The themes of this evening’s submissions cover universal themes touching on friendship and rivalry, nature and war, family connectedness and dissension – an impressive showcase of our group’s talents!

Deirdre Anne Gialamas has provided no fewer than three short stories as well as a poem!

‘Millicent’s Dilemma’ and ‘Mrs O’Donovan’s Dublin Delight’ are centred around individual characters who prove their resilience and daring in very different settings: one in a city morgue, the other in a Dublin deli.

By contrast, Deirdre’s short story ‘The Shiny Red Couch’ harks back to childhood memories of the excitement of Christmas mornings, something everyone can relate to.

Deirdre’s poems often depict an unusual perspective on individuals, and are usually highly poetic. ‘What IF?’ playfully examines alternate realities and whimsical possibilities of life’s different choices and their impact on familiy and society.

Anne McManus is a master of subtle psychological portrayal. In ‘New Girls’, the unexpected reunion of two former schoolmates with very different careers and life experiences opens the set for revelations of shared secrets and past grievances.

‘New Jerusalem’ by Kathleen Greaney tells the tale of Isaac, a Jewish butcher in Dublin, whose tranquillity is shattered by the invasion of Poland, where his daughter lives, at the outbreak of World War 2. The poem reflects on themes of family, fear, and hope.

Very different is Póilín Brennan’s ‘Beith Geal’. Here, a birch tree serves as a symbol of love and connectedness between the poet and the natural world.

A further poem by Póilín, ‘Hearth’, focusses on the hearth as the centre of traditional Irish family life and as a keeper of folklore.

Last but not least, Seamus Keogh‘s poem, ‘Marine Blue Sky’, carries the poet on a journey between the beauty of Ireland’s landscapes and the sorrow of brutal conflict in the world.

A further discussion of the simplicities and complexities of proof-reading, and its importance for an immaculate Write-On Anthology 2025, round up this Thursday’s offerings. We wish all of our participants and viewers a lively, profitable and enjoyable evening.

Programme

Short Story New Girls Anne McManus

Short Story New Jerusalem Kathleen Greaney

Short Story Mrs O’Donovan’s Dublin Delight Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Short Story The Shiny Red Couch Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Short Story Millicent’s Dilemma Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Poem Marine Blue Sky Seamus Keogh

Poem Beith Geal Póilín Brennan

Poem Hearth Póilín Brennan

Poem What IF? Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Discussion Proofreading Write-On Anthology 2025 All Members