The Stinging Fly

Magazine for new writers, new writing –first published in March 1998. Now also doing books, workshops, podcast, etc. Supported by the Arts Council. RCN 20206659

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

We are delighted to announce Isla Thomson as the winner of the 2026 @IrishWritersCtr New Writing Prize in partnership with The Stinging Fly ✨️

Isla has won the prize for her short story, ‘Husbands’, which we will publish in our Winter 2026-27 issue in November 🎉

As part of the prize, Isla will receive mentoring with an established writer, selected by the Irish Writers Centre.

Read the full announcement https://t.co/hpwuMOI2IL

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

Autumn has arrived 🍂🍁 And with it our first poetry craft seminar as part of our Second Tuesday Series ✨️ We are delighted to have Sinéad Morrissey back to deliver the seminar entitled "Writing from the Inside: On Immediacy of Poetic Address".

Sinéad was interviewed by Declan Meade in September 2002 following the publication of her second poetry collection Between Here and There (2002).
Read the interview in advance of the seminar:
https://t.co/lkDrxvz8pu

The seminar will be held via Zoom on Tuesday October 13th from 7pm – 8.30pm.

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

We are delighted to offer an online craft seminar with Sinéad Morrissey entitled Writing from the Inside: On Immediacy of Poetic Address.

The seminar will be held via Zoom on Tuesday October 13th from 7pm – 8.30pm.

Tickets are now on sale. We expect demand to be high so please book early to avoid disappointment.

More info and booking here: https://t.co/lkDrxvz8pu

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

NEW PODCAST
On this month’s episode Nicole is joined by Susannah Dickey to read from and discuss her story ‘Diplomats’ published in Issue 54 of The Stinging Fly magazine.

https://t.co/zf033ImQ3r

In their conversation Nicole and Susannah talk about rivalry and jealousy in female friendships, toxic masculinity and femininity, the difficulty of forming a self and identity in early adulthood, AC/DC, the British Empire as enemy, and the pleasure of writing characters in their 20's.

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

This Friday, we are excited to be taking part in the @CultureNight edition of We Love Markets, a monthly vintage flea market in the heart of The Liberties, D8.

Along with books, magazines and tote bags from The Stinging Fly, the market will feature over 60 stalls and vendors showcasing local Irish design, mid-century furniture, vintage clothing, arts and crafts, food trucks & a live DJ.

The market is one of the many events and activities taking place on @TheDigitalHub campus, as part of Culture Night on Friday, 18th September.

♿️Venue is wheelchair accessible
⏰ 4.00PM to 9.00PM
📍In front of St Patrick’s Tower at The Digital Hub

Discover more https://t.co/1SdjKnJXTv

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

We are delighted to offer an online craft seminar with Sinéad Morrissey entitled Writing from the Inside: On Immediacy of Poetic Address.

The seminar will be held via Zoom on Tuesday October 13th from 7pm – 8.30pm.

Tickets are now on sale. We expect demand to be high so please book early to avoid disappointment.

More info and booking here: https://t.co/lkDrxvz8pu

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

Huge congratulations to Nicole! ✨️💛

[Irish Times Culture @IrishTimesCultr]

Nicole Flattery awarded Rooney Prize for Irish Literature https://t.co/3i6llR2ujZ via @IrishTimesCultr

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

We are delighted with the news that Nicole Flattery has been awarded the 2026 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature ✨️

Huge congratulations to Nicole! Her debut short-story collection Show Them a Good Time was published in 2019 by The Stinging Fly Press.

The Rooney Prize was established in 1976, the prize celebrates an outstanding body of work by an emerging Irish writer under the age of 40.

The prize is administered by the @CentreOscar in the School of English at @tcddublin

Nicole Flattery's first novel, Nothing Special, appeared in 2023. Her second, Everything Is Nice, Everything Is Lovely, is forthcoming next May.

Buy Show Them a Good Time 💛https://t.co/0x4SSLl7hD

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

NEW on our website: A short story by Izzie Glover, 'I, me, Sonny'.

‘I know from the caravan beforehand that the villain wears more make-up than the maiden. Black pencil and they’ll twist the edges of your moustache, if you have one. To look grotesque and merciless, they said, it’s important.’

'I, me, Sonny' was shortlisted - and highly commended - for the 2026 Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize.

Read the full story https://t.co/s4fOKwWgei

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

NEW: Kristen Poli reviews Sugartown by Caragh Maxwell and Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare:

“Thirst Trap and Sugartown are memorable, sharp, realist novels… Like many of their real-life peers, the characters in these novels want to live better, but there is a real sense that austerity has already been priced into their ambitions.”

https://t.co/4L32uUObXK

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

NEW PODCAST:
On this month’s episode our poetry editor Annemarie Ní Churreáin (@NiChurr) is joined by Róisín Leggett Bohan (@LeggettBohan), featured poet of ⁠our Summer 2026 issue, to read and discuss her work.

https://t.co/chLEUtWm47

In their conversation, Annemarie and Róisín talk about the promise they find in poetry, growing up in large families and learning how to translate silences within them, how gratitude informs their life and writing, the benefits of being vulnerable and open, as well as the pleasure of dancing, its discipline on the body, and how ‘body-popping’ relates to the poetic line.

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

Second Tuesday Series with Claire Kilroy 🌸🌸🌸

Following a brief summer break, our Second Tuesday Series returns with an in-conversation event between the novelist, Claire Kilroy and our publisher Declan Meade.

https://t.co/joEH4TEhOl

Claire was interviewed by Declan in September 2006 following the publication of her second novel, Tenderwire. The interview was published in Issue 5 of The Stinging Fly.

Their conversation back then touched on the role of research, life and living in Dublin city, writing, rewriting, and editing, and the pressures of writing full-time. Now, almost twenty years later, Claire and Declan will pick back up where they left off to see what, if anything, has changed about the writing life.

You can access Claire’s interview from 2006 in our online magazine archive.

This event will be held via Zoom on Tuesday September 8th from 7pm to 8.15pm. This is a pay what you can event.

[Róisín Leggett Bohan @LeggettBohan]

I had a lovely chat with the brilliant Annemarie Ní Churreáin @NiChurr on The Stinging Fly podcast. I'm so grateful to the wonderful crew @stingingfly, especially @NiChurr 🤍

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

Second Tuesday Series with Claire Kilroy 🌸🌸🌸

Following a brief summer break, our Second Tuesday Series returns with an in-conversation event between the novelist, Claire Kilroy and our publisher Declan Meade.

https://t.co/joEH4TEhOl

Claire was interviewed by Declan in September 2006 following the publication of her second novel, Tenderwire. The interview was published in Issue 5 of The Stinging Fly.

Their conversation back then touched on the role of research, life and living in Dublin city, writing, rewriting, and editing, and the pressures of writing full-time. Now, almost twenty years later, Claire and Declan will pick back up where they left off to see what, if anything, has changed about the writing life.

You can access Claire’s interview from 2006 in our online magazine archive.

This event will be held via Zoom on Tuesday September 8th from 7pm to 8.15pm. This is a pay what you can event.

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

NEW PODCAST:
On this month’s episode our poetry editor Annemarie Ní Churreáin (@NiChurr) is joined by Róisín Leggett Bohan (@LeggettBohan), featured poet of ⁠our Summer 2026 issue, to read and discuss her work.

https://t.co/chLEUtWm47

In their conversation, Annemarie and Róisín talk about the promise they find in poetry, growing up in large families and learning how to translate silences within them, how gratitude informs their life and writing, the benefits of being vulnerable and open, as well as the pleasure of dancing, its discipline on the body, and how ‘body-popping’ relates to the poetic line.

[The Stinging Fly @stingingfly]

Against the backdrop of tension and uncertainty in Afghanistan, Maryam describes her courtyard to Nadifa - the sparrows, her fruit trees and the call to prayer.
https://t.co/fpzYSiynLg

“Bliss in Moments Like These” is the third set of letters from ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, published in partnership with @WritersUntold, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict.

The three-part letter exchange between Nadifa and Maryam marks the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and honours the resilience of Afghan women writers.