'WHAT EMILY WORE' ON SUNDAY MISCELLANY

Emily Dickinson doll by American Historical Society

The Sunday Miscellany Live programme I took part in in Donegal a few weeks ago was broadcast on Sunday on RTÉ Radio 1 - my piece is called 'What Emily Wore' and is about Emily Dickinson's clothes and image. Here's the link to the programme. I'm first up :) Also featured are Denise Blake and The Henry Girls, among others.

SUNDAY MISC., RUFUS WAINWRIGHT & BIRR CASTLE

Sunday Miscellany Live, which I took part in in Donegal on the 4th October, will be broadcast over the next two Sundays. If it follows the order of recording, I'll be first up this Sunday, talking about Emily Dickinson's clothes. See here for more.

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Tonight I head to Sligo for a very lovely event featuring Rufus Wainwright early tomorrow afternoon. He will give a talk on Creative Minds, hosted by the US Ambassador to Ireland at the Model at Niland. As many of you know I am a HUGE Rufus fan so it's a bit of a thrill to get an invitation to this. I even got to submit a question to Rufus in advance. If it's asked, I'll let ye know :) Then tomorrow night I'm at Rufus's Sligo Live gig. Excitement!

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Sunday I'm reading from Miss Emily, and some Emily poetry, at a Gothic night in Birr Castle. Described on their website as follows:

The Twilight Hour – An evening of Gothic Music and Literature and Trickery with Nóirín Ní Riain & guests. Join us at Birr Castle for this very special evening with Nóirín Ní Riain and guests. Oíche Shamhna is a magical time with strong roots in ancient Celtic Ireland. This evening will celebrate music and literature linked to All Hallows Eve exploring much loved traditions, songs, folklore, ghost stories, poetry and lots of haunted fun in the gothic castle.

Booking essential as places are limited. Pre-paid event with Tickets €25.00.

Adults only.

READING BOWEN ON ARENA & THE HIGHLANDS ON SUN MISC

Two of my faves: Sylvia Plath interviewing Elizabeth Bowen for Mademoiselle, summer 1953

Tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, I'm reading an extract from 'Home for Christmas' a non-fic piece by Elizabeth Bowen, on the radio. A friend recommended a volume of her letters to Charles Ritchie to me this year and it was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I am also currently reading (and awed by) her novel The House in Paris. So, in honour of all of that, I will read the sublime Miss Bowen's words on the season. Arena, 7pm to 8pm, RTÉ Radio 1, Christmas Eve.

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Loah - photo by Eve North

Then on Christmas Day I read a piece about spending Christmas in the Scottish Highlands on Sunday Miscellany, also on RTÉ Radio 1, at 9am. This is the broadcast of the Sunday Miscellany Live at Christmas event which was recorded in the National Concert Hall earlier this month. Listen out especially for The Carol of the Cherry Tree sung by the sublime Loah.

The first half of the concert was broadcast on Sunday the 21st and you can listen back to it here.

Nollaig shona!

SUNDAY MISCELLANY LIVE AT XMAS

I'm reading at the Sunday Miscellany Live at Xmas event at the National Concert Hall in Dublin tonight. I did this event a couple of years ago and it's a cracker (!). I love, love, love live orchestras and when they are playing Chistmassy music it's even better.

In keeping with the Scottish theme (my Highlands based novel is the Book on One all this week and actress Caitríona Ní Mhurchú is doing a mighty job) I am reading a piece about Christmas in Scotland in 1992. The programme will be broadcast at Christmas. Exact days and times tbc.

 My line-up of performers:

RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Gearóid Grant, conductor

MUSIC GUESTS:
Kim Sheehan, soprano
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, vocals
Loah, vocals
Mia Cooper, violin

READERS:
Donal Ryan, novelist
John F. Deane, novelist and poet
Mary Morrissy, novelist
Enda Coyle-Greene, poet
Mary O'Malley, poet
Pat Boran, poet
Nuala Ní Chonchúir, writer and poet
John MacKenna, playwright and novelist
Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, poet
Anthony Glavin, poet
Hilary Fannin, playwright 

SUNDAY MISCELLANY LIVE AT XMAS ONLINE

Sunday Miscellany Live at Christmas, broadcast this morning on RTÉ Radio 1, can now be listened to online here. Click 'latest show' - later it will be listed down the page a bit.

My piece 'A Lonely Christmas in Switzerland' is the first reading after the familiar intro music, Galliard Battaglia by Samuel Scheibt.

SUNDAY MISCELLANY LIVE & MEETING PAUL DURCAN

The Paul Durcan collage

I took part in Sunday Miscellany Live at Christmas at the National Concert Hall last night. It was fantastic and I got to meet one of my literary heroes, Paul Durcan, about whom I had written a (fictional) poem. He was very gracious and kind about it - he is a gentle, lovely man. He sat beside me at dinner in The Terrace Café and I really enjoyed his company.

The concert was a collaboration with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the music was out of this world. I opened the show so I got to enjoy the rest of it from the wings and, in the second half, from the auditorium.

My piece was about a lonely Christmas I spent in Switzerland at 18. The orchestra played the music 'Snow Ride' after I read; it was so beautiful and Christmassy but I can't find it online.

Other guest contributors included Dermot Bolger, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Rita Ann Higgins, Leo Cullen, Catherine Foley, Joe Kearney, Julie Feeney, Michael Harding, Martina Devlin, Niamh Ní Charra, Kevin Conneff, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Tríona Marshall, Paddy Moloney and, of course, my new friend Paul Durcan :)

The programmes will be broadcast on RTE Radio 1 next Sunday the 18th December, 9am, and on Christmas Day at 9am. If they go in the order we went last night, my piece will be the first one on next Sunday morning.

As an aside, but related, Paul asked me about the collage I did of the poem about him. I gave it to The Winding Stair book shop last week (the poem is set there) so he reckons he will sneak in and have a look at it one of these days :)

SUNDAY MISCELLANY, YOUNGHEARTS RUNFREE, CASTLECOMER

I've (another) busy weekend, and am hoping to meet up with some of you , here and there.

I have a piece on Sunday Miscellany this Sunday the 26th. Between 9am and 10am RTÉ Radio 1. The theme was 'Arrivals and Departures' and it was recorded live at the Mountains to the Sea Festival, a couple of weeks ago. Andy Irvine played - it was heavenly!

Also on Sunday I am reading at the Younghearts Runfree Collective's latest gig, in the Unitarian Church, in aid of Simon. See poster above. BUT note: the time has now been changed to 3pm.

And tomorrow I am off to the Castlecomer Writers & Arts Festival in Kilkenny for the Black Diamond Poetry Prize awards ceremony. I came joint second with Eileen Casey. The winnner was Carmel Cummins. Lots of fun. Report next week, I hope.

SUNDAY MISCELLANY LIVE - FRIDAY

I'm reading a the Sunday Miscellany Live Event, tomorrow night in Dún Laoghaoire's Pavilion Theatre at 8pm. It's on as part of the Mountains to the Sea Festival which features a great line-up, including Jackie Kay in conversation with Anne Enright on Saturday, and Jennifer Johnston in conversation with Eileen Battersbyon Sunday.

The Sunday Miscellany programme is not broadcast live but will be on some Sunday morning in the near fiuture on RTÉ Radio 1. I'll flag it at the time.

I'm also teaching on Saturday and Sunday (short fiction) at the Irish Writers' Centre which I'm really looking forward to. I do love a good chunk of time, chatting with students about short stories and the writing of them.

I'll leave you all with a link to a frustrated literary agent's site. It's freaking hilarious! I give you SlushPile Hell.