Today, I became an Irish citizen. When I was growing up, when I came to Ireland as an eighteen year old (on the trail of Yeats and other poets), and when I married an Irishman 25 years ago, I always thought that I had no Irish connections. Yet I’m a…

I often wonder if it would be worth telling something of my life story here. I have a tremendous sense of having failed. I wonder how prevalent that is. In my case, it’s almost certainly true that at least from a professional level, I look like a complete failure. …

This will be too long for some. So let me start with the bit I would really like you all to read. Stepping back takes no more than a breath. Stepping back is simply seeing what is happening while it is happening. You can do it right now. Now. Here…

(I’m going to gradually move things over to Substack, folks. Don’t worry, you can still find me here. I would dearly love it if more people would subscribe and perhaps support my writing here. In the meantime, here is part six — a first draft of a play-) The boy…

No doubt you will all have seen the heartbreaking scenes on Lough Neagh at this stage. If not, have a look here: Watch: Algae bloom leaves swamp-like surface at Lough Neagh quay A shocking video showing the extent of the algae bloom on Lough Neagh has been shared by a councillor.www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk This relates to a wider issue of water quality in Ireland which has been in decline for many years. https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/water-quality-of-rivers-lakes-and-coastal-areas-continues-to-decline-says-epa-1377160.html.

They have entered a building at the top of the hill. There is light slanting in over what was either a hay stall or a cot. It has been used as a cot. There is a baby lying in it. …

Walking up into the mountains, we look back down. It’s hard. The boulders over the river. The forest thick with only a narrow path lined with brambles. Later, the triad emerges by a stream which the path follows. …

More on. Moron. One of my daughter’s favourite puns. Why not put some more on? She cracks up. Not quite so funny here. Irish farmers have just learned that there’s a loophole. Now, let me make it quite clear that I am a proud culchie. That before then I was…

If you’re in Ireland, no doubt you will have seen the heart-breaking scenes on Lough Neagh at this stage. If not, have a look here: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/watch-algae-bloom-leaves-swamp-like-surface-at-lough-neagh-quay/a1466773423.html I’m beginning to realise that I need to focus on one particular practice in relation to the ecological emergency, and that it’s got to…