COMING SOON!!! to a bookshop near you and online from doirepress.com
My debut poetry collection, This Little World
Launching on 17 June 2017 in Galway. More details to follow!
Last weekend was spent in the company of dear friends in London.
The timing was deliberate: Una & Mairead treated me to a visit to the Vanessa Bell exhibition.
I’ve a long lasting fascination with the Bloomsbury set. I’ve played Vita Sackville -West & Virginia Woolf, so I’ve read a lot written by and about them. But I’ve always had an affection for Vanessa – the other Stephen girl.
So it was wonderful to head to Dulwich on a sunny April day and take in what is the most comprehensive solo exhibition of her work since her death in 1961.
The range of work is wonderful: from still lives to landscapes; abstract to portraits.
Also included are designs she worked on with Duncan Grant, family photos, and letters – such as the one above written to Roger Fry in 1914.
And – of particular interest to this fan of the Two Vs – the dust jackets designed for the Hogarth Press:
The exhibition runs until 4 June. The Dulwich Gallery is set in lovely leafy grounds, with outdoor seating and great coffee. You could spend a day away from the city mayhem in an oasis of flowering calm, and visit Vanessa at the same time.
Go on, treat yourself.
There are so many troubles in the world and so many loud voices of state trying to muffle, or murder, legitimate protest.
In parts of eastern Europe, the Right has been gaining steadily; especially in Hungary. This is disturbing, and also sad when we consider that the permitted movement of other nationalities through Hungary helped to contribute to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now Orban’s Hungary is shutting down dissent, borders, and institutions dedicated to independent thinking.
The EU must act decisively. NOW.
I’m glad to be a signatory of this letter of protest along with many others:
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-guardian/20170413/281887298173789
Many thanks to poet George Szirtes for organising this letter, and for his consistent commitment to highlighting events taking place in the land of his birth. Köszönöm, George.
Basically, I’m getting on with it.
I’ve been preparing the manuscript of my first poetry collection. And I invested in a week at beautiful Annaghmakerrig to give myself a good run at re-drafting newer poems, as well as looking over the older ones. Of course, being where I was, the first thing I did after unpacking was to sit down and write a new poem. It was a great start to the week and set me up well for the next day’s writing. No trips off on the gatch this time, apart to Newbliss for the newspaper.
It was wonderful being back in ‘my old room’! They’re very good to me in that place. I had tweeted Miss Warby to let her know I was on my way. She tweeted ‘Welcome, darling.’ when I arrived! Spoilt, I was, pure spoilt. It was lovely to meet a whole new bunch of people – artists and writers, musicians and a dancer. But, typical in Ireland, it turned out that the writer Liz Nugent and I had met – many moons ago! A long story, and you’re not getting it here. The nightly dinners were a joy – great food and conversation – sometimes presided over by the Centre’s director, Rob. Many thanks to vegetarian Helen who was our cook on St. Paddy’s Day. she went beyond the call of duty: The ham was scrummmmmy.
Home to reality, and writing, writing, writing. But also a moment or two to enjoy the fact that Marie Lecrivain, guest editor at Al-Khemia Poetica had published my contribution for National Women’s Day in the U.S., and on St. Patrick’s Day at that. Nice one, Marie.
You can have a look at it here:
http://alkhemiapoetica.blogspot.ie/2017/03/national-womens-month-karen-j_17.html
Also came news that my poem, ‘A Bad Dose’, had been shortlisted for Cúirt/UCHG Poems for Patience, 2017. I was delighted. And a tie this year – well done to poets Lorna Shaughnessy and Marie Cadden on their joint win. Both of their poems will be printed and hung in University Hospital Galway. It’s a great idea, I think.
This week I’m formatting the manuscript and this is what I was doing two mornings ago:
Each slip of paper is a title of a poem. Talk about getting into shape!
Wish me luck, lads.
Yes, I’m heading back. To the house, the lake, the lovely staff and – if the vibes are all aligned – perhaps a meeting with Miss Worby, the resident ghost.
I’ll be redrafting and making the final push towards my first collection: This Little World.
The dreaded lurgy has been getting me down for the past few days, but the antibiotics are kicking in and I can’t wait to get up to Annaghmakerrig. (For more about this wonderful artists’ residence, have a look at Forward! Retreat! – Part the Second on my Writer’s Blog above.)
Now, I must away to pack my books, notebooks, and chocolate. Lots of chocolate.
The great, the good, and the former students are gathered in NUI Galway this stormy evening.
All to pay tribute to writer Mike McCormack. 
I was lucky to have Mike as a teacher a few years ago. Tonight some of his former students will read along with him.
Mike, comhghairdeas, g’wan you good thing ya!
– A fan.
At Charlie’s. By Mike McCormack. Perfick!I’m really looking forward to tomorrow evening – 3rd February.
I’ll be reading at the Record Break Café in Ennis at the monthly poetry slot.
This time, I’m delighted to be joined by Limerick poet & playwright Mary Coll, who will be reading from her new collection, Silver. Join us for what promises to be a great evening. (We might even get a word or two of fiction out of Helena Close who is travelling from Limerick as well!)
Door open at 7.30pm with poetry is from 8-9pm, followed by music from Pele, a local musician – and a pal of my sister as it happens!
And remember, Sinéad makes great coffee & lovely treats!
FINALLY – My poem ‘The High Road’ will be published this month in The Honest Ulsterman. It’s my first time being published in that fine journal so, thanks Greg!
Saturday 7 January 2017
I’d a great day in Galway at the #Herstory Nollaig na mBan Open Mic.
The event was hosted at the Cornstore by Galway2020 who not only provided a great – still festive – space, but also coffee, biccies and buns. Thanks, Nollaig and the gang!
Every one had 3 minutes to read, and was asked to sign off with ‘This is/was _____ and this is Herstory.”
Susan Millar DuMars was the MC, and led off the readings. I was called up next. EEEK! But, I guess someone has to go first. Right up to the time I’d to leave the house, I was dithering about what poem to read. I had a few to choose from – having written a whole song cycle about women on the edges of History, some years ago. And there are a couple of new poems in The Notebook! In the end, I did pick one of ‘my girls’: a poem about my great-grandmother, Lucy May (Louie) Fitzell.
Themes ranged from the woman at home during WW1, poems interlocking the lives of mothers and their daughters, of a mother- and daughter-in-law, of an anonymous woman handing over her baby at the Tuam mother and baby home. Gráinne Mhaol got great treatment in an animated recitation by Pat McArdle. Pat is a man, by the way …. for yes, men were welcome to take part, and did! Margaretta D’arcy spoke to us about Louie Bennett – a mighty woman not served well by historians, or the State. We also heard excerpts from works in progress – including the ‘delights’ of working for a boss from hell in New York!
All in all, a lively way to spend a drizzly beginning to 2017. I got to meet up with two writing buddies, and heard engaging, diverse work. As Susan said, It would be wonderful if this could become an annual event. TG4 filmed proceedings for the Róisín show, which goes out on Wednesdays at 8.30pm. Róisín was there too, and she seemed to enjoy herself!
Thanks, Herstory Galway, for including me in! Go mbeirimíd beo …
Epilogue: Of course, being in the Cornstore, I just HAD to drop in to Charlie Byrne’s for a browse. I picked up some interesting travel books – including the letters of Gertrude Bell. The best thing was, I still have credit on my account with them and didn’t even have to open my purse. Yippee!
The night before Christmas, and it’s been a busy couple of weeks here on Ireland’s west coast – as no doubt it’s been for you.
As I said to someone recently: If every one in the family is in the right place, at the right table, healthy and able to enjoy the Christmas meal – really that’s all that matters.
So, at a time of stress for many – but also one of affection, fun, and gathering – please take time out for yourself. Enjoy this wonderful reading by Dylan Thomas of his Child’s Christmas in Wales.
I’ve run out of time to write the usual pre-Christmas blog post. But, you know what? It can wait.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS, every one.
Karen J McDonnell 