Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Scott Santens @scottsantens.com · 16d

Ireland just released a report showing the huge success of the unconditional basic income it provided to artists. Each $1 spent led to society gaining $1.39. Artists' earned incomes went up more than their side job incomes fell. And they were happier and used less welfare

www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

For every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return
The net cost of the BIA pilot went from €105m to under €72m due to tax generated and savings on social welfare payments

It also finds that recipients’ arts-related income increased by over €500 per month on average, while their income from non-arts work decreased by around €280. Dependence on social protection declined, with recipients receiving €100 less per month on average, and 38 percentage points less likely to receive Jobseeker’s payments.

18 910 2.4K

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Sara Barnard @saramegan.bsky.social · 15d

YES.

2 2

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · 17d

I imagine he would, because satire is 'punching up', which Father Ted did. 'Punching down', which is what he seems to enjoy these days, isn't satire, it's bullying.

3

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Children's Books Ireland @childrensbooksireland.ie · 21d

"Irish creatives are in the limelight and rightly being celebrated. But children’s authors and illustrators in Ireland too often fly under the radar."

Support Irish authors and illustrators writing for young people!

✍️Article by our CEO Elaina Ryan

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Best Irish Books of 2025: your Culture Night (and Christmas) guide to children’s literature

Elaina Ryan of Children’s Books Ireland on its latest guide to the best of Irish writing

www.irishtimes.com

15 21

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Stephen Daly 🏳️‍🌈 @thatstephendaly.bsky.social · Aug 13

COVER REVEAL

My YA debut The Last Death Poet will be published by @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social in April 2026.

Thank you Adams Carvalho for this stunning cover, I love it.

1 5 13

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Ruth Ennis @rurooie.bsky.social · Aug 8

Are you working on a novel for teens / young adults and need some guidance on your manuscript? Then why not get a manuscript critique from multi award winning @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social ?

1 4 1

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Ruth Ennis @rurooie.bsky.social · Aug 4

Today we are launching the Irish KidLit for Palestine Fundraiser in support of Medical Aid for Palestinians (@medicalaidpal.bsky.social‬)

Running from 4th August to 17th August 2025.

You can check out the fundraiser at www.ruthennis.com/irish-kidlit-for-palestine

@sineadohart.bsky.social

2 67 78

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 21

Same! And I don't even have your excuse 😂 It was all a lovely blur!

1

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 21

Enjoy! Wish I could be there but I think I need about a week to recover from London! 😂 Head's melted. Love to everyone! xx

1 1

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 20

So happy to have been a part of this. I didn't stop smiling all day. Very worthy winners and a beautiful ceremony, well done everyone!

The Carnegies @carnegiemedals.bsky.social · Jun 19

🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 Winners of the Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration, and Shadowers' Choice Medals: @margaretmcdonald.bsky.social, Nathanael Lessore, Theo Parish and Olivia Lomenech Gill! ‏#Carnegies2025

Read the press release: carnegies.co.uk/2025-winners...

1 6

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 20

👏👏👏

1

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Walker Books @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social · Jun 17

Wishing our shortlisted authors and illustrators the best of luck for the @carnegiemedals.bsky.social ceremony this Thursday, we're cheering you all on! 🌟

Visit the Carnegies website to watch the ceremony live on Thursday 19th June: carnegies.co.uk

#carnegies2025
@kellymccaughrain.bsky.social

2 3

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Jun 17

What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?

The average author income is about seven grand a year.

Anna Holmes @annabookwriter.bsky.social · Jun 17

What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?

It is good and proper in a well-kept library to dispose of books.

Aaron Sofaer ✍️🏳️‍⚧️ @aaronsofaer.bsky.social · Jun 16

What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

Almost all of the bugs and problems and breakage in the software you use is known to the engineers, we just aren't allowed to fix it. Gotta ship new features.

22 88 480

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 14

Thanks Robert, it was lovely to chat to you!

1 1

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Robert Kirkwood @talking-books.bsky.social · Jun 14

Here's the new Read On with more on the shortlist for the
@carnegiemedals.bsky.social

Today, @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social on Little Bang and Matt Goodfellow on The Final Year, plus we find some new books in
@rnib.bsky.social RNIB Library

audioboom.com/posts/873100...

Kelly McCaughrain & Matt Goodfellow - Carnegie Medal for Writing

Today on Read On we're continuing our interviews with authors on the shortlist for the Carnegie Medal for Writing. This week Kelly McCaughrain on Little Bang and Matt Goodfellow on The Final Year,...

audioboom.com

1 2 3

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 13

Homebaked! This is clearly a quality book club. Glad you enjoyed, Little Bang, thanks for reading! ❤️

1

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 13

ARE THEY FIFTEENS?!!! This is an excellent, and extremely Northern Irish, selection of snacks. 👏👏👏

1 1

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Walker Books @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social · Jun 4

Looking for more info on Empathy Day? Or how to participate in this year's Festival celebrations? We’ve got a handy guide just for you! Plus recommended reads by @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social
@nadiashireen.bsky.social
and more!

www.walker.co.uk/four-ways-to...

@empathylabuk.bsky.social

1 2 2

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

gillparr.bsky.social @gillparr.bsky.social · Jun 3

Our @carnegiemedals.bsky.social shadowing continues @appletonacademy.bsky.social with our PE teacher, Miss Storey chatting about what she loved about #LittleBang by @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social

1 3 6

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Jun 3

Aw, thank you so much, Miss Storey! (excellent name for a book reviewer, btw!!!) 🥰

1

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

West Cork Literary Festival @wcorklitfest.bsky.social · May 26

"Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan has publicly backed the retention of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, saying its impact is 'far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients' lives'."
www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

Minister backs retention of Basic Income for Arts scheme

Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan has publicly backed the retention of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, saying its impact is "far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients' lives".

www.rte.ie

6 12

Reposted by Kelly McCaughrain

Walker Books @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social · May 21

🏆 @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social, WINNER of the Honour Award for Fiction AND the Junior Juries' Award!

1 1 2

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · May 6

The Museum of Childhood are collecting people's memories of their journeys to school! If you'd like to write them a few paragraphs, check out the link.
"Our interest is in the glimpses of childhood in those relatively unsupervised moments between home and school"
museumofchildhood.ie/when-we-were...

When We Were Kings And Queens of the Road – The Museum of Childhood Ireland

Músaem Óige na hÉireann

museumofchildhood.ie

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · May 4

Aw! Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! x

1

Kelly McCaughrain @kellymccaughrain.bsky.social · Apr 28

"If you have a pension, you have power. So much power that greening your pension reduces your carbon footprint 21x more than if you gave up flying, went veggie and switched energy provider combined." - Make My Money MatterClimate Action Report, February 2024

www.boringmoney.co.uk/learn/articl...

UK Workplace Pensions: How Climate-Friendly Is Your Retirement Pot?

Discover how the UK’s top workplace pension providers rank on climate action. Compare climate-conscious scores, find out who’s funding fossil fuels, and learn how to make your pension more sustainable...

www.boringmoney.co.uk