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Gerard Beirne

@gerardbeirne.bsky.social

1.6K followers 1K following 360 posts

Author of 8 books of fiction & poetry. Recent:The Thickness of Ice (novel, Baraka Books, 2024);The Death Poems (Salt, 2023).Winner of Rubery Award for Fiction. Shortlisted Danuta Gleed Award, Bord Gais Irish Book Awards, & Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award.

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · Jul 15

Very pleased to have won the 2025 International Rubery Book Award for Fiction for The Thickness of Ice (Baraka Books).

www.ruberybookaward.com/2025-winners...

2025 Winners

FICTION Winner The Thickness of Ice by Gerard Beirne A restrained, but immersive novel set in the subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba. We shift between different times and focuses and that makes...

www.ruberybookaward.com

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 18h

Independent TD Barry Heneghan and author Naoise Dolan @naoisedolan.bsky.social are among the detainees.

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Independent TD and author among Irish citizens on board flotilla ships intercepted by Israel

Independent TD Barry Heneghan and author Naoise Dolan are among the detainees

www.irishexaminer.com

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 17h

Independent TD Barry Heneghan and author Naoise Dolan among Irish detained by Israel from Gaza flotilla www.independent.ie/world-news/m...

Independent TD Barry Heneghan and author Naoise Dolan among Irish detained by Israel from Gaza flotilla

Five Irish citizens are believed to be detained by Israeli forces after a group of flotilla vessels attempting to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Wedne...

www.independent.ie

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 16h

Marina Carr and Caitríona McLaughlin discuss The Boy: A Two-Play Theatrical Event

youtu.be/F3ImY_MMf-s?...

Marina Carr and Caitríona McLaughlin discuss The Boy: A Two-Play Theatrical Event

YouTube video by Abbey Theatre

youtu.be

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 17h

“Of all the subjects I’m interested in...writing is way, way down at the bottom of the list.”

Cormac McCarthy

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Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 3d

GNU Jilly Cooper. Jilly and dad were friends and the only person I’ve known to call him ‘Tel’. Hope they’re both having a big drink somewhere.

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 3d

"There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."
― Oscar Wilde

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 2d

Independent Dublin bookshop damaged by fire reopens

Books Upstairs was set alight at around 3am on Monday, with Garda investigations ongoing

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Independent Dublin bookshop damaged by fire reopens

Books Upstairs was set alight at around 3am on Monday, with Garda investigations ongoing

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 2d

How uncooth! Booed and heckled in my old stomping ground of Fredericton.

The Saint John Telegraph summed up the city’s pride in not having behaved like Frederictonians: 'We are very cosmopolitan for a small town, and do not hoot a man because he dresses oddly...'

backyardhistory.ca/articles/f/o...

Oscar Wilde's New Brunswick Tour

Oscar Wilde was only 27 years old when he toured New Brunswick in 1882, when he caused a sensation, selling out lectures all over, but also facing unexpected troubles like getting booed and heckled in...

backyardhistory.ca

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 3d

Also, The Buk: "The reason it's [poetry] not appreciated is because it hasn't shown any guts, hasn't shown any dance. It hasn't shown any moxie."

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 3d

Holy moly!

Gavan Reilly @gavreilly.com · 3d

🚨 Jim Gavin has withdrawn from the Presidential Election. #aras25 @virginmedianews.bsky.social

Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Richard James Foster @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social · 3d

Rereading this after 30 years: a remarkable collection.

Penguin paperback edition of Joyce’s Dubliners with a Brian Wildsmith cover.

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 6d

Brian showed me (and my family) exceptional kindness at one point early on in my writing career. This from Sunday Miscellany October 2019 (in a special episode commemorating him).

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 3d

Just leaving these here:

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Rónán Hession @ronanhession.bsky.social · 4d

The Hale and Pace of indie literature.

Bluemoose Books @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social · 4d

Good morning.

Off to Leeds for some BBC interviews.

It's all coming together.

Time for a brew.

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 4d

Okay, didn't see that one coming. Got up this morning to work on a rewrite of my novel but ended up writing a first draft of a new story 5.5k words long. And now it's time for bed.

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 3d

Brace yourself. Not exactly Sunday fare: The Buk

"Those who say the poet is very private & precious person I don't agree with. Generally he's just a dumb fuddling asshole writing insecure lines that don't come through...It has to come out like a good hot beer shit."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ilm...

Charles Bukowski - Poetry In Motion (Higher Quality)

YouTube video by Lee Wanner

www.youtube.com

Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 4d

Okay, didn't see that one coming. Got up this morning to work on a rewrite of my novel but ended up writing a first draft of a new story 5.5k words long. And now it's time for bed.

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 4d

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.

C.S. Lewis

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Reposted by Gerard Beirne

Irish Literary Times @irishlittimes.bsky.social · 4d

From just over a year ago:

On Irish words for rain - and sunshine... For a very special edition of Sunday Miscellany live from Áras an Uachtaráin, listen to Samradh, by Manchán Magan .

www.rte.ie/culture/2024...

Sunday Miscellany: Samradh, by Manchán Magan

On Irish words for rain - and sunshine

www.rte.ie

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Gerard Beirne @gerardbeirne.bsky.social · 5d

"If you want to write...you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling...You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfume."

Ray Bradbury