Finally.

A picture of a rather dilapidated copy of "The picture of Dorian Gray" There is visible water damage to the cover and the plastic cover is yellowing. Obviously, not evident from the picture but there is a truly foul musty smell emanating from it!

Last week, a gentleman returned this rather dilapidated copy of this famous book to us after 50 years. He had found it in his attic!
Presumably this means there is a pristine copy somewhere in our libraries....

Two swallows swooping in a cloudy sky

The arrival of the swallows.

#Ireland
#NorthCork

This morning's yoga cat.

#catsofBluesky

Always love this festival 🥰

An overhead photo of a cookbook called The Irish Kitchen

Thanks to Cherie Denham author of The Irish Kitchen, for talking to me about the joys of cabbage and its uses, from traditional to new Irish cooking. The secret is in the timing...

Find the feature in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social and online here: www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he...

Collage of authors coming to West Cork Literary Festival 2026. Sara Baume, Jung Chang, Jonathan Coe, Paddy Donnelly, Elaine Feeney, Karl Henry, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Anton Hur, Charlie Mackesy, Dearbhla Mescal, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Laureate for Irish Fiction Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Miriam O'Callaghan, Louise O'Neill, Katriona O’Sullivan, Ian Rankin

And we're live! Check out our 2026 line-up. Priority booking for Festival Friends opens 10am on 7 April. General booking for workshops at the same time and then general booking for all other events at 10am on 14 April. Hope to see you all in Bantry 10-17 July 📚❤️
www.westcorkmusic.ie/literary-fes...

Signed up. These are brilliant.

Love this incredible design.

A stamp on the base of a cup saying Arklow Pottery

Willow pattern plates and cup stacked up on a worktop

Despite all the random pieces of #Arklowpottery that I've picked up over the years, I've never seen the willow pattern design before. Vividly blue, with a beautiful gold rim, the stamps on the base suggests that this was made in the 1950s. Seventy years later, it gets a new home.

* one of the many, many things you've always done brilliantly and best. Xx

The platform at Mallow train station

This morning's location for a live chat on @newstalkfm.bsky.social with @antonsavage.bsky.social about cooking skills - and carmelisation in the kitchen...

Lovely to hear you back on air doing what you've always done best!

This was fun! Thank you fantastic contributors John Maguire, Sarina Bellissimo, Louise Bruton, Cian Sullivan and RTÉ Arena team for my first outing in the hot seat 🔥🎙️ and to @bibliocook.bsky.social my original arts show presenting buddy who I met in a student radio station @ucc.ie 30 years ago 🫶 📻

And we're off! @cristinleach.bsky.social presenting flagship arts programme Arena on @rteradio1.bsky.social tonight.

Brownies lined up on a greaseproof lined tray

Double chocolate porter brownies for @8degreesbrewing.bsky.social brewery visitors.

#bakingwithbeer

Genius.

A poem to scare small children with.

Besotted with this cover 😭💚

So delighted, Rick!

That time Ronnie Drew was nearly driven mad by a parrot in Dublin zoo

North Cork: Keeping school meals local and fresh Duhallow Community Food Services provides a made-from-scratch meals service to local schools, feeding 2,987 children every day

Thanks to Linda O'Connor & Maura Walsh from Duhallow Community Food Services for showing me around the Newmarket hub, which provides a made-from-scratch meals service to local schools, feeding 2,987 children every day.

In today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social: www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he...

The 2026 RTÉ Short Story Competition announces call for entries Recognising and rewarding the best new Irish fiction writing for radio for 40 years...

Writers over the age of 18 living in Ireland, and Irish writers around the world have until Friday 15th May 2026 to submit their short story, in English or Irish at www.rte.ie/writing. Story wordcounts must fall between 1800 and 2000 words, excluding the title @rte.ie
www.rte.ie/culture/2026...

A demanding Daisy Tinkles.

#catsofbluesky

The Galtee Mountains in the distance, topped with snow

Friday snow on the Galtees.

#Ireland

Always moving, always learning. Next volume!

Ordered, and so looking forward to Úna-Minh's book.

Work news! Delighted to let you know that I'll be hosting the Drinks Theatre at the 2026 #BallymaloeFestivalofFood from 15-17 May, showcasing the best of wine, beer, gin and whiskey with a fabulous line up that includes Jancis Robinson, Dave Broom and many more.
www.ballymaloefestivaloffood.com

A stack of library books on a restaurant table

Currently on @griffsk
@griffski.bsky.social's Eat The Ones You Love from this week's library stack.

Ooh...