English Meet 2025: report
A report on another excellent and uplifting ‘English Meet’, with six teachers sharing enthusiasms and good practice.
Read MoreJohn Warner's 'More Than Words: how to think about writing in the age of AI'
John Warner’s More Than Words: how to think about writing in the age of AI is an early and eloquent response to a technology which is particularly challenging for English teachers.
Read MoreFortnightly 186
Fortnightly 186 ranges from Vincenzo Latronico’s smart new novel Perfection to Sienese painting of the 14th century.
Read MoreVacancy for English teacher
We have a vacancy for a full-time English teacher, starting in September 2025.
Read MoreWebinar on revising 'Macbeth' in the Leaving Certificate
On Tuesday 18th November 2025 I am giving a webinar on how teachers can help students revise Macbeth in the months leading up to the Leaving Certificate.
Read MoreRepeat webinar on teaching Claire Keegan's 'Small Things Like These'
Repeat webinar on teaching Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These for those who missed it in 2024.
Read MoreWebinar on teaching 'Othello'
A webinar introduction to teaching Othello, especially in the Leaving Certificate, on Wednesday 10th September 2025.
Read MoreINOTE Response to New LC English Draft Specification
All English teachers in Ireland should read the response of the Irish National Organisation for Teachers of English to the recent draft curriculum specification for Leaving Certificate English.
Read MoreThe Occasional 7
The seventh edition of The Occasional, for paid subscribers of The Fortnightly: Andrew O’Hagan, Natalia Ginzburg and more.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence, Real Literacy
Artificial Intelligence: real literacy is a short book by Paul Matthews and Jason Gulya that is blessedly free from nonsensical hype, and gives some practical and sensible suggestions for classroom teachers.
Read MoreFortnightly 185
The last Fortnightly this term features Lara Pawson’s memorable Spent Light, Leaving Certificate English reform, Tony Judt and more.
Read More'Spent Light' by Lara Pawson
Lara Pawson’s unclassifiable Spent Light is uncomfortable, funny and constantly disconcerting.
Read MoreLeaving Certificate English Draft Specification
Initial thoughts on the Draft Curriculum Specification for Leaving Certificate English (February 2025).
Read MoreBest Irish Fiction since 2000
The Irish Times has produced a list of the 100 best books of fiction by Irish writers so far this century, and I contributed to it.
Read MoreFortnightly 184
In Fortnightly 184, a focus on Irish fiction in recent times.
Read MoreDavid Marcus: Editing Ireland
David Marcus: Editing Ireland, edited by Paul Delaney and Deirdre Madden, is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man, who at one point greatly encouraged my own writing.
Read MoreFortnightly 183
Fortnightly 183 is out. Rest in Peace, Jennifer Johnston.
Read MoreThe New Oxford Shakespeare 'Macbeth'
Emma Smith’s introduction to the Macbeth volume in The New Oxford Shakespeare series is excellent.
Read MoreIrish Advisory Council: AI in Education
Thoughts on the first Advice Paper on Education in Ireland, from the AI Advisory Council, February 2025.
Read MoreA Love Letter to Libraries
A personal history of libraries (a post from January 2024 - expanded, modified and updated).
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