New Writing Showcase

A retired librarian, Helen Fallon lives in Kildare. She has worked in a number of African countries. This experience, combined with growing up close to the Monaghan border with Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and coming from a rural parish with a tradition of emigration to England, has influenced her writing.  Her work has been published in a number of journals and anthologies including “Skylight 47″, ” Poetry Ireland Review (PIR)”, “A New Ulster”, “The Ogham Stone” and “Washing Windows: Irish Women write Poetry” III and IV. Her poem “Shell-Shocked Land”, about the environmental destruction of the Niger Delta by Royal Dutch Shell, was placed second in the Poetry Ireland/Trócaire 2019 poetry competition.   She was selected for Poetry Ireland Introductions 2022 and awarded a John Hewitt Summer School 2024 Bursary. She enjoys writing, reading, travelling and gardening.

Originally from Cumbria, Terri Metcalfe now lives in County Mayo and has been published in journals such as Abridged, Skylight 47, Acropolis and The Storms. She was invited by the late Kevin Higgins as a featured reader for the 20th anniversary of Over The Edge. She was chosen for the 2024 Open Window Mentorship programme, during which she worked with the poet Derek Coyle. Terri placed second in the 2024 ‘Poems for Patience’ competition with her poem, ‘January’ and was selected for the 2024 Poets meet Painters anthology. Terri is currently working on her debut collection.

Liam Boyle was born in Drogheda and has lived in Galway for many years. He writes mainly in English but has also published in the Irish language. Many of his poems deal with memory and heritage. He has been a featured reader at Over the Edge in Galway. His poems have been published in various outlets, including Skylight 47, Vox Galvia, Causeway/Cabhsair, Confluence magazine, and Drawn to the Light. He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.

Fatena Abu Mostafa is a poet from Gaza, holding a bachelor’s degree in Translation from the Islamic University of Gaza. She works as an article writer, poet, and storyteller. Through her writing, she strives to amplify the voices of those living in Gaza, especially during times of war. Her goal is to shed light on the struggles of individuals who cannot make their voices heard.

For Fatena, writing is more than just a profession—it is a refuge for emotions and a way to cope with the challenges she faces. It is her lifelong mission to continue writing and sharing stories as long as she lives.  She aspire for my voice to resonate globally, with poems and stories leaving a lasting impact on the hearts of all who read them.

Laurence Lumsden is a Dubliner living in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal) who began writing stories under cover of the pandemic. He’s been published in Crannóg Magazine, and online in Sky Island Journal, River, and The Galway Review.

Finola Cahill is a writer from Ballina, Co. Mayo. Her work has featured in the London Magazine, Poetry Ireland Review, Southword, Propel, and others. She was the winner of the 2023 Waterford Poetry Prize and the 2024 Single Poem Award at Listowel Writers Week, and was shortlisted for the Bath Short Story Award, Fish Prize, Bridport Prize, and others. She is at work on her debut collection and a longer piece of fiction.

Úna Nic Cárthaigh is a primary teacher from West Cork who lives in Galway. She graduated with a BA sa Chumarsáid from the University of Galway and a Master of Education from Mary Immaculate College. She has an interest in short stories, flash fiction and poetry as Gaeilge.

Is múinteoir bunscoile ó Iarthar Chorcaí í Úna Nic Cárthaigh atá ag cur fuithí sa Ghaillimh. Bhain sí BA sa Chumarsáid amach le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe agus Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas ó Choláiste Mhuire Gan Smál. Tá dúspéis aici i ngearrscéalta, splancscéalta agus filíocht i nGaeilge.