Short Fiction

They leave the hotel ballroom soon after midnight, last out into the night except for the band. Two couples in their best clothes, elderly, exhausted but content, drunk with laughter; the men, James and Charlie, wearing tuxedos that have…

The Hennessey Book of Irish Fiction 2005-2015 is an anthology of twenty-five short stories by writers who won or were short-listed for the Hennessey Literary Awards.  Published by New Island Press, the stories are arranged in chronological…

The woman in the shop with the long, dark plait doesn’t like me. I always do my little, but clear and concise, ‘Hello’, and she doesn't answer. The way she slams my change on the counter suggests she can’t stand me. I’ve bought so many…

Next Week: Don't forget to check in next week where the theme is, Gold Diggers. We'll give you some of the best social climbers from literature but do you know their names?

Out of the Highland mist emerged three camels. Their riders, white bearded men wearing oriental gowns and turbans, were quarrelling. 'You may be a wise man, Balthazar, but you skipped the geography classes, didn't you?' Melchior lashed…

Dublin Book Festival I wouldn’t be doing a very good job as a lit reviewer if I didn’t mention the upcoming Dublin Book Festival which begins on Thursday 13th of November and will entertain literature lovers over the course of the weekend.…

Norman Marshall stretched and sighed, the bones in his shoulders and back cracking like gunshots. It had been a long flight and he needed a shower and a cup of coffee, but instead of sitting at his breakfast bar in his bathrobe, Norman…

To whom it may concern RE: The disappearance of Abigail Petty To all concerned parties, this is my account of the events leading up to the disappearance of Abigail Petty, known henceforth as Abby. From this point forward I will…

F*cking West End Girls! “Well, what about if we meet somewhere half way then?” Terry, Liam and Alex leaned in close to Ricky, hoping to hear the other side of the conversation. Ricky shook his head and rolled his eyes as the reply came…

John-Joe Warde had a head on him like a block. His shoulders were square and broad and his hands were strong. His face was flat except for the nose that angled at the top from being broke a couple of times. When he walked on the street and…