My Blog

Last night (Thursday, 11 December, 2025) I had the pleasure of being the very first guest author at the newly opened The Novel Bean, Cathal Kelly’s eclectic new book-cum-coffee-cum-gift-cum-so-much-else store in Swinford. I was there to read from – and be interviewed about – my debut novel, On The Way Out. Huge credit to Cathal, Róisín, Seán and everyone involved for hosting such a generous and welcoming night. The place was buzzing. There was that hum you get when people have gathered because they are happy to be out to enjoy a new event in a new setting.

Blessed are the early readers – and the late ones too – for they shall spot the untightened gears and pulleys that might otherwise derail the hurtling train. I retained quite the retinue of early and late readers for my debut novel On The Way Out: Barry Maguire, Brian Joyce, Carolina Batista, Colm Burtchaell, Conor Hughes, Declan Varley, Dymphna Culhane, Eamon Loughlin, Eilín O’Carroll, Emma Horan, Helen Bree, John Culhane, Kellie Thornton, Marie Shannon, Mary Halligan, Maurice Horan, Michael Horan, Michelle Horan, Mike Quinn, Noreen Gilligan, Pat Conway, Peter Browne, Sinead Horan, Siobhan Corcoran, Stephen Carolan, Suzanne Walsh, Shirley Byrne and Veronica Keys.

Since publishing On The Way Out in November 2025, I’ve been very happy with the reactions it has drawn from acclaimed writers, judges of the Gerald Griffin Competition and readers who encountered the book in entirely their own way. As a debut novelist, I’m grateful for every response, and I’d like to share some of them here. I do so mindful of the fact that there are undoubtedly some for whom the book doesn’t work – no book pleases everyone.

I’m delighted to be the guest for the first-ever Writer Event at The Novel Bean in Swinford on Thursday, December 11, where I’ll be their inaugural Featured Author of the Month. The event starts at 7.30pm, and everyone is welcome.

It’s a real honour to bring my debut novel, On The Way Out, to a new local venue that’s quickly becoming a hub for readers and writers.

How does a writer interact with their editor? That’s a question I often get asked. My editor for On The Way Out was my work colleague at the Western Development Commission, Aisling Moroney. And just as I was a debut novelist, she was a debut novel editor. Why not!

Fellow Ballinrobe writer and my (almost) lifelong friend Declan Varley delivered a wide-ranging, thought-provoking and highly entertaining speech to launch On The Way Out, my debut novel.

I included three guest readers at the launch of my debut novel On The Way Out in Ballinrobe Library on Saturday night last.

If you're coming by car to the launch of On The Way Out in Ballinrobe Library (F31 YR60) on Saturday, 22 November, at 7.30pm, please note the following suggestions - no parking will be available in the grounds of the library, but thankfully there are three big car parks nearby, along with on-street parking.

It's just one of those things that works. The first Monday of every month, a Poetry and Short Prose Open Mic Night takes place in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. It is a low-fuss, no-frills affair - you rock up, enter your name on the sheet and wait to be called.

You can pre-order your copy of On The Way Out, before our launch on Saturday, November 22nd, in Ballinrobe Library, Main Street, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo at 7.30pm.

As part of my MA in Creative Writing Studies at University of Limerick (2023-2025), I was given the opportunity to take part in the college's Espresso Shot of Thought series. Thanks to Emily Cullen, the Meskell UL-Fifty Poet in Residence at the college, for inviting me to take part in the series. Special word of gratitude too to Elaine Kiely, Oonagh Grace and Karen Byrnes for their work in editing the final version. MORE ON THE CRAFT OF WRITING: See HERE. I'm adding to this on an ongoing basis.

This year’s Culture Night in Ballinrobe will include an exciting experiment in creativity, as writers and visual artists come together for a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the dynamic relationship between words and images. Scheduled for Friday, 20 September, this collaborative project is an opportunity for visual artists and writers – whether professional, amateur or hobbyist – to join forces and create something truly original.

What's these days called 'some personal news' - I was delighted to have been chosen for a Mayo County Council Arts Service Artist Bursary Award for 2023. This bursary allowed me to avail of some mentoring from the Irish Writers Centre. The mentor I chose - Mary-Jane Holmes - proved to be a real gem as she got to the heart of some of the things that most challenge me as a writer.

My short play, Beckett’s Last Throw, written and directed by Mirror Theatre, was shortlisted in the Claremorris Fringe Festival and performed at Claremorris Town Hall on Friday, March 15th.

The production was led by producer Tommy Morahan from Louisburgh, who also took on the role of Samuel Beckett. The talented cast included Brian Joyce (Ballinrobe), Faith Lally (Srah), and Siobhán Campbell (Ballinrobe).

Thanks to Joan Geraghty and the team at The Mayo Advertiser for featuring me - and plugging my book-signings on Dec. 22 and 23 - in this week's edition.

I'm doing two book signings in the run-up to Christmas 2022:

Mayo Arts Service hosted a talk on publishing in Breaffy House Resort on Saturday last (November 26). There was a good turnout including would-be and already-are novelists, poets, short story writers, memoirists. The four speakers were Mariel Deegan of New Island Books,  Matthew Parkinson-Bennett of Little Island and Lisa Frank and John Walsh of Doire Press. All four were remarkably open and honest in their contributions. Orlagh Heverin and her colleagues in the Mayo Arts Service deserve great credit for organising the event - saved us all travelling to the larger urban centres.

It is time to write a blog. Important topics to contemplate roaming the secret landscapes of my mind include Would I Marry Myself, Where does an In-between Man Find Fire, Why No is the New No and Neck Is a Great Thing Too, Isn't It?