Cork

Launch of Denis Hurley book Cork Hurling: Game of My Life

I was delighted to launch Denis Hurley’s book Cork Hurling: Game of My Life with Denis in the lovely Cork Waterstone’s in Patrick Street. It was a really enjoyable event, especially after the tough two years we have put in, losing out on so much. Thanks to Denis and Liam Hayes from Hero Books for asking me to be there. There was a great crowd there including several hurlers who feature in the book. It’s a great book, I recommend it highly and it’s now available in all good bookshops. Here are some photos of the night, taken by the great John Breen of Waterstone’s.  

Piece in Cork Words 2: An Anthology of Contemporary Cork Writing

I was delighted to have my short essay: ‘Celebrating the Return of Hurling in a Strange Time’ in Cork Words 2: An Anthology of Contemporary Cork Writing among so many great Cork writers. It’s about the return of hope in a dark time. The book is available in Waterstones Cork and Cork City Libraries. The piece was previously published in The Irish Examiner.

Piece in Cork Words 2: An Anthology of Contemporary Cork Writing

I was delighted to have my short essay: ‘Celebrating the Return of Hurling in a Strange Time’ in Cork Words 2: An Anthology of Contemporary Cork Writing among so many great Cork writers. It’s about the return of hope in a dark time. The book is available in Waterstones Cork and Cork City Libraries. The piece was previously published in The Irish Examiner.

Irish Examiner piece picked among Sportswriting of the Week

I was delighted that my piece Boring pubs, jumpy legs, Midleton and Glen Rovers: A boy watches his first county final was picked by those lovely people at The42.ie as one of their Sportswriting of the Week choices – in some heady company. You can read the four selections here. 

Culture Night 2021 at Fortress Spike Island

I’m delighted to be part of Crime Writers Cork by  Culture Night Cork County on September 17th, 2021.  This is my first live event for some time due to Covid and promises to be very special. Myself and four other Cork crime writers: Michelle Dunne (While Nobody Is Watching & coming soon, The Invisible), Kevin Doyle (A River of Bodies & To Keep a Bird Singing), Catherine Kirwan (Darkest Truth and Cruel Deeds (2022)) and  Amy Cronin (Blinding Lies & Twisted Truth) will be in conversations with well-known 96fm radio show host PJ Coogan. Booking and other details here.  

Tadhg Coakley’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh pilgrimage

May, 2021 I wrote a piece for the Irish Examiner welcoming hurling back again for 2021.  ‘I wanted to celebrate the return of hurling but behind a sense of juxtaposition. The one Martin Scorsese created when he overlaid the sublime music of the ‘Intermezzo’ from Cavalleria Rusticana on Jake LaMotta’s brutality and violence in Raging Bull.’

Longing to be one of the crowd again

May 2021 I wrote a piece for the Irish Examiner about my longing to go to matches again as part of the crowd.  ‘As we face into a new GAA season with uncertainty about fans at games we’re all wondering: will sport ever be normal again? And what will that normal be?’