and character of Cork through the voices of those who have walked its streets. With a mix of contemporary and historical narratives, this vibrant blend is a wonderful addition to this series and is a treasure trove of storytelling, a really timeless compilation.
September 5, 2024
I hate short stories, but if it about my favourite author or my native city I will persevere . With this collection of 18 stories it was the latter. Based not just in the city but the county as well, there is a fine selection of writers from the unknown to the known.
Each story is a slice of life , and with that there are some sensitive topics. From the sublime to the ridiculous and all that can be fitted in between.
Ever engaging, it is still has not cured me of my hatred as I wanted all of them to be longer .
Each story is a slice of life , and with that there are some sensitive topics. From the sublime to the ridiculous and all that can be fitted in between.
Ever engaging, it is still has not cured me of my hatred as I wanted all of them to be longer .
March 9, 2025
Well, how could anything from Cork be less than five stars?!
Any time there is a collection of anything, there will be things you love more than others. Not every story in here was my cup of tea, but they are all very well written and there wasn't anything I'm not glad I read.
I particularly enjoyed Tadhg Coakley's Pure Dote, managing to move me near to tears within all of 8 pages, but there were several others that I really enjoyed, and one, Black Dog Running by Sean Tanner, that I'm going to be lending the book to someone simply to read this alone.
Any time there is a collection of anything, there will be things you love more than others. Not every story in here was my cup of tea, but they are all very well written and there wasn't anything I'm not glad I read.
I particularly enjoyed Tadhg Coakley's Pure Dote, managing to move me near to tears within all of 8 pages, but there were several others that I really enjoyed, and one, Black Dog Running by Sean Tanner, that I'm going to be lending the book to someone simply to read this alone.
September 15, 2024
I stumbled upon the Bantry Bookshop during the West Cork Literary Festival, where I picked up a copy of Cork Stories. As an American raised by an Irish woman born and raised in Cork, these short stories provided me with a sense of connection to my past, and to the mother I lost years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed them all.
May 31, 2024
A collection of short stories based around the city and county of Cork. Like a bag of mixed sweets, some were more appealing than others. In reality I principally bought it because Mary Morrissy had contributed a story, and hers certainly did not disappoint.
June 23, 2025
4 stars for CORK and 1 bonus star for mention and accurate representation of the ICON mathematician Mary Everest Boole!!! Most of the stories are very cute and overall very enjoyable.
November 11, 2025
This was a book that was on my radar for a while. I love short stories, I live in Cork, and a lot of the writers featured here are writers i really like.
It was really lovely reading about familiar places and the character and characters of Cork were evoked so well through these stories.
The one that has stayed with me the most is Gráinne Murphy’s story, “Nothing Surer” about an old man living in Kinsale going about his day. It reminded me a lot of When the Cranes Fly South, which I read recently and also loved.
I also loved Kevin Barry’s story, “On Buxton Hill”; it’s got his unique stamp and he conveys the spirit of people in Ireland so well in all their eccentricities and foibles.
I enjoyed all the stories, not least because they were truly Cork stories. The place names, the accents, the people and situations were all on my doorstep, making me connect all the more. But even if this weren’t the case, this would still be a great collection. Would someone from, say Dublin, enjoy it as much as I did? Or even England? I’m not sure but the quality of each story is reason enough for anyone to pick it up. And sure it’s Cork, like! What’s not to love?!
It was really lovely reading about familiar places and the character and characters of Cork were evoked so well through these stories.
The one that has stayed with me the most is Gráinne Murphy’s story, “Nothing Surer” about an old man living in Kinsale going about his day. It reminded me a lot of When the Cranes Fly South, which I read recently and also loved.
I also loved Kevin Barry’s story, “On Buxton Hill”; it’s got his unique stamp and he conveys the spirit of people in Ireland so well in all their eccentricities and foibles.
I enjoyed all the stories, not least because they were truly Cork stories. The place names, the accents, the people and situations were all on my doorstep, making me connect all the more. But even if this weren’t the case, this would still be a great collection. Would someone from, say Dublin, enjoy it as much as I did? Or even England? I’m not sure but the quality of each story is reason enough for anyone to pick it up. And sure it’s Cork, like! What’s not to love?!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews