Alan Hayes : Arlen House

Publisher/Editor, Arlen House: Lover of Irish Literature: Co-Founder, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature: Founder, Dublin Book Festival

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

In this article @HonestUlsterman I meet drone operators at a forward position who explain to me the vital importance of creating art during times of war. @ArlenHouse @publishingwomen @SunnySommerDays @tomjcull @StruellWells @ArtsCouncilNI
https://t.co/dPojMqQiaC

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

Chapter 5 of my novel Extraordinary Times about an Irish unity referendum is digitally published today @thelinenhall A chapter a year will be published - unless a referendum actually happens! @publishingwomen @ArlenHouse @IrelandsFuture

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

Chapter 5 of my novel Extraordinary Times is digitally published @thelinenhall today! It imagines an Irish unity referendum - last chapter scheduled for 2054 unless a referendum occurs! @ArlenHouse @ACNIWriting @Patsy1Horton
https://t.co/drHsoncYam

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

Nell Regan has been awarded the 2026 Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize for her new collection *Thirty-Six Views of the Sugarloaf* (Arlen House, 2026).

The judges' citation read: “Regan’s lucid, spacious and deeply evocative poems demonstrate a sensitive approach to place and experience. Regan’s strong interest in Australian poetry, historical and contemporary, and in its connections with Ireland, makes her particularly well suited to the purposes of the Prize. The judges were impressed by the openness and seriousness with which she proposes to engage with place, writers and literary communities in Australia.”

BUY: https://t.co/HlpE3832r6

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

Please join Trish Bennett at the United Arts Club this coming Friday evening, reading from *Stench*, her critically-acclaimed, bestselling debut poetry collection, published by Arlen House.

FREE: booking essential
https://t.co/m4v1UHv7MC

Many thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for supporting new Irish literature.

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

My new writing course begins on Monday 5th October 2pm at Stranmillis College, covering many genres - book below! @ArlenHouse @publishingwomen @ACNIWriting @ArtsCouncilNI @stranbelfast
https://t.co/W4IgAgOxvj

[Csilla Toldy @CsillaToldy]

Looking forward to reading from Firebird On #NationalPoetryDay with fellow @ArlenHouse poets @deirdrecartmill and @BoyleMo at The Linen Hall Library #Belfast -

[Tanya Farrelly @tanyafarrelly]

This week marked the 10th anniversary of my debut book 'When Black Dogs Sing' and in EXCITING NEWS: It's about to go to its 3rd print run! Thank you to Alan Hayes @ArlenHouse who continues to champion my writing. And to those who take the time to read it. #debut #shortstories

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

Group reading TODAY Sunday 20 September at 2pm, Books Upstairs, Dublin

Readings from *Shapechangers: 1960s Irish Women Reflect on their Writing Lives*

Hosted by Nessa O'Mahony with readings by @BoyleMo Jane Clarke @tarryathome @katiedon5 Eleanor Hooker @niamhmbrennan Colette Nic Aodha @CsillaToldy

FREE EVENT limited spaces left

BUY: https://t.co/Td5FdMihwT

With special thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for supporting new Irish writing

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

Happy 97th birthday to Mary Cullen, legendary feminist activist, educator, thinker, Maynooth University's 1st female academic employee. A woman who has inspired many generations.

Arlen House proudly publishes "Telling It Our Way: Essays in Gender History" & "Girls Don't Do Honours: Irish Women in Education in the 19th & 20th Centuries"

Pictured with Arlen House founder, Catherine Rose.

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

STATEMENT from ALAN HAYES re DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL

I read, with some surprise, Julianne Mooney Siron’s history of the Dublin Book Festival (“Dublin Book Festival celebrates 20th anniversary in style”, The Irish Times website 7/9/26). As founder of the Dublin Book Festival (DBF) and artistic director for its first 3 years, I must correct some of Ms Siron’s misapprehensions.

To start, the first DBF was held in March 2008, thus this year’s event cannot be its 20th anniversary.

She incorrectly credits Michael O’Brien as the DBF instigator, however the late Mr O’Brien had nothing to do with the foundation of the festival – he was not even involved in the publishers’ association during the years of development work on the DBF project. For the record, I personally invited Michael O’Brien to join the publishers’ board in order to tackle outstanding power issues with one of his enemies in his forthright, formidable manner (he failed sadly). And many people regretted my decision.

More importantly, I created the DBF to develop opportunities for Irish publishers, Irish-published authors and the general public, and not for Ms Siron’s simplistic notion that “Ireland’s writers deserved a festival of their own”, because, of course, there were many other festivals that featured Irish writers.

Irish publishers have always struggled against the huge power, funding and opportunities that multinational publishers have, but the festival, under my remit, successfully demonstrated the quality and talent of Irish-published authors.

Thus, examining this year’s programme, I am saddened at the large amount of multinational publishers being championed yet again at the expense of indigenous publishing.

I developed the Dublin Book Festival in partnership with Dublin City Council as an essential entity in Dublin’s bid to achieve UNESCO status. As one of the founders of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature I reflect on the energy and enthusiasm from most people at that time while we achieved so much with so few resources. And I thank the Department of Arts, Foras na Gaeilge and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland who saw my vision and were essential partners in making it happen.

Proper research easily demonstrates the facts behind the Dublin Book Festival, including the extensive written archive, evidence from the management team, the key funders and literary resource organisations, as well as contemporary media coverage, including the Irish Times archive.

Why now this attempt to rewrite history?

Ultimately, when a festival does not know its origins and its history, how can it know its identity and its future?
@DublinBookFest @forasnagaeilge @artscouncil_ie @ArtsCouncilNI @ACNIWriting @IrishTimes @DeptCultureIRL

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

Here's my review of Damian Smyth's @ACNIWriting
novel Folly Lane—a satire on modern ‘poetry’ - ideal if you love something stimulating and wildly transgressive in your literature! @arlenhouse @ArtsCouncilNI https://t.co/P7SbPSFtuW

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

An eyewitness account of life in Izium, Zaporizhzhia and Khiv and the effects of increasing glide bomb attacks on the landscape - faster aircraft would help counter it. @ArlenHouse @publishingwomen @TheCriticMag @ACNIWriting @ArtsCouncilNI @SunnySommerDays @PenUkraine

[Rosemary Jenkinson @rosemaryj77]

The unvanquished spirit of Izium. @SunnySommerDays @ArlenHouse @PenUkraine @ACNIWriting @ArtsCouncilNI @tomjcull

[Tanya Farrelly @tanyafarrelly]

Yesterday saw 8 writers and a powerhouse publisher descend on @dlrLexIcon for readings from our @ArlenHouse publications. It was a delightful event to be a part of, and to hear such eclectic readings from my fellow authors. Big thanks to Alan Hayes, Lia Mills and the Lexicon.

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

NEXT SUNDAY
20 September at 2pm, Books Upstairs, Dublin

Readings from *Shapechangers: 1960s Irish Women Reflect on their Writing Lives*

Hosted by Nessa O'Mahony with readings by Maureen Boyle, Niamh Brennan, Jane Clarke, Catherine Ann Cullen, Katie Donovan, Eleanor Hooker and Colette Nic Aodha

FREE EVENT limited spaces left
BOOKING ESSENTIAL: https://t.co/dDS2AAqHBq

BUY: https://t.co/Td5FdMhJHl

With special thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for supporting new Irish writing

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

Sunday 20 September at 2pm, Books Upstairs, Dublin

Readings from *Shapechangers: 1960s Irish Women Reflect on their Writing Lives*

Hosted by Nessa O'Mahony with readings by @BoyleMo Jane Clarke @tarryathome @katiedon5 Eleanor Hooker @niamhmbrennan Colette Nic Aodha

FREE EVENT limited spaces BOOK: https://t.co/dDS2AAqHBq

BUY: https://t.co/Td5FdMhJHl

[Alan Hayes : Arlen House @ArlenHouse]

dlr Libraries and Arlen House warmly invite you to the finale event of the "Celebrating Arlen House at 50" series where we will also celebrate 40 years of the WEB women writers' workshop.

FREE, booking essential: https://t.co/WfAlwqeJs8

Please join us for a stimulating afternoon of readings and discussions with Mary Rose Callaghan, @celiadefreine @tanyafarrelly Liz McManus, Lia Mills, Nessa O'Mahony and Nell Regan.

Saturday 12 September at 2.30pm, Dún Laoghaire LexIcon, Studio Theatre, level 1

As always, thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and @ForasnaGaeilge for supporting new Irish writing

[Ireland CG Edinburgh @irlscotland]

Join multi award winning Donal Ryan tomorrow evening (18 Aug) as he talks about coming of age, living with grief, and big messy families. Chaired by Sasha de Buyl.
Tickets at https://t.co/ed25Jy682u
Kindly supported by @culture_ireland

[Irish Times Books @IrishTimesBooks]

Books in brief: Fascinating works by László Krasznahorkai, Kate Briggs and Liz McManus https://t.co/rQfpoQVogN via @IrishTimesBooks