Mary Kate Barrett

Writer of fiction and poetry, travel lover | Often found out West | sí/í | Bits and pieces can be found in Sonder, ROPES, and Aimsir

[The Pig's Back @ThePigsBack1]

🐷RUSSELL'S COTTAGE WRITING RESIDENCY🐷

We're so excited to announce our new 3-week writing residency in Glenveagh National Park, Donegal. One lucky writer will also receive €3000. Applications close 29th Sep, so get your skates on. More info and how to apply below 👇

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

After years of debating and generally being quite lazy about the whole thing, I've finally decided to start a blog. My first entry, called 'Days in Doolin' describes my time living in Co. Clare and gives recommendations for the area: https://t.co/ARNwwbzO4V

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

My debut short story has found a home in Sonder Issue IX, coming this summer. Drift is a weird little story that is very near and dear to my heart, so I'm delighted it's with this wonderful magazine. I hope it takes you somewhere unexpected. ☀️

[Sonder Magazine @MagazineSonder]

🎉Announcing our Issue IX contributors 🎉

Please join us in welcoming the new writers to the Sonder fam. We are so incredibly excited for you to read their weird and wonderful pieces.

Thank you to everyone who submitted. Keep going, writing is a mad and beautifulthing 🎪

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Delighted that a poem of mine has made its home in the lovely @aimsirpress. Go raibh maith agat to the kind and thoughtful editors! I look forward to settling in and reading the Samhain issue with a wee cupán tae ✨☕️

[Aimsir Press | SUBS CLOSED @aimsirpress]

The Samhain issue of Aimsir is here! 🕯🌩✨️

Our sincere thanks and love to all of our contributors for their patience x

https://t.co/w1ymBTHs05

[The Lilliput Press @LilliputPress]

📢 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 📢

Lilliput is turning ✨40✨ in 2024!

To celebrate, a special anthology of short stories and essays is in the making – and your writing could be the highlight of the book… 🎄📚 #LilliputAt40

[ROPES Literary Journal @ropeslitjournal]

Big news for you all: written and visual submissions are officially open for Issue 32 of ROPES!! Please read submission instructions carefully and visit our website or send us an email if you have questions. We can’t wait to see what you have for us!!

https://t.co/fVo8cZBk5x

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

There's a balance of imagery - new life in the foaling mare and death in dolmen - and also a sense of the circular nature of life in the mirroring of the beginning and end.

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Day 3 - Access by Aidan Mathews. A meditation on the relationship between a daughter and her father. Again it plays with the past and present, but here the story focuses on growing up and getting older more than anything else.

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

What I enjoyed most about this story was the reflection on the passage of time: what life gives to us but also what it takes away. The distances that develop between people and how they change over time.

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

That idea of balance defines the precarious position of Enright's character. There is tension, too, in all that is left unsaid, and in the unspoken distance from the characters past to the present.

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Day 2 of my short story challenge brought me to the wonderful The Art of the Glimpse anthology which is where I will find many stories to read as I work my way through the rest of the year. Today I read Revenge by Anne Enright. 1/

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

This story is an interesting contrast to yesterday's, because although it deals with fixations and relationships, it focuses on an entirely different type of longing. "I have to keep the tension between what is outside and what is in, if I am not to deflate, or explode"

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Challenging myself to read a S.S. a day for the rest of 2023 and what an excellent start. Great depiction of communication in the digital age, and an interesting portrayal of obsession. Particularly impressed by the dialogue, very natural and rooted in reality. Highly recommend!

[The Pig's Back @ThePigsBack1]

With Issue Four just around the corner, we thought we'd share some work from the current issue. @graceellabanks's brilliant short story Direct Message is now available for free online. Social media, obsession, and leaning into what brings you joy.
https://t.co/tK4WuY9OSH

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

@elainefeeney16 @TheBookerPrizes @rcwlitagency @HarvillSecker Thrilled to hear this! Congratulations Elaine 💕

[Cúirt Festival @CuirtFestival]

🎭Are you passionate about the arts?🎭 Volunteering with us is a fast-paced and fun way to experience the festival and great for those seeking experience in events-based work.
Closing Date for applications is Friday 31st March. https://t.co/U1iMWH7BvN
#cuirt2023 #volunteer

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Sad to be missing out on Cúirt this year but I highly recommend it to everyone. It is a wonderfully organised event, and any excuse to visit Galway is a good one!

[Cúirt Festival @CuirtFestival]

The #Cúirt2023 programme is now live!

Follow the link below to discover the full programme, and join us this April 18 – 23 in Galway ✏️📚

https://t.co/vT5t20Qky9

[Cúirt Festival @CuirtFestival]

The #Cúirt2023 programme is now live!

Follow the link below to discover the full programme, and join us this April 18 – 23 in Galway ✏️📚

https://t.co/vT5t20Qky9

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

Missing my beautiful home today upon seeing all of these gorgeous pictures <3

[Dónall Mac Ruairí @aimsiufior]

Na soilse aduaidh! The northern lights above Carickfinn beach now… just snapped this in the dark with iPhone … get out now…. #donegal

[Mary Kate Barrett @MaryKateB_]

You’ve put it excellently, Kevin was a wonder to meet, an incredible talent and a wonderful teacher who enriched the Galway writing scene beyond words. Thank you and rest in peace. My sincere condolences to Susan and all of his family 💛

[meabh ann savage - black lives matter @meabhann]

I hope, one day, that I'll make the same space for other writers that Kevin Higgins made for me and so many others. I and many others will be forever grateful to have known him. Rest in peace, Kevin. https://t.co/TWUdGkffEu