'Jesus, break his fall: // There - but for the clutch of luck - go we all'.

I'm sorry to read Paul Durcan has died: his books had so much whimsy and fury, punk and poetry. They brought so much that was new over the threshold.

Yesterday writers, lawyers and academics met in the Abbey's Peacock Stage to discuss Sophocles' Antigone. Dialogues between Darren Murphy and Eugene McNulty; Marina Carr and Melissa Sihra; Carlo Gébler and Paul Delaney. Thanks to everyone who came along. @irishhumanities.bsky.social

I've written a short piece on Michael Longley - less an obituary than an appreciation.

booksirelandmagazine.com/as-long-as-t...

Pictures: Portrait by Colin Davidson in the National Gallery of Ireland; with Seamus Heaney on the Hill of Tara in 2010.