Claire Mitchell
@clairemitchell.bsky.social
writer, mamaí, history and politics, Belfast/County Down, she/her.
📖 The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798
www.clairemitchell.net
📖 The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798
www.clairemitchell.net
Looking forward to taking part in this discussion in Armagh next Thursday evening, 27th November. Everyone welcome.
November 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Looking forward to taking part in this discussion in Armagh next Thursday evening, 27th November. Everyone welcome.
Great discussion in Galliagh. Another night where a panel from mixed backgrounds find so much common ground, and flesh out the kind of Republic we want to live in. Lovely crowd with loads of ideas.
Thanks to Think32 for having us, and the gorgeous Derry welcome.
Thanks to Think32 for having us, and the gorgeous Derry welcome.
October 16, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Great discussion in Galliagh. Another night where a panel from mixed backgrounds find so much common ground, and flesh out the kind of Republic we want to live in. Lovely crowd with loads of ideas.
Thanks to Think32 for having us, and the gorgeous Derry welcome.
Thanks to Think32 for having us, and the gorgeous Derry welcome.
Lovely to see my friend Ben Collins tonight and get his new book.
Will be chatting at his Belfast book launch with @cjharvey1.bsky.social and John Manley on 2nd Oct.
The tent is big enough now that Prods can debate the model for a new Republic, rather than just huddling together for safety!
Will be chatting at his Belfast book launch with @cjharvey1.bsky.social and John Manley on 2nd Oct.
The tent is big enough now that Prods can debate the model for a new Republic, rather than just huddling together for safety!
August 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Lovely to see my friend Ben Collins tonight and get his new book.
Will be chatting at his Belfast book launch with @cjharvey1.bsky.social and John Manley on 2nd Oct.
The tent is big enough now that Prods can debate the model for a new Republic, rather than just huddling together for safety!
Will be chatting at his Belfast book launch with @cjharvey1.bsky.social and John Manley on 2nd Oct.
The tent is big enough now that Prods can debate the model for a new Republic, rather than just huddling together for safety!
Only pic from my top Derry night is the Sandino’s toilet door. But it’s perfect.
August 15, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Only pic from my top Derry night is the Sandino’s toilet door. But it’s perfect.
The best of days in Dublin town, just mooching and telling stories about when we were 20 💚
August 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
The best of days in Dublin town, just mooching and telling stories about when we were 20 💚
Great launch of An Clogán, a new socialist republican magazine. So important to be able to shape a vision of a new Republic together.
Loved the synergies between Martina’s and my essays. Different backgrounds, but we both want a just, equal & regenerative Republic, bringing power closer to people.
Loved the synergies between Martina’s and my essays. Different backgrounds, but we both want a just, equal & regenerative Republic, bringing power closer to people.
August 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Great launch of An Clogán, a new socialist republican magazine. So important to be able to shape a vision of a new Republic together.
Loved the synergies between Martina’s and my essays. Different backgrounds, but we both want a just, equal & regenerative Republic, bringing power closer to people.
Loved the synergies between Martina’s and my essays. Different backgrounds, but we both want a just, equal & regenerative Republic, bringing power closer to people.
My life goal is just to see out my days on this County Down Drumlin. Swallows, nettles, sausages, gin and tonic.
May 17, 2025 at 8:12 PM
My life goal is just to see out my days on this County Down Drumlin. Swallows, nettles, sausages, gin and tonic.
Pinched these pics of Friday night from @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social. Had a brilliant time at the incredible Dromore Book Festival. festival. Huge thanks to Lesley and volunteers.
Last pic is Lesley and David Griffin, the best history and politics teacher many of us ever had. A joy to see him.
Last pic is Lesley and David Griffin, the best history and politics teacher many of us ever had. A joy to see him.
May 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Pinched these pics of Friday night from @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social. Had a brilliant time at the incredible Dromore Book Festival. festival. Huge thanks to Lesley and volunteers.
Last pic is Lesley and David Griffin, the best history and politics teacher many of us ever had. A joy to see him.
Last pic is Lesley and David Griffin, the best history and politics teacher many of us ever had. A joy to see him.
Morning dew making everything sparkle. Secret spider webs made visible by sunshine.
April 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Morning dew making everything sparkle. Secret spider webs made visible by sunshine.
Really looking forward to this event next Friday at Belfast’s QFT - Lessons From the Nordics: Imagining a New Ireland.
I think it’s a good time to look at what other small democracies do well, so we can imagine what better politics here could look like.
imaginebelfast.com/event/lesson...
I think it’s a good time to look at what other small democracies do well, so we can imagine what better politics here could look like.
imaginebelfast.com/event/lesson...
March 20, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Really looking forward to this event next Friday at Belfast’s QFT - Lessons From the Nordics: Imagining a New Ireland.
I think it’s a good time to look at what other small democracies do well, so we can imagine what better politics here could look like.
imaginebelfast.com/event/lesson...
I think it’s a good time to look at what other small democracies do well, so we can imagine what better politics here could look like.
imaginebelfast.com/event/lesson...
Lovely event coming up on 9th May in Dromore Elim Church - @lindaervine.bsky.social and myself in conversation with Tara Mills.
Huge props to @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social for organising an amazing programme for the Dromore Book Festival!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...
Huge props to @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social for organising an amazing programme for the Dromore Book Festival!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...
March 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Lovely event coming up on 9th May in Dromore Elim Church - @lindaervine.bsky.social and myself in conversation with Tara Mills.
Huge props to @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social for organising an amazing programme for the Dromore Book Festival!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...
Huge props to @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social for organising an amazing programme for the Dromore Book Festival!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...
Very moving writing from Peadar Thompson about his new book Lost Gaels.
February 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Very moving writing from Peadar Thompson about his new book Lost Gaels.
Reading this book to review. Sometimes I have peace process fatigue, when things currently seem so broken. But Harold’s book is an incredible reminder of how friendship, trust, honesty and courage can move mountains. A fabulous dissenter, peacemaker and human.
February 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reading this book to review. Sometimes I have peace process fatigue, when things currently seem so broken. But Harold’s book is an incredible reminder of how friendship, trust, honesty and courage can move mountains. A fabulous dissenter, peacemaker and human.
We have loads of old things still in use in our house. My husband uses my granda’s wallet. It always catches me off guard to see it, with its original contents.
A hospital appointment for 1975, a 6 1/2p stamp, a negative of a beloved caravan in Cranfield and a leaflet for WWII veterans.
A hospital appointment for 1975, a 6 1/2p stamp, a negative of a beloved caravan in Cranfield and a leaflet for WWII veterans.
February 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
We have loads of old things still in use in our house. My husband uses my granda’s wallet. It always catches me off guard to see it, with its original contents.
A hospital appointment for 1975, a 6 1/2p stamp, a negative of a beloved caravan in Cranfield and a leaflet for WWII veterans.
A hospital appointment for 1975, a 6 1/2p stamp, a negative of a beloved caravan in Cranfield and a leaflet for WWII veterans.
Maidin mhaith. She’s a beauty.
January 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Maidin mhaith. She’s a beauty.
Maidin mhaith. Frost and sun.
January 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Maidin mhaith. Frost and sun.
Ha! Yes thankfully there were more chapters. I do love the beautiful narcissism of being 5 though! This is a note from my other one - I love mum. I am god 😂😂
January 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Ha! Yes thankfully there were more chapters. I do love the beautiful narcissism of being 5 though! This is a note from my other one - I love mum. I am god 😂😂
Just found this, written by my kid when she was little.
“Once upon a time there was a mummy, she was called Claire. She was a teacher. She was not a teacher anymore. She had a baby then another. She had kids. The end.”
Brutal.
“Once upon a time there was a mummy, she was called Claire. She was a teacher. She was not a teacher anymore. She had a baby then another. She had kids. The end.”
Brutal.
January 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Just found this, written by my kid when she was little.
“Once upon a time there was a mummy, she was called Claire. She was a teacher. She was not a teacher anymore. She had a baby then another. She had kids. The end.”
Brutal.
“Once upon a time there was a mummy, she was called Claire. She was a teacher. She was not a teacher anymore. She had a baby then another. She had kids. The end.”
Brutal.
December 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM
The lovely @ellenmcwilliams.bsky.social and I will be in conversation this Wednesday, 27th November at 7pm, in the James Connolly Visitor Centre in Belfast.
We'll talk about our recent books and the ghosts that nagged us to write them. The uncanny parallels between them. Also the books' afterlives.
We'll talk about our recent books and the ghosts that nagged us to write them. The uncanny parallels between them. Also the books' afterlives.
November 24, 2024 at 11:10 AM
The lovely @ellenmcwilliams.bsky.social and I will be in conversation this Wednesday, 27th November at 7pm, in the James Connolly Visitor Centre in Belfast.
We'll talk about our recent books and the ghosts that nagged us to write them. The uncanny parallels between them. Also the books' afterlives.
We'll talk about our recent books and the ghosts that nagged us to write them. The uncanny parallels between them. Also the books' afterlives.
I've been doing that Irish thing of being too embarrassed to say hello, would you like my book?
It's The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798. A tribe of 20 modern day northern dissenters go walking around the sites of 1798, asking what this politics could mean for today.
It's The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798. A tribe of 20 modern day northern dissenters go walking around the sites of 1798, asking what this politics could mean for today.
November 18, 2024 at 9:26 PM
I've been doing that Irish thing of being too embarrassed to say hello, would you like my book?
It's The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798. A tribe of 20 modern day northern dissenters go walking around the sites of 1798, asking what this politics could mean for today.
It's The Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798. A tribe of 20 modern day northern dissenters go walking around the sites of 1798, asking what this politics could mean for today.
Sitting outside Newtownards town hall on market day. Wondering why the palm trees. Classical music playing somewhere. Pigeons flying loop the loop around the square. Quite lovely really.
November 16, 2024 at 11:02 AM
Sitting outside Newtownards town hall on market day. Wondering why the palm trees. Classical music playing somewhere. Pigeons flying loop the loop around the square. Quite lovely really.
Which of course makes me think of this stunning book ‘Men Who Eat Ringforts’ by Sinéad Mercier and Michael Holly.
It’s about industrial encroachment on fairy forts in Ireland, and how fairy spaces provide ways to live poetically - and even resist - the capitalist ecologies they now cohabit with.
It’s about industrial encroachment on fairy forts in Ireland, and how fairy spaces provide ways to live poetically - and even resist - the capitalist ecologies they now cohabit with.
November 13, 2024 at 2:02 PM
Which of course makes me think of this stunning book ‘Men Who Eat Ringforts’ by Sinéad Mercier and Michael Holly.
It’s about industrial encroachment on fairy forts in Ireland, and how fairy spaces provide ways to live poetically - and even resist - the capitalist ecologies they now cohabit with.
It’s about industrial encroachment on fairy forts in Ireland, and how fairy spaces provide ways to live poetically - and even resist - the capitalist ecologies they now cohabit with.
I found the teacher’s bit on my camera reel. Can’t for the life of me trace what book it’s from though!
November 13, 2024 at 1:38 PM
I found the teacher’s bit on my camera reel. Can’t for the life of me trace what book it’s from though!