Fortnightly 185
The last Fortnightly this term features Lara Pawson’s memorable Spent Light, Leaving Certificate English reform, Tony Judt and more.
Read More'Spent Light' by Lara Pawson
Lara Pawson’s unclassifiable Spent Light is uncomfortable, funny and constantly disconcerting.
Read MoreLeaving Certificate English Draft Specification
Initial thoughts on the Draft Curriculum Specification for Leaving Certificate English (February 2025).
Read MoreBest Irish Fiction since 2000
The Irish Times has produced a list of the 100 best books of fiction by Irish writers so far this century, and I contributed to it.
Read MoreFortnightly 184
In Fortnightly 184, a focus on Irish fiction in recent times.
Read MoreDavid Marcus: Editing Ireland
David Marcus: Editing Ireland, edited by Paul Delaney and Deirdre Madden, is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man, who at one point greatly encouraged my own writing.
Read MoreFortnightly 183
Fortnightly 183 is out. Rest in Peace, Jennifer Johnston.
Read MoreThe New Oxford Shakespeare 'Macbeth'
Emma Smith’s introduction to the Macbeth volume in The New Oxford Shakespeare series is excellent.
Read MoreIrish Advisory Council: AI in Education
Thoughts on the first Advice Paper on Education in Ireland, from the AI Advisory Council, February 2025.
Read MoreA Love Letter to Libraries
A personal history of libraries (a post from January 2024 - expanded, modified and updated).
Read MorePresentation on teaching 'Small Things Like These'
A talk through a presentation on teaching Claire Keegan’s novel Small Things Like These.
Read MoreThe Occasional 6
Lots of book recommendations in The Occasional 6, for paid subscribers of The Fortnightly.
Read MoreFortnightly 182
Fortnightly 182 starts with Harriet Walter on Shakespeare’s women, and the usual eclectic mixture follows.
Read MoreHarriet Walter's 'She Speaks! what Shakespeare's women might have said'
Harriet Walter’s She Speaks! What Shakespeare’s women might have said is an entertaining and insightful account of many of the plays’ female roles.
Read MoreEnglish Meet 2025
The fourth English Meet for English teachers in the Dublin area will be on the evening of Thursday 8th May 2025.
Read MoreNeil Postman's 'Technopoly'
Thoughts on Neil Postman’s wise and prescient 1992 book Technopoly.
Read MoreFortnightly 181
Fortnightly 181 is out: memoir, humour, teaching, slowness and more.
Read More'In the Real World'
All too often teachers have to listen to that condescending cliché ‘In the real world’.
Read MoreFortnightly 180
The first Fortnightly of 2025, number 180 since 2016.
Read MoreThomas Newkirk's 'The Art of Slow Reading'
A revisiting of Thomas Newkirk’s book The Art of Slow Reading in the new AI world.
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