While İlhan Sami Çomak and İpek Õzel were here for the Dublin Book Festival, they were interviewed by Enda Wyley and Peter Sirr for the Books for Breakfast podcast during a Meet the Poet session in the Café at IMMA. What a great weekend that was! With thanks to everyone at the Dublin Book Festival, especially Julianne Mooney Siron (Director), to the staff at the National Library who hosted İlhan's event and the staff in the Café at IMMA – and to Enda for sending the link.

43 likes, 3 comments - dont_spoil_the_story on October 11, 2025: "You're invited to a Poetry Performance for Gaza Wednesday 22nd October, 7-8pm Gutter Bookshop, Cow's Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 An e...

All at Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann are saddened by the untimely passing of writer and documentary maker Manchán Magan.  Through all his work, Magan was authentic in exploring and using many languages – ...

It is not open warfare but nor can it be called peace. Vladimir Putin is prosecuting a hybrid war in Europe, amid an escalation of Russian drone infiltration, and fears have heightened about infrastru...

2 October August 2025 Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann is gravely concerned about the abduction of poet Sarah Clancy, one of several Irish citizens taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla was ...

2 October August 2025 Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann is gravely concerned about the abduction of poet Sarah Clancy, one of several Irish citizens taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla was ...

2 October August 2025 Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann is gravely concerned about the abduction of poet Sarah Clancy, one of several Irish citizens taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla was ...

This is why I love reading diaries, letters and (good) biographies of writers. This morning, I came across this quote from a letter Virginia Woolf wrote to Violet Dickinson in the early 1900s: No one really takes very much interest, why should they, in my scribblings. Do you think I shall ever write a really good book? There's hope for all of us.

Last week’s attack was “the deadliest strike on journalists in the Middle East” ever documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

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Exclusive: Former poet laureate has reader contrasting pomp and ceremony of banquet with ruins left by war

Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann expresses its grave concern about the recent drone attacks and threats directed against the Global Sumud Flotilla as it sails toward Gaza. These acts of intimidation against ...

People from the Indian community, and others, are facing violence that was once unthinkable. We must not give in to the racists, says novelist Cauvery Madhavan

And everyone and their pet canary wants me to "comment."

Irish writer Naoise Dolan has announced that she will be boarding the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the siege on Gaza. Read more from Dan Sheehan on Lit Hub here. Poet Sarah Clancy  has also announce...

Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann condemns the recent Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Among the more than 20 people killed in the strike on 25 August were five journalists: Mohammad...

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Sally Rooney has blown up a storm around herself since she wrote a piece in the Irish Times against genocide in Gaza, and more specifically, pro the now banned Palestinian Action Group.

Sally Rooney has blown up a storm around herself since she wrote a piece in the Irish Times against genocide in Gaza, and more specifically, pro the now banned Palestinian Action Group.

I would happily publish this statement in a UK newspaper – but that would now be illegal

The arrest yesterday in the UK of dozens of peaceful protestors, including the world renowned poet Alice Oswald, seems excessive and heavy-handed. While noting that Palestine Action is currently a pro...

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The writer takes over the laureateship from author Colm Tóibín

Woman, Life, Freedom