Patrick Freyne: Here’s why AI is making us dumber and more lonely Writing forces people to resolve internal contradictions and confront their own bullshit. It’s why it’s hard. It’s why it’s beautiful

I wrote about why we should keep reading and writing

www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Do you have experience in governance, financial management, and operations?

We would like to hear from you!

We are looking for an experienced and highly organised individual to join our team as General Manager.

More info:
stingingfly.org/news/general...

Cheers JC!

That should work, yes!

Winter Papers Submissions

Our submission window for WP 12 opened today - great to see the work coming in. (Window closes midnight 18th Feb)
Do encourage interested parties to submit
winterpapers.com/submissions

Taking pre-orders for gorses 12 + 13:

gorse.ie/book/no-12/

gorse.ie/book/no-13/

(Double release, like Tom Waits' Alice + Blood Money.)

Cheers David, thanks for sharing.

Winter Papers Submissions

One of the best literary journals anywhere, outside and in, is @winterpapers.bsky.social. Their open submissions period for the 2026 issue is 14-28 February. Everything will be read and replied to early August. The editing is excellent: acute & sympathetic. Have a go! winterpapers.com/submissions

Library of Brothel by Anakana Schofield | Penguin Random House Canada The long-anticipated, wildly inventive new novel by the Irish-Canadian writer whose previous work was shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Ethel Wilson Prize and the Goldsmith’s Prize (UK).

PREORDER CANADA ALERT 🚨
Fabulous Cover Alert 🔔
Save a bedraggled writer prompt 🎺
Thank you for sticking with me stamp ❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/555536...

'Contentious Spaces', the debut novel from acclaimed writer Rosaleen McDonagh, is already receiving extraordinary praise

Publishing March 2026 🪻All pre-orders come with a complimentary tote bag and postcard 💝

Pre-order now: skeinpress.com/product/cont...

Winter Papers & An Alternative Irish Christmas: An exquisite hardy annual and a wonderful gift Winter Papers 11 is a Christmas annual to stand the test of time, and An Alternative Irish Christmas is great for those jaded by other literary offerings

WP 11 in the Irish Times at the weekend 📚❄️📚

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Winter Papers & An Alternative Irish Christmas: An exquisite hardy annual and a wonderful gift Winter Papers 11 is a Christmas annual to stand the test of time, and An Alternative Irish Christmas is great for those jaded by other literary offerings

WP 11 in the Irish Times at the weekend 📚❄️📚

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Ah, lovely to see, Claire!

Hardback book. Blue cover showing a cabin lit from within.

‘Tis the season - thanks @winterpapers.bsky.social and @mgtkell.bsky.social #speirgorm

A paperback copy of The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry, floating against a grey background

What if we ride out tonight?
What if we ride out and never once look back?

Kevin Barry‘s savagely funny, achingly beautiful Western THE HEART IN WINTER has won the Historical Writer's Association Gold Crown Award! Congratulations Kevin!

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Hurrah for booky people! xx

Photograph of Kevin Curran in conversation with Kevin Barry. They're sat in front of a large fireplace & Kevin C is waving his arm excitedly.

Poster for The Write Time festival

Photo of Wendy Erskine talking with Olivia Fitzsimons listening

Line-up for the festival as screenshot from their websites

Brilliant afternoon at #TheWriteTime festival #FingalLibraries @fingal.ie in #Swords. Great talks by #JosephOConnor, @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social, #KevinBarry @winterpapers.bsky.social w/ programmer #kevincurran & #OliviaFitzsimons & caught up w/ loads of booky pals. Back tomorrow for more! #Dublin

Great to see you Bob!

Annual endpapers appreciation post. Designed by @johnfoley.bitedesign.com #endpapers

Photo of the eleventh issue of Winter Papers. It is a blue hardback book and it is sitting on a yellow cushion

My annual 'Christmas Present To Myself' has arrived and it's a thing of beauty. Another absolute gem curated by Kevin and Olivia in @winterpapers.bsky.social and designed by @bitedesign.com winterpapers.com

Kathleen MacMahon, Kevin Barry, Paula Meehan, Colm Mac Con Iomaire & Paula Shields at the Great Hall, IMMA, Dublin.

A poignant honour to host a tribute to Arena’s Seán Rocks last Sun with Kathleen MacMahon, Kevin Barry @winterpapers.bsky.social - Paula Meehan & Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Exquisite words & music - & an audience of friends & family. At Dublin Book Festival. ❤️

Reading in the garden, with some of the books that I scooped up yesterday at Books Upstairs, including @winterpapers.bsky.social, NEW ARCANA by @jesstraynor.bsky.social, An Alternative Irish Christmas, Anja Murray's new book, and a lovely new edition of WORDS ARE MY MATTER by @ursulakleguin.com.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the Goldsmiths Prize 2025 is C.D. Rose's We Live Here Now! 🎉🎉

Congratulations Chris! 👏👏

Great to see her in the wild!

Get your hygge on

This is on tonight - the Dublin Review at 100 - also to be aired on Arena on RTE Radio 1

Over the moon to be part of @winterpapers.bsky.social. It’s a joy to be sharing my essay ‘Mid-Life Music Lessons’ as part of this beauty alongside so many whose work I admire. The launch is @dublinbookfest.bsky.social next Sat, Nov 8. Here’s to music, winter reading & dreaming the future.

A black and white photograph of me in a bathroom with a young seagull on my head

Just reposting this link to my essay ‘Birds, Watching’, with one of the accompanying photos, about bird rescue and death, now available online for first time @winterpapers.bsky.social go.bsky.app/redirect?u=h...