A memoir of things that need to be said: Cassie Hamer launches ‘Letters to Dead People and Others En Route’ by Jennifer Dickerson
Overall, this book tells a story of determination, resilience and survival.
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Music, Mechanics & Emotions: Tru S. Dowling launches ‘Chords in the Soundscapes’ by Michael J. Leach
Michael J. Leach’s poetry collection, Chords in the Soundscapes, reads as a love song to generations within a changing world, rooted in personal experience.
Vale Lionel Fogarty
Rochford Street Review was saddened to learn of the death of poet and activist Lionel Fogarty. The following tribute was posted by The Yugambeh Nation on their social media feed. It is reproduced with permission.
‘St Brigid Guides the Cartographer’s Hand’ a poem by Jean O’Brien – Brigid the Bard 2026 Supplement.
Jean O’Brien’s 6th and latest collection is Stars Burn Regardless (Salmon Poetry) 2022. She is an award winning poet and was poet in residence in September/ October 2022 in the Centre Cultural Irelandais in Paris and holds a Patrick Kavanagh fellowship.
‘Saint Brigid’s Eve’ a poem by Eileen Sheehan – Brigid the Bard 2026 Supplement.
Eileen Sheehan is from the Southwest of Ireland. One of the poems from her most recent collection, The Narrow Way of Souls (Salmon Poetry), featured on the Leaving Certificate English Syllabus. Anthology publications include Blackjack, with translations by Oana Lungu (editors Dorina Șișu and Viorel Ploeșteanu / Singur Publishing); Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland (editor Gabriel Fitzmaurice with photographs by John Reidy/ Curragh Press) and The Deep Heart’s Core: Irish Poets Revisit a Touchstone Poem (editors Eugene O’Connell & Pat Boran/ Dedalus Press).
The Prankqueans & friends bring Brigid the Bard to Katoomba this Saturday
The Prankqueans and their guests will bring their celebration of Irish Australian female creativity to the Carrington Hotel’s beautiful Baroque Room where they will transport you to ancient Ireland and beyond.
‘St. Brigid’s Cross’. A poem by Rachael Stanley – Brigid the Bard 2026 Supplement.
Rachael Stanley’s poems have most recently been published in Live Encounters, Flare and Drawn to the light press. She was commended twice in the Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Competition in 2019 and 2022. Her debut collection Back to Infinity was published by Revival Press, Limerick in May 2024. She lives in Dublin.
‘Brigid of the Bargain Bins’ & ‘The Song of Brigid’s Cloak’. Two poems by Catherine Ann Cullen – Brigid the Bard 2026 Supplement.
Catherine Ann Cullen was the inaugural Poet in Residence at Poetry Ireland. She is an award-winning poet, children’s writer and songwriter. Her eighth book, Storm Damage, was published by Dedalus Press in October 2025.
‘Blue’. A poem by Lizz Murphy – Brigid the Bard 2026 Supplement
Lizz Murphy has published fifteen books. Her tenth poetry title Bitumen Psalms was recently released by Flying Islands Pocket Poets. The Wear of My Face (Spinifex Press) won the ACT Writers’ ACT Notable Award for Poetry (Big Press) 2021. Spinifex Press also published Two Lips Went Shopping and her popular international anthology Wee Girls: Women Writing from an Irish Perspective.
Rochford Street Review 