The Stinging Fly

‘What's That You're Reading?’👀 online panel of literary editors, critics and writers discuss the latest trends in what & how people are reading + how these changes impact the world of publishing 📚 with Laura Hackett, Kevin Power & Dan Sheehan Tuesday Nov 10th, 7pm stingingfly.org/product/what...

Huge congratulations to Tara Bergin on winning the @forwardprizes.bsky.social for Best Single Poem – Written 2026. ‘The Fear’ by Tara Bergin was one of two published in the Summer 2025 issue of our magazine. You can order a copy of the Summer 2025 issue stingingfly.org/product/summ...

NEW on our website Philip Ó Ceallaigh reviews ‘From the Front Line. Stalingrad-Treblinka-Berlin: 1941–1945‘, a collection by Vasily Grossman “This edition of From the Front Line is not only an astute account of the war but a fascinating study of Soviet deception” stingingfly.org/review/from-...

TSF Podcast 🎧 This month, Nicole is joined by Niamh Boyce to discuss her story ‘We Can’t Have Artists Losing Their Tempers’ published in Issue 54 Nicole and Niamh talk about séances, the limitations, restrictions, and freedoms of writing historical fiction stingingfly.org/podcast/niam...

The Stinging Fly reposted

David Hayden

@seventydys.bsky.social

‘Clouds of Albion’ a short story @stingingfly.bsky.social stingingfly.org/2023/11/15/n...

We are delighted to announce Isla Thomson as the winner of the 2026 @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social New Writing Prize in partnership with The Stinging Fly ✨️ Isla has won the prize for her short story, ‘Husbands’, forthcoming in our Winter 2026-27 issue in November 🎉 stingingfly.org/news/announc...

Autumn has arrived 🍁 and with it our first poetry craft seminar as part of our Second Tuesday Series ✨️ Sinéad was interviewed by Declan Meade in September 2002 following the publication of her 2nd poetry collection Between Here and There (2002) Read the interview: stingingfly.org/product/writ...

17 Sept

NEW PODCAST 🎧 Our host Nicole is joined by Susannah Dickey to discuss her story ‘Diplomats’ published in Issue 54 Nicole and Susannah discuss rivalry & jealousy in female friendships (—), the British Empire as enemy & the pleasure of writing characters in their 20's stingingfly.org/podcast/susa...

16 Sept

This Friday, we're excited to take part in @culturenightdub.bsky.social edition of We Love Markets Along with our books, mags and tote bags, the market features over 60 stalls of local Irish design, vintage clothing, crafts, food & live DJ 📍@thedigitalhub.bsky.social ♿️wheelchair accessible ⏰4-9PM

16 Sept

We are delighted to offer an online craft seminar with Sinéad Morrissey entitled Writing from the Inside: On Immediacy of Poetic Address. The seminar will run on Tuesday 13th October from 7pm to 8.30pm, online via Zoom. Tickets now on sale: stingingfly.org/product/writ...

11 Sept

We are delighted with the news that Nicole Flattery has been awarded the 2026 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature ✨️ Huge congratulations to Nicole! Her debut short-story collection Show Them a Good Time was published in 2019 by The Stinging Fly Press. stingingfly.org/product/show...

11 Sept

The Rooney Prize was established in 1976, the prize celebrates an outstanding body of work by an emerging Irish writer under the age of 40 The prize is administered by the Oscar Wilde Centre for Creative Writing in the School of English at @tcddublin.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

9 Sept

Kristen Poli reviews Sugartown by Caragh Maxwell and Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare “Thirst Trap and Sugartown are memorable, sharp, realist novels about young Irish womanhood, and both authors have drawn comparisons to Sally Rooney, Dolly Alderton, and Lena Dunham.” stingingfly.org/review/sugar...

9 Sept

NEW FICTION Izzie Glover ‘I, me, Sonny‘🏇 ”I know from the caravan beforehand that the villain wears more make-up than the maiden. Black pencil and they’ll twist the edges of your moustache, if you have one. To look grotesque and merciless, they said, it’s important.” stingingfly.org/2026/09/09/i...

20 Aug

Second Tuesday Series with Claire Kilroy 🌸🌸🌸 Our Second Tuesday Series returns with an in-conversation event between novelist, Claire Kilroy and our publisher Declan Meade on Tuesday September 8th from 7pm to 8.15pm. stingingfly.org/product/seco...

20 Aug

Claire was interviewed by Declan in September 2006 following the publication of her second novel, Tenderwire. Now, almost 20 years later, Claire and Declan will pick back up where they left off to see what, if anything, has changed about the writing life.

19 Aug

NEW PODCAST 🎧 Our poetry editor Annemarie Ní Churreáin is joined by Róisín Leggett Bohan, featured poet Summer 2026 issue, to read and discuss her work. Annemarie & Róisín discuss the promise they find in poetry - and how ‘body-popping’ relates to the poetic line💃 stingingfly.org/podcast/rois...

14 Aug

Against the backdrop of tension and uncertainty in Afghanistan, Maryam describes her courtyard to Nadifa - the sparrows, her fruit trees and the call to prayer. stingingfly.org/bliss-in-mom...

14 Aug

“Bliss in Moments Like These” is the third set of letters from ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, published in partnership with @untold-narratives.bsky.social, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict Read all three letters stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...

14 Aug

Our Writers Showcase event takes place tomorrow at Kilkenny Arts Festival 🏰🍃 kilkennyarts.ie/festival/pro... Recent magazine contributors Grace Wilentz, Sam Furlong, and Rituals author Danielle McLaughlin will join Declan Meade in conversation, read from their work & discuss their writing process✨

In the next two letters between Nadifa Mohamed and Maryam Mahjoba, exchanged earlier this year, the writers reflect on how they feel connected, despite the distance between them—Nadifa writes from her home in London to Maryam in Kabul—and the fact they’ve never met. stingingfly.org/a-taut-strin...

“A Taut String Between Us” is the second set of letters from ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, published in partnership with @untold-narratives.bsky.social, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict. Read all three letters. stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...

Did you catch @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social on @secondcaptains.bsky.social? ⚽️ The award-winning novelist & short-story writer discussed ‘Prosinečki’, a story & film by Adrian Duncan taken from our Summer 2018 magazine issue, her own writing & family life✒️ Listen here 🎧 www.rte.ie/radio/podcas...

stingingfly.orgWinter 2025-26 – The Stinging Fly

Always a treat seeing our Winter Issue in the wild! I'm glad those dog-like creatures in Robert Ryan's painting ‘The Conversation' have ended up safe in your home🐕🏝️ stingingfly.org/product/wint...

Paul Sweeney@paulsweeneypoet.bsky.social

Absolutely beautiful production value’s @stingingfly.bsky.social

12 Aug

NEW on our website this week, ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, a three-part letter exchange between Maryam Mahjoba, a young Afghan fiction writer living in Kabul, and the Somali British novelist, Nadifa Mohamed, living in London. stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...

12 Aug

The project was devised by Untold Narratives, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict. Maryam and Nadifa exchanged letters from December 2025 to June 2026. Maryam’s letters were translated for Nadifa from Dari into English by Abdul Bacet Khurram.

stingingfly.orgThe Other Poet Drives a Black Mercedes – The Stinging Fly

7 Aug

NEW our website: A short story by Órfhlaith Foyle, ‘The Other Poet Drives a Black Mercedes’: “Cows turn their big faces, and I am afraid of how life goes on until we die. All those dead tucked into the ground as the ancient Mercedes purrs by.” Read the full story🍐 stingingfly.org/2026/08/06/t...

The Stinging Fly reposted

Centre for Place Writing

@centreplacewriting.bsky.social

28 July

Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal has new work published in the summer edition of @stingingfly.bsky.social stingingfly.org/product/summ... @supriyadhaliwal.bsky.social

stingingfly.orgstingingfly.org

24 July

Come say hi to us at We Love Markets this Sunday at The Digital Hub 🌞 The July edition of the market is part of the amazing Liberties Festival, one of the oldest community festivals in Ireland🎉 What to expect: books and magazines📚 hot food🍲 live DJ🎧 Container Coffee Dublin☕ See you there!

17 July

Our Summer School just wrapped up🌞🎊 We hope all the writers who attended had a productive & enjoyable experience🌸🌟 If you are looking for an opportunity to dedicate more time to your fiction project, our 6-Month Fiction Workshops are open for applications for 1 week stingingfly.org/6-month-work...

16 July

NEW on our website: A short story by Max Lury, ‘The Milgrams’ “We resented the fact that she thought we would be impressed by Doug. And we also resented that we were, maybe, impressed by Doug.” Read the full story stingingfly.org/2026/07/16/t...

16 July

We heartily congratulate Tara Bergin on being shortlisted for the 2026 Forward Prize for Poetry, in the category: Best Single Poem—Written 🏆 Tara's poem was one of two published in Issue 52, Summer 2025. order your copy of the Summer 2025 issue📚 stingingfly.org/product/summ...

@culturalfatwa.bsky.social

16 July

Thanks to judges, Sarah Moss, Romalyn Ante, WN Herbert, Michael Mullen & Yomi Ṣode Tara Bergin is from Dublin. Her first poetry collection, This is Yarrow, was published by Carcanet in 2013 and was awarded the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry Prize, & Shine/Strong Award.

The Stinging Fly reposted

Theorem

@thebookshopie.bsky.social

Can be got physically in a few places ime books upstairs tho tend to dissappear fairly quickly!

The Stinging Fly@stingingfly.bsky.social

Our Summer 2026 issue is now available to order on our website 🌞 Thanks to all our contributors for trusting us with their words, and to our brilliant editorial team for putting together another magnificent magazine issue✨ Orders will be sent out May 18th onwards📮 stingingfly.org/product/summ...

The Stinging Fly reposted

TheBookshop.ie

12 July

All three books shortlisted for the @irishinstitute.bsky.social John McGahern Prize at €8 each - while stocks last! Every One Still Here from Liadán Ní Chuinn @stingingfly.bsky.social Frogs For Watchdogs @newislandbooks.bsky.social and Water in the Night, Fire in the Desert @tramppress.bsky.social

@catherinekay.bsky.social

15 July

Just over a week to apply for the 6-month fiction workshops 📬 Workshop Leaders 2026/27: Cathy Sweeney, Colin Barrett, Jan Carson, Mary Morrissy, Roisín O'Donnell & Danielle McLaughlin✨ 4 free places available thanks to Arts Council & our Friends/donors💚 stingingfly.org/6-month-work...

The Stinging Fly reposted

Catherine Kay

10 July

I very much enjoyed participating in an @stingingfly.bsky.social Summer School this week. Lots of great feedback and advice from #DanielleMcLaughlin - and lovely fellow participants- many thanks to all involved 😊

10 July

NEW PODCAST Thomas Morris joins host Nicole to read from & discuss his story ‘Notes on Contributors’, in Issue 54 The Stinging Fly magazine They talk about how writers discuss their writing routine and about the benefit of maintaining mystery and ambiguity in writing stingingfly.org/podcast/tom-...

irishtimes.comJohn McGahern Annual Book Prize shortlist celebrates best Irish debutsThree books in running for £5,000 John McGahern Annual Book Prize judged by Colm Tóibín

10 July

We are thrilled to see that Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn on the shortlist for the John McGahern Annual Book Prize, awarded for the best debut novel or short story collection by an Irish writer or writer resident in Ireland published last year Buy the book stingingfly.org/product/ever...

Irish Studies@LivUni@irishinstitute.bsky.social

Delighted to announce the shortlist for our Annual John McGahern Book Prize Congratulations to ✒️ Gethan Dick ✒️ Seán Farrell ✒️ Liadan Ní Chuinn More on the shortlist in @irishtimes.com: www.irishtimes.com/culture/book... @tramppress.bsky.social @newislandbooks.bsky.social @stingingfly.bsky.social

The Stinging Fly reposted

Irish Studies@LivUni

@irishinstitute.bsky.social

9 July

irishtimes.comJohn McGahern Annual Book Prize shortlist celebrates best Irish debutsThree books in running for £5,000 John McGahern Annual Book Prize judged by Colm Tóibín

9 July

TWO MORE WEEKS TO APPLY ✒️ We are offering four 6-month fiction workshops this year Deadline: Thursday July 23rd, 5pm (Irish Time) The 2026-27 workshops will be led by Cathy Sweeney, Colin Barrett, Jan Carson, Mary Morrissy, Danielle McLaughlin & Roisín O’Donnell stingingfly.org/6-month-work...

26 June

30% OFF FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS ONLY🌞📚🏖️ Kick off your summer reading with our new offer, for a limited time only. Get 30% off any book or magazine until Tuesday 30th June ⏰ Use the code Summer_Reading_2026 at checkout🛒 stingingfly.org/shop/

24 June

ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENJOY OUR SUMMER READING OFFER🌞🌞🌞⛱️⛱️⛱️🌅🌅🌅📚📚📚 Our books & magazines are the perfect companion for a day at the beach or lounging by the pool🏖️ Get 20% off any book or magazine until Tuesday 30th June. Use the code Summer_Reading_2026 at checkout stingingfly.org/shop/

stingingfly.orgEvery One Still Here – The Stinging Fly

19 June

We're delighted to see this news! 🎉 Liadan Ní Chuinn's short story ‘Amalur’ is the 2026 winner of the ALCS Tom Gallon Trust Award 🏆 ‘Amalur’ is from Liadan's debut story collection, Every One Still Here, published in 2025 by The Stinging Fly Press. Get your copy stingingfly.org/product/ever...

The Society of Authors@societyofauthors.bsky.social

“Told in charged, disquieting prose that underscores the vagaries of language and society, ‘Amalur’ is ruled by its own cosmologies: the sun and moon, presence and absence, humour and heartbreak." Judge Andre Bagoo. 🧵

There's less than a week to go until the unique collaborative event between The Stinging Fly x @bansheepress.bsky.social at @corkmidsummer.bsky.social on Saturday, 20th June🎊🌞 In the meantime, lets meet the four writers who will be sharing new writing in response to Seán Mac Erlaine's music 🎤🎵

1.) Chetna Maroo is the Booker Prize-listed author of Western Lane. 2.) Thomas Morris is the award-winning author of the story collections We Don’t Know What We’re Doing and Open Up.

3.) Thomas Morris is the award-winning author of the story collections We Don’t Know What We’re Doing and Open Up 4.) Mary Dunne is an emerging writer from Westmeath, whose work can be found in ROPES and Banshee 📍University College Cork 🔗Get tickets www.corkmidsummer.com/whats-on/the...