Write-on

Welcome to another session of our weekly Write-On presentations. Since we skipped last week’s meeting to celebrate Halloween, October’s Mug of the Month contest is taking place tonight. Eight sportive souls grappled with the key words WALK and EXERCISE and produced a fine trail of texts. There’s bound to be nail-nibbling indecision when it comes to our electronic voting for the new Mug of the Month, proud holder of the famous Mug and even prouder Bearer of the title that goes with it. – And this will only be the prologue to a rich selection of texts from many genres, taken from our Bottom Drawer of submitted pieces as listed below. An enjoyable evening to all our contributors and viewers!

Bob-ná-Bia by Mary Hodson A vivid remembrance of Halloween in rural Ireland — when turf fires glowed, neighbours gathered, and folklore met faith at the kitchen hearth. Blending humour, warmth, and quiet reflection, this story captures the deeper spirit of the season: belonging, remembrance, and the mysteries that flicker just beyond the firelight.

At the Bend in the Road by Mary Hodson Marking a milestone birthday, a woman reflects on the bends and turns that have shaped her life — love, loss, laughter, and the quiet lessons of time. With gentle wisdom and lyrical grace, she discovers that growing older is not an ending but another curve in the long, beautiful road.

The First Music by Mary Hawkshaw In this gentle, reflective short film, memory and melody intertwine. The First Music evokes the wonder of early sound — a child’s discovery of rhythm, a mother’s lullaby, the heartbeat of belonging. Through quiet imagery and voice, it reminds us that music is not only something we hear, but something we are born knowing.  

Losing My Glasses by Kathleen Phelan  
In this quietly radiant poem, a lost pair of glasses becomes a portal to a softer, more painterly world. Through drifting fog, blurred edges, and the memory of Monet and Turner, the speaker discovers not confusion but a fleeting kind of clarity — a gentle unravelling of precision in favour of presence. A meditation on vision, ageing, and grace, this piece reminds us that sometimes, the blur shows us what sharpness cannot.  

My Teddy Bear by Kathleen Phelan
A gentle rhyme about childhood comfort and the quiet loyalty of a beloved toy. Told with tenderness and simplicity, this poem evokes the timeless bond between a child and their teddy bear — a companion who guards, listens, and stays, even when the years move on. A warm and nostalgic piece sure to stir hearts of all ages.  

The Writing Workshop by Kathleen Phelan  
In this playful and affectionate send-up of creative writing groups, Kathleen Phelan captures the chaos, charm, and biscuit-fuelled brilliance of writers trying (and failing) to be profound. With dream clouds, lost pens, poetic sheep, and a tutor on the brink, this witty piece will resonate with anyone who’s ever stared down a blank page — and found laughter waiting instead of genius.  

Halloween by Thomas MacMahon A short poem that captures the eerie charm and earthy humour of an Irish Halloween. Through flickering firelight, remembered voices, and autumn’s wind, Halloween evokes the warmth of tradition and the thin line between the living and the lost.

Clodagh’s Wedding by Tom Curtin Clodagh O’Sullivan has always seemed untouchable – perfectly composed, mysteriously single, and faintly amused by other people’s entanglements. So when an ivory-edged invitation arrives announcing her marriage to a man no one has ever heard of, her friends react with disbelief, envy, and a dash of alarm. The story unfolds through the wry eyes of one of those friends, whose trip home for the wedding becomes a comedy of errors: an ill-timed lunch, a chaotic journey through rain-soaked backroads, and a reception that veers from farce to quiet revelation. Funny, humane, and finely observed, Clodagh’s Wedding explores friendship, self-deception, and the strange ways love and pride collide. Beneath the laughter, it leaves a small ache – a reminder that even the most curated lives hide their share of longing.

The Hollow by James Conway Sara’s search for an island grave draws her into dangerous waters — and into the company of Rolf, a solitary boatman with secrets of his own. Their voyage across a treacherous bay becomes both a physical crossing and a haunting encounter with loss, belief, and the pull of the unseen. Atmospheric and quietly spellbinding, The Hollow lingers like sea-mist over the western shore.  

There Comes a Time by Tom Doyle
This thoughtful reflection explores life’s turning points — those moments of transition that invite (or force) us to change course. With graceful insight and gentle wisdom, Doyle examines how personal crises, epiphanies, synchronicities, or tipping points can become opportunities for growth rather than defeat. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like David Brooks and Louis L’Amour, he reminds us that even in adversity, we can “suffer our way to wisdom.” A resonant and uplifting meditation for anyone standing at life’s crossroads.

Fidelis by Tom Doyle On a rain-soaked Christmas Eve, an anxious young man searches Dublin for the perfect gift — something that will say both love and I tried. What he finds instead is a shaggy toy dog named Fidelis, a bus full of onlookers, and a series of small humiliations that lead to an unexpected grace. Warm, funny, and gently nostalgic, Fidelis captures the tender awkwardness of first love and the quiet triumph of sincerity over style.

Foundling Girls – Chapter 2 by Mary Rose Tobin
In this rich and textured chapter, daily life at the Foundling Hospital unfolds through classrooms, sewing benches, and the echoing tones of hymn practice. Lucy, Polly, Hetty and Clara each work to shape their futures — and preserve traces of their pasts. From needlework to music drills, the girls are schooled in obedience and precision, yet each one holds a secret token of identity hidden close. Through whispered confidences and fleeting moments of grace, Lucy begins to imagine transformation — the dream of becoming something new, not just mended. This chapter weaves discipline, friendship, and longing into a vivid portrait of girlhood under watchful eyes.  

Chapter 7 – The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy In this quietly harrowing chapter, two visiting doctors arrive to set up the traction rig that will hold young Christopher O’Shea in place for months to come. Through the rain-washed calm of the house, each movement — the tightening of straps, the click of metal joints, the father’s hovering pride — becomes a study in tension and control. The Doctors captures the moment when care turns mechanical, love becomes procedure, and a family begins its long vigil at the bedside.  

Did We Survive? – A Letter to the Future by Mary Hawkshaw
In this moving personal meditation, Mary Hawkshaw writes across time to an imagined future reader, asking whether humanity has survived its own contradictions. Blending memory, media, and moral questioning, the piece reflects on invention and indifference, beauty and brutality, the thrill of creativity and the burden of witnessing. It is both a letter and a lament — and a powerful call to remember what we were, and what we might still become.

The Write-on Story by Write-on Members
This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice. Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute.                                              

Genre	Title	Author
Short Story	Bob-ná-Bia	Mary Hodson
Short Story	At the Bend in the Road	Mary Hodson
Short Story	Fidelis	Tom Doyle
Short Story	The Hollow	James Conway
Short Story	Clodagh’s Wedding	Tom Curtin
Poem	Losing My Glasses	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	The Writing Workshop	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	My Teddy Bear	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	Halloween	Thomas MacMahon
Song	The First Music	Mary Hawkshaw
Novel Extract	Chapter 7 – The Boy in the Bed	Frank Fahy
Novel Extract	Chapter 2 – Foundling Girls in the Chapel	Mary Rose Tobin
Non-Fiction	There Comes a Time	Tom Doyle
Reflection	Did We Survive? – A letter to the Future	Mary Hawkshaw
Website	The Story of Write-on (Living History & Reflections from our Members)	All Members

Our Bottom Drawer has been filled up with a whole new collection of stories, novel extracts, poems, memoirs, songs, plays, reflections – a wonderful testimony to the diversity of styles, interests and creativity of our group. Don’t miss what promises to be another stimulating and satisfying evening’s entertainment!

A reminder: the coming Sunday is the deadline for submissions to the Mug of the Month competition. The key words which must be included in the 50-word (max.) text are EXERCISE and WALK. Send to annemurraypost@yahoo.ie .

The Arrest – A Student Nurse’s Lesson by Mary Hodson In this powerful memoir piece, a first-year nursing student in a London hospital faces a moment of crisis when a patient suddenly deteriorates under her care. What follows is a deeply human account of fear, instinct, and the unexpected kindness of those around her. With vivid details of the 1970s hospital hierarchy and the emotional terrain of early training, this story offers readers a window into the making of a nurse — not in the classroom, but in a single unforgettable moment that tests her courage and shapes her calling.     A Short Experimental Play by James Conway   In this surreal, darkly comic café scene, three voices — or perhaps just one fractured voice — bicker, reminisce, and unravel over stale cakes, imagined waitresses, and the memory of a long-departed minder. What begins as a tribute spirals into something stranger: a theatre of memory, madness, and self-interrogation. With wit, bite, and flashes of real tenderness, Conway’s play challenges identity and the unreliability of truth — all over a pot of coffee and a cake fished from the bin.     After Dada’s Letter by Helena Clare   When Delia receives a letter from home, her fragile sense of safety is shaken. In the quiet Scottish countryside where she and her children have taken refuge, something ancient and unsettling still stalks them — a force tied to a family curse, a ghostly old woman, and a child who walks with unseen companions. This haunting story delicately blends folklore, maternal love, and the strange gifts children sometimes carry. Rooted in the rhythms of rural life, it explores how fear can pass from one generation to the next — and how courage can too.   Losing My Glasses by Kathleen Phelan   In this quietly radiant poem, a lost pair of glasses becomes a portal to a softer, more painterly world. Through drifting fog, blurred edges, and the memory of Monet and Turner, the speaker discovers not confusion but a fleeting kind of clarity — a gentle unravelling of precision in favour of presence. A meditation on vision, ageing, and grace, this piece reminds us that sometimes, the blur shows us what sharpness cannot.   My Teddy Bear by Kathleen Phelan A gentle rhyme about childhood comfort and the quiet loyalty of a beloved toy. Told with tenderness and simplicity, this poem evokes the timeless bond between a child and their teddy bear — a companion who guards, listens, and stays, even when the years move on. A warm and nostalgic piece sure to stir hearts of all ages.   The Writing Workshop by Kathleen Phelan   In this playful and affectionate send-up of creative writing groups, Kathleen Phelan captures the chaos, charm, and biscuit-fuelled brilliance of writers trying (and failing) to be profound. With dream clouds, lost pens, poetic sheep, and a tutor on the brink, this witty piece will resonate with anyone who’s ever stared down a blank page — and found laughter waiting instead of genius.   Creation by Póilín Brennan [No synopses required at the request of the author.]     Foundling Girls – Chapter 2 by Mary Rose Tobin In this rich and textured chapter, daily life at the Foundling Hospital unfolds through classrooms, sewing benches, and the echoing tones of hymn practice. Lucy, Polly, Hetty and Clara each work to shape their futures — and preserve traces of their pasts. From needlework to music drills, the girls are schooled in obedience and precision, yet each one holds a secret token of identity hidden close. Through whispered confidences and fleeting moments of grace, Lucy begins to imagine transformation — the dream of becoming something new, not just mended. This chapter weaves discipline, friendship, and longing into a vivid portrait of girlhood under watchful eyes.   Chapter 2 – The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy   The long-anticipated return from hospital is anything but triumphant. In this taut and quietly powerful chapter, Christopher O’Shea is delivered home not by ambulance but by van, strapped to a stretcher and carried awkwardly through the narrow staircase by strangers and family alike. Told through the silent weight of glances, effort, and unspoken fear, this episode captures the emotional dislocation of homecoming — a boy altered, a house changed, a family straining under the new reality. With spare prose and unflinching detail, this chapter deepens the novel’s exploration of physical vulnerability and emotional silence.     There Comes a Time by Tom Doyle This thoughtful reflection explores life’s turning points — those moments of transition that invite (or force) us to change course. With graceful insight and gentle wisdom, Doyle examines how personal crises, epiphanies, synchronicities, or tipping points can become opportunities for growth rather than defeat. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like David Brooks and Louis L’Amour, he reminds us that even in adversity, we can “suffer our way to wisdom.” A resonant and uplifting meditation for anyone standing at life’s crossroads. Slopum Cum Dasum by Tom Doyle A wry and warmly nostalgic memoir, Slopum Cum Dasum captures the clash between generational values through the lens of one painted door. Doyle recalls his father’s almost holy devotion to craftsmanship — a perfectionist whose painstaking three-month mission to paint the front door became the stuff of legend on their Phibsboro street. But when the narrator, now a bell-bottomed teenager, attempts to repaint that same door in a bold shade of green, the result is swift maternal outrage and the unravelling of what once gleamed with pride. Told with wit, affection, and a painter’s eye for detail, this essay is a tribute to both the art of doing things well — and the inevitability of messing them up.   Lost Souls – A Song by Mary Hawkshaw This darkly comic gospel ballad follows three souls who arrive at Heaven’s gate, each expecting a reward for their past deeds — one for faith, one for service, one for wealth. But the reception they get is far from what they imagined. With sharp rhymes and a twist of satire, Lost Souls explores what really counts when the final reckoning comes. Not everyone makes the cut — not even for Hell. Did We Survive? – A Letter to the Future by Mary Hawkshaw In this moving personal meditation, Mary Hawkshaw writes across time to an imagined future reader, asking whether humanity has survived its own contradictions. Blending memory, media, and moral questioning, the piece reflects on invention and indifference, beauty and brutality, the thrill of creativity and the burden of witnessing. It is both a letter and a lament — and a powerful call to remember what we were, and what we might still become. The Write-on Story by Write-on Members This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice. Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute.

This week, our Bottom Drawer offers a beautifully balanced mix of story, reflection, and poetic pause. We wish all participants an enjoyable and stimulating evening. The Bottom Drawer Here are the synopses of the items currently held in Write-on’s Bottom Drawer — our active store of submitted manuscripts. From this collection, the weekly programme is carefully selected. Gene Pool by Anne McManus Set in a bustling French bar at lunchtime, Gene Pool explores a moment of quiet observation amid the clamour of conversation, clinking glasses and shouted orders. The unnamed narrator finds herself alone, surrounded by confident, talkative men who seem to belong — until a stranger sits beside her, setting off a conversation that shifts the tone from superficial to intimate. With sharp dialogue and a light but knowing touch, the story gradually reveals the vulnerabilities beneath outward bravado, touching on family, identity, and the traces of the past that shape us. A brief encounter becomes something more — a reflection on connection, coincidence, and the quiet ways in which lives intersect. Foundling Girls – Chapter 1 by Mary Rose Tobin Chapter 1 – I Know That My Redeemer Liveth   Nine-year-old Lucy lies awake in the dormitory of London’s Foundling Hospital, surrounded by the restless breath and muffled coughs of fifty sleeping girls. Haunted by dreams of a lost foster home and drawn to mysterious music in the night, Lucy begins to sense that her voice may carry more than just sound—it may carry hope. As dawn breaks over a tightly regulated world of slates, chalk, and scripture recitation, we glimpse the fierce discipline and quiet tenderness that shape the girls’ daily lives. In the chapel, beneath the painted gaze of angels and saints, Lucy hears something that will echo long after the final bell has rung.   Chapter 7 – The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy   A silent girl arrives without warning, carrying only a small case and a parcel. Her name is Henrietta, and she’s here to help — or so Rita says. What follows is a day of unspoken observation: Christopher in his bed, the girl moving through the house like smoke, and a household not quite sure what to make of her. She speaks little, obeys quickly, and reveals almost nothing — but by nightfall, something shifts. A spark passes between the boy and the girl with the fire-lit hands. And though neither of them has words for it yet, everything begins to change. The Weight of Small Things by Kathleen Phelan Grief doesn’t always come crashing in — sometimes it lingers in the ordinary. A boiling kettle. The way someone washes fruit. A silence before a laugh. In this gentle, precise meditation, absence is felt through ritual, memory, and the quiet rituals that survive a loss. A poem about what remains — and how, slowly, almost imperceptibly, something like peace begins to grow. There Comes a Time by Tom Doyle This thoughtful reflection explores life’s turning points — those moments of transition that invite (or force) us to change course. With graceful insight and gentle wisdom, Doyle examines how personal crises, epiphanies, synchronicities, or tipping points can become opportunities for growth rather than defeat. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like David Brooks and Louis L’Amour, he reminds us that even in adversity, we can “suffer our way to wisdom.” A resonant and uplifting meditation for anyone standing at life’s crossroads. Slopum Cum Dasum by Tom Doyle A wry and warmly nostalgic memoir, Slopum Cum Dasum captures the clash between generational values through the lens of one painted door. Doyle recalls his father’s almost holy devotion to craftsmanship — a perfectionist whose painstaking three-month mission to paint the front door became the stuff of legend on their Phibsboro street. But when the narrator, now a bell-bottomed teenager, attempts to repaint that same door in a bold shade of green, the result is swift maternal outrage and the unravelling of what once gleamed with pride. Told with wit, affection, and a painter’s eye for detail, this essay is a tribute to both the art of doing things well — and the inevitability of messing them up. Write-on Creative Writing Challenge: Scene and Reveal This week’s creative writing session features three short, imaginative prompts designed to spark storytelling from a single moment. Members are invited to write their own version of the scene, guided only by the setup. Afterwards, we’ll hear how a well-known published author tackled the same idea — and open up discussion on tone, voice, and storytelling choices. The Write-on Story by Write-on Members This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice. Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute. MOTM (Mug of the Month) Keywords: WALK and EXERCISE Use one. Use both. Write a sonnet. Write a haiku. Write a single brilliant line on the back of a receipt. Just… write.   Closing Date: 26 October 2025   annemurraypost@yahoo.ie Write-On now has a dedicated submissions email: bd.writeon@gmail.com

The Bottom Drawer
Genre	Title	Author
Short Story	Gene Pool	Anne McManus
Poem	The Weight of Small Things	Kathleen Phelan
Writing Challenge	Scene and Reveal	All Members
Novel Extract	Chapter 7 – The Boy in the Bed	Frank Fahy
Novel Extract	Chapter 1 – Foundling Girls in the Chapel	Mary Rose Tobin
Website	The Story of Write-on (Living History & Reflections from our Members)	All Members

What’s new in The Bottom Drawer this week? Read on ….!

Sing to Me, Nevermore   This week we’re treated to not one but two original songs. First, Mary Hawkshaw’s haunting musical response to Poe’s The Raven — Once Upon a Midnight — draws on the rhythms and shadows of that gothic classic. The synopsis offers a glimpse into the eerie beauty of her composition. Then comes Frank Fahy’s own tribute to friendship, journalism, and the spirit of 1974, when a newspaper called Western Life helped forge a lifelong bond. That memory now lives on in music, echoing across the decades.

History, Fiction, and Futures in Progress   We’re thrilled to feature a new extract from Mary Rose Tobin’s novel The Foundlings (set in the Foundling Hospital, London), a long-matured work that is at last nearing full bloom. Her lyrical prose and emotional clarity continue to impress.   We also glimpse the next chapter of Olga Peters’ forthcoming A Normal Couple — Part Two. This thoughtful and sharp-eyed novel explores love, disappointment, and what counts as “normal” in a world tilted sideways.

Poetry from the People In verse, we welcome: Póilín Brennan’s bilingual offering Le Chéile / Together, a tender celebration of shared listening, myth, and community. Kathleen Phelan, whose gentle nature observations always restore the spirit. And James Conway, who offers a new piece with his signature philosophical lens.

Write-on now has a dedicated submissions email! bd.writeon@gmail.com     Website www.write-on.ie

Here are the synopses of the items currently held in Write-on’s Bottom Drawer — our active store of submitted manuscripts. From this collection, the weekly programme is carefully selected.

Once Upon a Midnight by Mary Hawkshaw

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s iconic poem The Raven, Mary Hawkshaw’s musical interpretation is a haunting and lyrical response to one of literature’s most enduring works. Drawing on Poe’s rhythms and imagery — the “dreary December,” the ghostly presence, and the echo of loss — she transforms the poem into a contemporary soundscape that is both elegy and exploration. With evocative phrases like “ghosts of my last” and “girls on the floor,” her piece moves beyond simple homage to become a powerful meditation on memory, absence, and the echoes that remain when love — or sanity — is lost.

Charlotte Wants an Answer by Olga Peters

In wartime Berlin, a walk by the lake takes a chilling turn for Charlotte and her friend Franzie when they witness an ominous column of people—Jews—being herded through the city under heavy guard. The women’s quiet afternoon is shattered, and Charlotte, a doctor accustomed to the cold logic of dissection, is shocked into urgent questioning. As Charlotte demands answers, the story broadens into a tense and intimate domestic gathering, where old loyalties, wartime propaganda, and fragments of truth collide. How far will Charlotte go to preserve her integrity? And how much do any of them really want to know?

He Was Despised by Mary Rose Tobin

When young Lucy arrives for her usual singing lesson, she expects another quiet Thursday of scales and arpeggios. But fate intervenes — the soprano for the Albert Hall’s Good Friday Messiah has fallen ill, and Lucy is thrust into the spotlight with only days to prepare. Guided by her passionate mentor Professor Montefiore, she must rise to a challenge that could make — or break — her. A story of talent, fear, and transcendence, this moving piece captures the moment a shy girl becomes a star… and perhaps something more.

The Weight of Small Things by Kathleen Phelan

Grief doesn’t always come crashing in — sometimes it lingers in the ordinary. A boiling kettle. The way someone washes fruit. A silence before a laugh. In this gentle, precise meditation, absence is felt through ritual, memory, and the quiet rituals that survive a loss. A poem about what remains — and how, slowly, almost imperceptibly, something like peace begins to grow.

Remembering the Days by Frank Fahy

‘We built a dream with borrowed type / And ink that stained our skin…’ So begins this lyrical tribute to the newspaper adventure that changed everything. In 1974, two young men — Frank Fahy and Tom Curtin — launched Western Life, a new Galway city newspaper born of vision, grit, and friendship. Half a century later, that friendship endures, and this song remembers not just the publication they created, but the bond that carried them through. A heartfelt reflection on legacy, risk, and camaraderie — and a reminder of how the boldness of youth can echo through a lifetime.  

Le Chéile le Póilín Brennan  

Ag meascadh Gaeilge agus Béarla, miotais agus an nua‑aimsearthacht, tugann an dán fileata seo cuireadh dúinn éisteacht go domhain — le crainn, le beacha, le scéalta cois tine, agus lena chéile. Músclaíonn Póilín Brennan mothú cuimhne roinnte agus neart pobail, fréamhaithe sa nádúr agus sa chomhluadar. Le macallaí an tseanchaí agus cogar ón talamh, is ceiliúradh é Le Chéile ar an méid is féidir a chloisteáil — agus a leigheas — nuair a stopaimid le chéile.  

Together by Póilín Brennan

Blending Irish and English, myth and modernity, this lyrical poem invites us to gather in deep listening — to trees, to bees, to firelight stories, and to each other. Póilín Brennan evokes a sense of shared memory and collective strength, rooted in community and the natural world. With echoes of the shanachí and whispers from the land, Le Chéile is a celebration of what can be heard — and healed — when we pause together.    

A Man’s World by James Conway

This short, impressionistic poem mixes painterly abstraction with a punch of working-man defiance. James Conway imagines a canvas pulsing with raw, elemental colours — cerebral greys, bruised reds, and deepest blues — overlaid with tools, sweat, and noise. A meditation on masculinity and creation, the poem reclaims the phrase “It’s a man’s world” not as a boast, but as a textured surface for thought, work, and expression.

The Write-on Story by Write-on Members

This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice. Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute.

MOTM (Mug of the Month) Keywords: WALK and EXERCISE Use one. Use both. Write a sonnet. Write a haiku. Write a single brilliant line on the back of a receipt. Just… write.   Closing Date: 26 October 2025   annemurraypost@yahoo.ie

Genre	Title	Author
Song	Once upon a Midnight	Mary Hawkshaw
Song	Remembering the Days	Frank Fahy
Poem	The Weight of Small Things	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	A Man’s World	James Conway
Poem	Le Chéile/Together	Póilín Brennan
Novel Extract	He was Despised	Mary Rose Tobin
Novel Extract	A Normal Couple, 2	Olga Peters
Website	The Story of Write-on (Living History &  Reflections from our Members)	All Members

Here are the synopses of the items currently held in Write-on’s Bottom Drawer — our active store of submitted manuscripts. From this collection, the weekly programme is carefully selected.

The In-Laws by Mary Hodson

It’s the summer of 1975, and our young Irish narrator is head over heels for a London lad with a Triumph Herald, a navy suit, and a love for Neil Diamond. What starts as a dreamy date to Jesus Christ Superstar takes an unexpected turn when he casually swings by his parents’ flat — with her in tow. No warning. No heads-up. Just a girl in towering platformsandals, suddenly face to face with a startled London mother and a bemused, pipe-smoking father. Cue the Royal Albert china, the dainty biscuits, and the kind of tea that could strip paint. In this hilarious, tender flashback, we watch a mortified girl try to make a good impression, a mother try to make sense of it all, and a quietly grinning boy who knew exactly what he was doing. A story about first love, first impressions, and that unforgettable first time you meet the people who might one day become… the in-laws.

The Incident by Geraldine Warren

Hannah Mullen is doing her best to hold it together. With a family christening looming and her husband’s political campaign in full swing, she’s expected to smile, show up, and behave. But something inside her is unravelling. There’s a sound no one else seems to hear — a low, insistent buzzing that builds with every new message, every photo, every reminder of what she’s lost. And then, one scorching Saturday morning, it all comes to a head. Set against the charged backdrop of a city in motion, The Incident is a taut, unsettling story about the moment everything changes — and the price of keeping up appearances when the world expects you to be fine.

The Weight of Small Things by Kathleen Brennan

Grief doesn’t always come crashing in — sometimes it lingers in the ordinary. A boiling kettle. The way someone washes fruit. A silence before a laugh. In this gentle, precise meditation, absence is felt through ritual, memory, and the quiet rituals that survive a loss. A poem about what remains — and how, slowly, almost imperceptibly, something like peace begins to grow.

Dementia by Gráinne Keogh

Delicate and poignant, this short poem captures a fleeting moment of lucid memory in the midst of cognitive decline. As the scent of honeysuckle and the hush of evening stir a sudden recollection of childhood, the narrator slips briefly into joy before being gently guided back to the present. Gráinne Keogh’s debut contribution is tender, restrained, and quietly powerful.

Le Chéile / Together by Poilin Brennan

Blending Irish and English, myth and modernity, this lyrical poem invites us to gather in deep listening — to trees, to bees, to firelight stories, and to each other. Pauline Brennan evokes a sense of shared memory and collective strength, rooted in community and the natural world. With echoes of the shanachí and whispers from the land, Le Chéile is a celebration of what can be heard — and healed — when we pause together.

Meáchan na Rudaí Beaga by Poilin Brennan

Ní thagann an brón i dtólamh — uaireanta, fanann sé sna gnáthrudaí. Coire ag fiuchadh. Torthaí á ní. Ciúnas sula dtosaíonn gáire. Léiríonn an dán cumhachtach seo an chaoi a maireann caillteanas ionainn, gan focal, gan radharc – ach fós, go láidir. Taispeántas álainn ar conas a fhásann suaimhneas – mall, mar chaonach ar chloch – gan torann, gan deifir, ach le cineáltas ciúin.

Chapter 3: The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy

The middle room is cleared, the bed arrives, and the weight begins its pull. In this quiet but unflinching chapter, we witness the first days of Christopher’s confinement — the installation of the traction device, the reactions of each family member, and the early signs of how life must now adjust. Told with restraint and precision, the chapter explores control, sacrifice, and endurance — not only in the child’s body, but in the family itself, as routines, roles, and hopes are quietly rearranged around the quiet, steady tug of the rope.

A Man’s World by James Conway

This short, impressionistic poem mixes painterly abstraction with a punch of working-man defiance. James Conway imagines a canvas pulsing with raw, elemental colours — cerebral greys, bruised reds, and deepest blues — overlaid with tools, sweat, and noise. A meditation on masculinity and creation, the poem reclaims the phrase “It’s a man’s world” not as a boast, but as a textured surface for thought, work, and expression.

Glencoe by Helena Clare

When Cordelia Hamilton — Cory to her friends — leaves North Carolina for the Scottish Highlands, she’s not looking for answers. Not really. But as soon as she arrives, the past begins to stir. A rowan sprig confiscated at passport control. A stranger who greets her by name. A family house untouched since the day her great-uncle died. And then — something in the road that only she can see. Haunted by questions her grandmother never answered, Cory is drawn deeper into the hills of Glencoe, into a curse older than anyone will admit, and into a legacy she was never meant to ignore. A story of kinship, memory, and the strange pull of inherited fate — Glencoe is both tender and uncanny, rooted in landscape and shadowed by the past.

Genre	Title	Author
Short Story	The In-Laws	Mary Hodson
Short Story	The Incident	Geraldine Warren
Poem	The Weight of Small Things	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	A Man’s World	James Conway
Poem	Dementia	Gráinne Keogh
Poem	Le Chéile/Together	Póilín Brennan
Novel Extract	Chapter 3: The Boy in the Bed	Frank Fahy
Novel Extract	Glencoe	Helena Clare
Website	The Story of Write-on (Living History &  Reflections from our Members)	All Members

The Bottom Drawer  

Here are the synopses of the items currently held in Write-on’s Bottom Drawer — our active store of submitted manuscripts. From this collection, the weekly programme is carefully selected. Although we aim to follow a first-come, first-served system, a few important factors influence the running order. We try to maintain a healthy mix of genres — avoiding an evening made up entirely of poems or all short stories, for example. The presence of the author is also important: if someone isn’t at the session, we usually postpone their piece until they can hear the feedback in person. Timing is another key element. A ten-page story isn’t ideal at five minutes to nine. So the presenter balances each session — choosing a mix of short and long pieces to ensure a smooth flow from start to finish. Write-on prides itself on good timekeeping: we begin at 7:00 p.m. sharp and aim to wrap up by 9:00 p.m. If discussion runs over, members are always free to slip away without apology. In short: the Bottom Drawer is both a working archive and a curated selection pool — filled with gold, and always ready to shine.        

MOTM (Mug Of The Month) with All Members Our monthly Mug of the Month challenges Members to provide a text of not more than 50 words, containing two given key words. On the last Thursday of the month, the submissions are presented at the start of the session, and then members vote for the winner, usually via a ballot list which is sent to the Write-On WhatsApp on their mobiles. The writer with the highest number of votes is entitled Mug of the Month, and is honoured by being the proud curator of the Mug he has won until the next competition (in which he/she is not allowed to participate). Always good fun, and amazing how much variety can result from Two Given Words. The words this month were: LIGHT and FALL. There are four entries.

The Ocean Kept Your Name by Kathleen Phelan In this elegiac and atmospheric poem, Kathleen Phelan explores the lingering ache of absence through the voice of the sea. Grief washes through each stanza in tides of memory, silence, and imagery — roses dropping like unsent letters, a house swaying in the weight of loss, and a voice barely clinging to the name of the gone. It’s a haunting meditation on presence, echo, and the slow unravel of love beyond the shoreline.    

The View from Glenfield by Kathleen Phelan When Miss Carr arrives in Glenfield to take up a teaching post, her clipped speech and city manner set her apart from the start. The village watches, judges, and absorbs her quietly — children change how they write, locals share mutterings, and the priest pays a smiling visit. Kathleen Phelan’s first short story is a study in subtle tension, showing how a stranger’s presence can unsettle a place without ever causing a scene. Atmospheric, spare, and quietly powerful, this debut piece marks a remarkable shift from poetry to prose.

An Unlikely Duality: AI and Me – Our Path to Dialogue by Mary Hawkshaw What begins as a curious experiment becomes a profound and lyrical exploration of memory, creativity, and connection. In this unique memoir, Mary Hawkshaw charts her evolving relationship with artificial intelligence — from tentative first steps to a full creative partnership. Through reflections, poems, songs, and questions, she reveals how AI became not just a tool but a dialogue partner, echoing her voice, shaping her thoughts, and sparking unexpected joy. This excerpt offers a moving meditation on technology, humanity, and the enduring power of words.  

Our Book 2 by Mary Hawkshaw In this follow-up collection, Mary Hawkshaw reflects on dialogue — with memory, with poetry, and with AI. Blending memoir, philosophy, and lyrical fragments, she traces her journey from childhood on the Aran Islands to her creative partnership with a new digital voice. Stories of family, loss, and resilience meet poems and songs shaped in conversation, creating a book that is both intimate and expansive. At its heart, Our Book 2 is an invitation: to listen, to question, and to wonder.    

The Write-on Story by Write-on Members This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice.Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute.                                      

The Tree by James Conway Strange and surreal, this experimental poem bends language and imagery to startling effect. A woman believes she’s pregnant with a tree, and what follows is a fevered meditation on growth, fear, and transformation. James Conway uses absurdity to probe deeper truths about the body, identity, and the strange fictions we tell ourselves to survive. Arresting, unpredictable, and deeply original.  

Dementia by Gráinne Keogh Delicate and poignant, this short poem captures a fleeting moment of lucid memory in the midst of cognitive decline. As the scent of honeysuckle and the hush of evening stir a sudden recollection of childhood, the narrator slips briefly into joy before being gently guided back to the present. Gráinne Keogh’s debut contribution is tender, restrained, and quietly powerful.      

Where is Heaven? by Mary Hodson In this tender and evocative memoir, Mary Hudson reflects on the death of her grandmother — “Nanan” — and the mystery of heaven as seen through a child’s eyes. Rich in detail and affection, the story moves from turf-scented bicycle rides and whispered rosaries to the hush of a child’s grief and a final, gentle visitation. As childhood innocence brushes up against mortality, this piece becomes a meditation on memory, loss, and the ways in which love continues — flickering gently like a light switched on in the dark.    

Chapter 2: The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy The middle room is cleared, the bed arrives, and the weight begins its pull. In this quiet but unflinching chapter, we witness the first days of Christopher’s confinement — the installation of the traction device, the reactions of each family member, and the early signs of how life must now adjust. Told with restraint and precision, the chapter explores control, sacrifice, and endurance — not only in the child’s body, but in the family itself, as routines, roles, and hopes are quietly rearranged around the quiet, steady tug of the rope.    

A Man’s World by James Conway This short, impressionistic poem mixes painterly abstraction with a punch of working-man defiance. James Conway imagines a canvas pulsing with raw, elemental colours — cerebral greys, bruised reds, and deepest blues — overlaid with tools, sweat, and noise. A meditation on masculinity and creation, the poem reclaims the phrase “It’s a man’s world” not as a boast, but as a textured surface for thought, work, and expression.    

Le Chéile / Together by Póilín Brennan Blending Irish and English, myth and modernity, this lyrical poem invites us to gather in deep listening — to trees, to bees, to firelight stories, and to each other. Pauline Brennan evokes a sense of shared memory and collective strength, rooted in community and the natural world. With echoes of the shanachí and whispers from the land, Le Chéile is a celebration of what can be heard — and healed — when we pause together.  

Sacred by Póilín Brennan In this rich, reverent poem, Pauline Brennan weaves a portrait of the divine feminine rooted in daily acts of love and sacrifice. From fruitcakes to prayer beads, from Galway streets to the altar of motherhood, Sacred honours the unseen holiness in ordinary lives. The speaker recognises sacredness not in grand gestures but in gestures of care — feeding others while going hungry, blessing strangers with a look, carrying the weight of prayer. A meditation on maternal grace, spiritual legacy, and radical compassion.      

The Bottom Drawer      

Genre   Title   Author  

Competition MOTM All members  

Poem The Ocean Kept Your Name Kathleen Phelan

Short Story The View from Glenfield Kathleen Phelan

Memoir An Unlikely Duality: AI and Me Mary Hawkshaw

Novel Extract Our Book 2 Mary Hawkshaw

Website The Story of Write-on (Living History &  Reflections from our Members) Frank Fahy

Poem The Tree James Conway

Poem Dementia Gráinne Keogh

Short Story Where is Heaven Mary Hodson

Novel Extract Chapter 2: The Boy in the Bed Frank Fahy

Poem A Man’s World James Conway

Poem Le Chéile/Together Póilín Brennan

Poem Sacred Póilín Brennan

Short Story The Incident Geraldine Warren

 Welcome to another stimulating session of our Write-On group. The texts lined up for this evening’s presentation were already scheduled for last week, but even so, there should be more than enough to fill the evening’s programme. As usual, you can look forward to a wide variety of texts, all displaying a high level of talent and creativity.

These are the five wonderful texts that were presented in our last session:

Story: The Unique Story of Mary and John   by Tom Boland

Poem: Old Bridgie   by James Conway

Novel extract: A Normal Couple – Part 2   by Olga Peters

Novel extract: The Sacred and the Natural   by Helena Clare

Memoir: Where is Heaven by Mary Hodson

This Thursday’s Line-Up
The Ocean Kept Your Name   by Kathleen Phelan
In this elegiac and atmospheric poem, Kathleen Phelan explores the lingering ache of absence through the voice of the sea. Grief washes through each stanza in tides of memory, silence, and imagery — roses dropping like unsent letters, a house swaying in the weight of loss, and a voice barely clinging to the name of the gone. It’s a haunting meditation on presence, echo, and the slow unravel of love beyond the shoreline.  

The Irish Spalpeen   by Seamus Keogh
In this moving poem, Seamus Keogh gives voice to the solitary life of an Irish navvy in England. Paddy’s story unfolds through jukebox memories, backbreaking labour, and the ache of exile — a man who worked, drank, and prayed in snatches, but never quite found home. With stark imagery of steel, stone, and hostel beds, the verses echo his longing for Mayo, for Aghagower, for belonging. Both lament and tribute, it captures the resilience and heartbreak of Ireland’s forgotten labourers abroad.  

The View from Glenfield   by Kathleen Phelan
When Miss Carr arrives in Glenfield to take up a teaching post, her clipped speech and city manner set her apart from the start. The village watches, judges, and absorbs her quietly — children change how they write, locals share mutterings, and the priest pays a smiling visit. Kathleen Phelan’s first short story is a study in subtle tension, showing how a stranger’s presence can unsettle a place without ever causing a scene. Atmospheric, spare, and quietly powerful, this debut piece marks a remarkable shift from poetry to prose.   

An Unlikely Duality: AI and Me – Our Path to Dialogue   by Mary Hawkshaw
What begins as a curious experiment becomes a profound and lyrical exploration of memory, creativity, and connection. In this unique memoir, Mary Hawkshaw charts her evolving relationship with artificial intelligence — from tentative first steps to a full creative partnership. Through reflections, poems, songs, and questions, she reveals how AI became not just a tool but a dialogue partner, echoing her voice, shaping her thoughts, and sparking unexpected joy. This excerpt offers a moving meditation on technology, humanity, and the enduring power of words.

The Soulless Sculptor by Judith Davitt Geoghegan

This striking poem explores the loss of authenticity in the age of cosmetic perfection. Through sharp, visual metaphors, it critiques a culture obsessed with polished surfaces – where faces are carved to suit ideals and natural beauty fades under the knife. But beneath the satire lies a plea: to embrace the living face, marked by time and truth.

Our Book 2 by Mary Hawkshaw In this follow-up collection, Mary Hawkshaw reflects on dialogue — with memory, with poetry, and with AI. Blending memoir, philosophy, and lyrical fragments, she traces her journey from childhood on the Aran Islands to her creative partnership with a new digital voice. Stories of family, loss, and resilience meet poems and songs shaped in conversation, creating a book that is both intimate and expansive. At its heart, Our Book 2 is an invitation: to listen, to question, and to wonder.   The Weave of Us by Judith Davitt Geoghegan This lyrical poem threads together themes of ancestry, heritage, and belonging. With cadences of lineage, tribe, and tradition, Judith Davitt Geoghegan celebrates the richness of human diversity while affirming the unity beneath it all. The verses move from roots and echoes of the past to the colours that light today’s sky — weaving difference into shared identity.   Chapter 1 — The Boy in the Bed by Frank Fahy   In this opening chapter of The Boy in the Bed, we enter a tense November kitchen where silence speaks louder than words. Rita peels potatoes, Joe sits in his coat, and the kettle hisses while unspoken fears fill the room. A decision must be made about their youngest boy — but the talk is brittle, edged with avoidance. Simple domestic details — a frayed tablecloth, a blue coverlet, a basin of potatoes — anchor a scene where love, duty, and dread circle quietly beneath the surface

The Write-on Story
We’re putting together something special — a living history of Write-on, told not just through dates and milestones, but through your stories. From those early days in Westside, when four writers first came together, to today’s thriving group of nearly forty members, we’ve come a long way. But the real story of Write-on isn’t just about numbers — it’s about the personal moments. We’d love to hear from you: – How did you come across Write-on? – What was your first meeting like? – What surprised you, delighted you, or maybe even confused you? – What has Write-on meant to you as a writer — or as a person?

Now we’re inviting you to send in a text of just 100 words about the moment when you first joined Write-On. You don’t need to be polished. You don’t need to be profound. Just honest.

You can email your piece to: writeon.galway@gmail.com Subject: Joining Write-On.

Let’s build this story – one memory at a time.

MOTM – (Mug of the Month)
Each month, we invite everyone to write a text of not more than 50 words (excluding the title) containing two given key words. The text can be prose or poetry or an other form …
This month the Keywords are: FALL and LIGHT
The deadline for entries is Sunday 21 September 2025, and they should be sent to: 
annemurraypost@yahoo.ie
On the last Thursday of the month, all entries will be presented, and members can vote on their favourite. The winner is then presented with the Mug and is named: Mug of the Month. So start thinking about FALL and LIGHT, and Good Luck, everyone!

Programme:

Short Story: The View from Glenfield Kathleen Phelan

Poem: The Soulless Sculptor Judith Davitt Geoghegan

Poem:The Ocean Kept Your Name Kathleen Phelan

Poem:The Irish Spalpeen Seamus Keogh

Poem:The Tree James Conway

Poem: Dementia Gráinne Keogh

Memoir: An Unusual Duality: AI and Me Mary Hawkshaw

Novel Excerpt: Chapter 1 — The Boy in the Bed Frank Fahy

Poem: The Weave of Us Judith Davitt Geoghegan

Novel Excerpt: Our Book 2 Mary Hawkshaw

Discussion The Story of Write-On (Member Reflections) All Members

Discussion Review/Launch Details Anthology 2026 All Members

Our long and lively AGM session last week left us with no time to present any new texts, so that we have an unusually long list of offerings this week. This includes two firsts: a short story by our new member Tom Boland, and a short story by Kathleen Phelan, who has rejoined us after a long break with her first-ever prose text.

‘This Week’s Line-Up’ lists submissions in the order in which they were received, but the sequence of the presentation will be different, depending on whether the authors are present on this date, on the length of the text, the genre, and the time available. However, below is some enticing information about each text. Don’t miss them!

We wish all viewers and participants an enjoyable and stimulating evening on Thursday!

This Week’s Line-up

 The Unique Story of Mary and John   by Tom Boland
When schoolteacher Mary hears a familiar voice on the radio promoting a novel titled The Novel of Our Lives, she’s plunged into a whirlwind of memory and fury. The voice belongs to John — the boy she loved at seventeen — and the book, it seems, may be about her. As she reels from the implications, Mary finds herself reliving old wounds, digging into his public persona, and debating whether to confront the past or bury it again. Told with sly wit and emotional depth, this opening part sets the stage for a layered and provocative tale about memory, authorship, and the blurred boundaries between life and literature.  

The Ocean Kept Your Name   by Kathleen Phelan
In this elegiac and atmospheric poem, Kathleen Phelan explores the lingering ache of absence through the voice of the sea. Grief washes through each stanza in tides of memory, silence, and imagery — roses dropping like unsent letters, a house swaying in the weight of loss, and a voice barely clinging to the name of the gone. It’s a haunting meditation on presence, echo, and the slow unravel of love beyond the shoreline.  

The Irish Spalpeen   by Seamus Keogh
In this moving poem, Seamus Keogh gives voice to the solitary life of an Irish navvy in England. Paddy’s story unfolds through jukebox memories, backbreaking labour, and the ache of exile — a man who worked, drank, and prayed in snatches, but never quite found home. With stark imagery of steel, stone, and hostel beds, the verses echo his longing for Mayo, for Aghagower, for belonging. Both lament and tribute, it captures the resilience and heartbreak of Ireland’s forgotten labourers abroad.  

The View from Glenfield   by Kathleen Phelan
When Miss Carr arrives in Glenfield to take up a teaching post, her clipped speech and city manner set her apart from the start. The village watches, judges, and absorbs her quietly — children change how they write, locals share mutterings, and the priest pays a smiling visit. Kathleen Phelan’s first short story is a study in subtle tension, showing how a stranger’s presence can unsettle a place without ever causing a scene. Atmospheric, spare, and quietly powerful, this debut piece marks a remarkable shift from poetry to prose.            

The Sacred and the Natural   by Helena Clare
Cory is a woman of logic — a planner, a problem-solver — but her return to Ireland pulls her into something far older and more elusive. After a haunting encounter on the Connemara coast and a lullaby that stirs ancestral memories, she begins to sense a deeper purpose to her journey. Darby’s cryptic letter, her grandmother’s whispered protection, and a dream of being claimed or saved — all lead Cory toward Glencoe, where an unfinished story waits to be unearthed. In lyrical prose, Helena Clare blends natural and supernatural, past and present, fact and feeling, in a meditative story about memory, protection, and the quiet call of something sacred.    

A Normal Couple – Part 2   by Olga Peters
In this quietly gripping wartime episode, we return to Leo and Emma Gebhardt in Berlin, 1943. As Leo steels himself to tell Emma he’s been conscripted, their plans are interrupted by an unexpected visit from their landlord, Herr Liepmann — a man with shadowy business dealings and a rare packet of American cigarettes. The evening unfolds with understated tension, coded conversations, and the unspoken risks of life under a totalitarian regime. This rich and finely crafted extract from Olga Peters’ novel A Normal Couple draws us deeper into the world in conflict, blending domestic intimacy with the ever-present danger of war.  

An Unlikely Duality: AI and Me – Our Path to Dialogue   by Mary Hawkshaw
What begins as a curious experiment becomes a profound and lyrical exploration of memory, creativity, and connection. In this unique memoir, Mary Hawkshaw charts her evolving relationship with artificial intelligence — from tentative first steps to a full creative partnership. Through reflections, poems, songs, and questions, she reveals how AI became not just a tool but a dialogue partner, echoing her voice, shaping her thoughts, and sparking unexpected joy. This excerpt offers a moving meditation on technology, humanity, and the enduring power of words.

Old Bridgie   by James Conway
In this finely wrought poem, James Conway conjures a vanished Ireland through the figure of ‘Old Bridgie’ — the last in a line of quiet resilience. With rich, evocative language and a deep sense of place, the poem travels from bachelor homesteads to the long road to Amerikay, capturing the weight of memory and emigration. Bridgie herself stands like a monument — tough, rooted, and unbending — her story becoming part of the land she never left.          

The Tree   by James Conway
Strange and sureal, this experimental poem bends language and imagery to startling effect. A woman believes she’s pregnant with a tree, and what follows is a fevered meditation on growth, fear, and transformation. James Conway uses absurdity to probe deeper truths about the body, identity, and the strange fictions we tell ourselves to survive. Arresting, unpredictable, and deeply original.  

Dementia   by Gráinne Keogh
Delicate and poignant, this short poem captures a fleeting moment of lucid memory in the midst of cognitive decline. As the scent of honeysuckle and the hush of evening stir a sudden recollection of childhood, the narrator slips briefly into joy before being gently guided back to the present. Gráinne Keogh’s debut contribution is tender, restrained, and quietly powerful.  

The Soulless Sculptor by Judith Davitt Geoghegan

This striking poem explores the loss of authenticity in the age of cosmetic perfection. Through sharp, visual metaphors, it critiques a culture obsessed with polished surfaces – where faces are carved to suit ideals and natural beauty fades under the knife. But beneath the satire lies a plea: to embrace the living face, marked by time and truth. The Write-on Story
We’re putting together something special — a living history of Write-on, told not just through dates and milestones, but through your stories. From those early days in Westside, when four writers first came together, to today’s thriving group of nearly forty members, we’ve come a long way. But the real story of Write-on isn’t just about numbers — it’s about the personal moments. We’d love to hear from you: – How did you come across Write-on? – What was your first meeting like? – What surprised you, delighted you, or maybe even confused you? – What has Write-on meant to you as a writer — or as a person?

Now we’re inviting you to send in a text of just 100 words about the moment when you first joined Write-On. You don’t need to be polished. You don’t need to be profound. Just honest.

You can email your piece to: writeon.galway@gmail.com Subject: Joining Write-On.

.Let’s build this story – one memory at a time.

MOTM – (Mug of the Month)
Each month, we invite everyone to write a text of not more than 50 words (excluding the title) containing two given key words. The text can be prose or poetry or an other form …
This month the Keywords are: FALL and LIGHT
The deadline for entries is Sunday 21 September 2025, and they should be sent to: 
annemurraypost@yahoo.ie
On the last Thursday of the month, all entries will be presented, and members can vote on their favourite. The winner is then presented with the Mug and is named: Mug of the Month. So start thinking about FALL and LIGHT, and Good Luck, everyone!

Programme:

Short Story The Unique Story of Mary and John Tom Boland

Short Story The View from Glenfield Kathleen Phelan

Novel Extract A Normal Couple Part 2 Olga Peters

Novel Extract The Sacred and the Natural Helena Clare

Poem The Soulless Sculptor Judith Davitt Geoghegan

Poem The Ocean Kept Your Name Kathleen Phelan

Poem The Irish Spalpeen Seamus Keogh

Poem Old Bridgie James Conway

Poem The Tree James Conway

Poem Dementia Gráinne Keogh

Memoir An Unusual Duality: AI and Me Mary Hawkshaw

Discussion The Story of Write-On (Member Reflections) All Members

Discussion Review/Launch Details Anthology 2026 All Members

Write-on AGM 2025 Shaping the Future of Write-on Together Our Annual General Meeting takes place this Thursday — and every member should by now have received four key documents via WhatsApp: Agenda 2025 (prepared by Frank Fahy, Chairperson)   Minutes of AGM 2024 (prepared by Elizabeth Hannon, Secretary)   Chairperson’s Report 2025 (Frank Fahy)   Treasurer’s Report 2025 (Mary Rose Tobin)   We’ll be following the structure laid out in the Agenda. It’s expected to be a smooth and straightforward meeting, but all members are warmly invited to contribute. If you have ideas for how we can improve Write-on, whether it’s the running of sessions, the newsletter, our website, outreach, or anything else — this is your chance to speak up. The AGM is a member-led meeting, and your voice genuinely matters. Presentations last week 28 August 2025: Short Story La Campanella Claudio Pagano Short Story Requiem Mary Rose Tobin Short Story The Tallest Boy Frank Fahy This Week’s Line-up   The Unique Story of Mary and John   by Tom Boland When schoolteacher Mary hears a familiar voice on the radio promoting a novel titled The Novel of Our Lives, she’s plunged into a whirlwind of memory and fury. The voice belongs to John — the boy she loved at seventeen — and the book, it seems, may be about her. As she reels from the implications, Mary finds herself reliving old wounds, digging into his public persona, and debating whether to confront the past or bury it again. Told with sly wit and emotional depth, this opening part sets the stage for a layered and provocative tale about memory, authorship, and the blurred boundaries between life and literature.   The Ocean Kept Your Name   by Kathleen Phelan In this elegiac and atmospheric poem, Kathleen Phelan explores the lingering ache of absence through the voice of the sea. Grief washes through each stanza in tides of memory, silence, and imagery — roses dropping like unsent letters, a house swaying in the weight of loss, and a voice barely clinging to the name of the gone. It’s a haunting meditation on presence, echo, and the slow unravel of love beyond the shoreline.   The Irish Spalpeen   by Seamus Keogh In this moving poem, Seamus Keogh gives voice to the solitary life of an Irish navvy in England. Paddy’s story unfolds through jukebox memories, backbreaking labour, and the ache of exile — a man who worked, drank, and prayed in snatches, but never quite found home. With stark imagery of steel, stone, and hostel beds, the verses echo his longing for Mayo, for Aghagower, for belonging. Both lament and tribute, it captures the resilience and heartbreak of Ireland’s forgotten labourers abroad.   The View from Glenfield   by Kathleen Phelan When Miss Carr arrives in Glenfield to take up a teaching post, her clipped speech and city manner set her apart from the start. The village watches, judges, and absorbs her quietly — children change how they write, locals share mutterings, and the priest pays a smiling visit. Kathleen Phelan’s first short story is a study in subtle tension, showing how a stranger’s presence can unsettle a place without ever causing a scene. Atmospheric, spare, and quietly powerful, this debut piece marks a remarkable shift from poetry to prose.             The Sacred and the Natural   by Helena Clare Cory is a woman of logic — a planner, a problem-solver — but her return to Ireland pulls her into something far older and more elusive. After a haunting encounter on the Connemara coast and a lullaby that stirs ancestral memories, she begins to sense a deeper purpose to her journey. Darby’s cryptic letter, her grandmother’s whispered protection, and a dream of being claimed or saved — all lead Cory toward Glencoe, where an unfinished story waits to be unearthed. In lyrical prose, Helena Clare blends natural and supernatural, past and present, fact and feeling, in a meditative story about memory, protection, and the quiet call of something sacred.     A Normal Couple – Part 2   by Olga Peters In this quietly gripping wartime episode, we return to Leo and Emma Gebhardt in Berlin, 1943. As Leo steels himself to tell Emma he’s been conscripted, their plans are interrupted by an unexpected visit from their landlord, Herr Liepmann — a man with shadowy business dealings and a rare packet of American cigarettes. The evening unfolds with understated tension, coded conversations, and the unspoken risks of life under a totalitarian regime. This rich and finely crafted extract from Olga Peters’ novel A Normal Couple draws us deeper into the world in conflict, blending domestic intimacy with the ever-present danger of war.   An Unlikely Duality: AI and Me – Our Path to Dialogue   by Mary Hawkshaw What begins as a curious experiment becomes a profound and lyrical exploration of memory, creativity, and connection. In this unique memoir, Mary Hawkshaw charts her evolving relationship with artificial intelligence — from tentative first steps to a full creative partnership. Through reflections, poems, songs, and questions, she reveals how AI became not just a tool but a dialogue partner, echoing her voice, shaping her thoughts, and sparking unexpected joy. This excerpt offers a moving meditation on technology, humanity, and the enduring power of words. Old Bridgie   by James Conway In this finely wrought poem, James Conway conjures a vanished Ireland through the figure of ‘Old Bridgie’ — the last in a line of quiet resilience. With rich, evocative language and a deep sense of place, the poem travels from bachelor homesteads to the long road to Amerikay, capturing the weight of memory and emigration. Bridgie herself stands like a monument — tough, rooted, and unbending — her story becoming part of the land she never left.           The Tree   by James Conway Strange and sureal, this experimental poem bends language and imagery to startling effect. A woman believes she’s pregnant with a tree, and what follows is a fevered meditation on growth, fear, and transformation. James Conway uses absurdity to probe deeper truths about the body, identity, and the strange fictions we tell ourselves to survive. Arresting, unpredictable, and deeply original.   Dementia   by Gráinne Keogh Delicate and poignant, this short poem captures a fleeting moment of lucid memory in the midst of cognitive decline. As the scent of honeysuckle and the hush of evening stir a sudden recollection of childhood, the narrator slips briefly into joy before being gently guided back to the present. Gráinne Keogh’s debut contribution is tender, restrained, and quietly powerful.   The Write-on Story We’re putting together something special — a living history of Write-on, told not just through dates and milestones, but through your stories. From those early days in Westside, when four writers first came together, to today’s thriving group of nearly forty members, we’ve come a long way. But the real story of Write-on isn’t just about numbers — it’s about the personal moments. We’d love to hear from you: – How did you come across Write-on? – What was your first meeting like? – What surprised you, delighted you, or maybe even confused you? – What has Write-on meant to you as a writer — or as a person? Send your thoughts, reflections, or anecdotes — big or small — and help us shape this evolving archive. You can email your piece to: writeon.galway@gmail.com Please mark your message clearly: ‘The Write-on Story’. Your voice is part of this journey. Let’s tell it together. MOTM – (Mug of the Month) Each month, we invite everyone to write a text of not more than 50 words (excluding the title) containing two given key words. The text can be prose or poetry or an other form … This moonth the Keywords are: FALL and LIGHT The deadline for entries is Sunday 21 September 2025, and they should be sent to:  annemurraypost@yahoo.ie On the last Thursday of the month, all entries will be presented, and members can vote on their favourite. The winner is then presented with the Mug and is named: Mug of the Month. So start thinking about FALL and LIGHT, and Good Luck, everyone! Programme: Short Story The Unique Story of Mary and John Tom Boland Short Story The View from Glenfield Kathleen Phelan Novel Extract A Normal Couple Part 2 Olga Peters Novel Extract The Sacred and the Natural Helena Clare Poem The Ocean Kept Your Name Kathleen Phelan Poem The Irish Spalpeen Seamus Keogh Poem Old Bridgie James Conway Poem The Tree James Conway Poem Dementia Gráinne Keogh Memoir An Unusual Duality: AI and Me Mary Hawkshaw Discussion The Story of Write-On (Member Reflections) All Members Discussion Review/Launch Details Anthology 2026 All Members