On the eve of the #inauguration  of Joe Biden as America’s 46th President, here is my reading of a poem he often quotes, Seamus Heaney’s Estate of Seamus Heaney ‘from The Cure at Troy’. “Believe that a farther shore is reachable from here”. Seamus Heaney HomePlace Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again

Coming soon. @NOALIBISBOOKS Little Acorns Bookstore ACNI Writing Belfast BookFestival Belfast Telegraph

TICKETS ON SALE… NOW! ‘𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘’ - Our brand new series featuring writers in conversation will be a collection of pre-recorded virtual events published over a six week schedule. Get your tickets NOW here: seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/shows

The Arts Council has joined with Royal Society of Literature to celebrate Northern Irish writers & writing as part of the first #NIWritersDay on Tuesday 23rd March. This free online day of events, will shine a spotlight on our acclaimed poets, playwrights & authors artscouncil-ni.org/news/first-ni-…

Wha, he’s one of the lads now? Ye better smarten your act up now, young @thepoetryporch Deep voice & exquisite brevity remind me of Cohen’s note to the girl he had yet to be introduced to in the apartment above: ‘please come down; I was thinking of you and made a pass at myself!’

Noah Donohoe (14) was found naked in a storm drain six days after going missing. In tomorrow’s Sunday Independent, his mother Fiona reveals he was found with a head injury and tells me why she believes the PSNI probe into his death is flawed. How did the Belfast teen end up dead?

“They laughed at one I loved”...... The bastards. Great poem on the undeniability of who we are.

The IrishNetworkUSA are hosting a #StPatricksDay celebration of Irish culture on March 19th, 7-8.30 pm ET, in which I will be taking part. #SilverLinings Registration details here. eventbrite.com/e/irish-networ…

I want to live in a world where, wherever you’re from and whatever your circumstances, you are believed and helped when you reach out in a crisis.

At the end of this short day candles come into their own. Steady, slight, they waver only when our stories flare out & with green rushes underfoot we’ll imagine evenings stretching to the farthest shore & voices chorusing & we remembering. Maura Johnston ‘As far as it goes’

Daniel Mulhall Just brilliant, Maura. And Dan Mulhall is no slouch when it comes to recognising good poetry.....

This is really great. The greening of the The White House & now this Irish tune being played for President Donald J. Trump Biden. What a joyous #StPatricksDay we’ve had in DC.

US company Workday expands its presence in #Ireland with plans to add 400 jobs at its European headquarters in #Dublin.

#Covid19poetry #southarmagh... ‘The time of the singing of birds is come.’ Scarlet-day for us poetry lovers ... we are joined by Michael Longley. ⁦@CarganCampbell⁩ ⁦Seán Cunningham⁩ ⁦@thepoetryporch⁩ ⁦@unawalsh54⁩ ⁦Miriam O'Callaghan⁩ ⁦Liam Hannaway⁩

Under the American Rescue Plan, the typical family of four is getting a $5,600 check. That money helps folks keep a roof over their head and put food on the table. Help is here.

.The TLS praises Maura Johnston's glossary of Seamus Heaney hearth language: 'You had better know your neb from your bleb, your plout from your drowth, your hob-soot from your glar, your wood-kerne from your gombeen-man...'

Real politics shouldn't be about waving flags, it should be about developing the standard of living of all sections of your people. 23 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, we all need to spill our sweat to change our society for the better.