The Thing with Feathers has now landed.
The Thing with Feathers – Spring Submission Call
Spring is coming. The birds are returning, and with them – perhaps – hope for a better world. Emily Dickinson called Hope ‘the thing with feathers,’ and that is the theme for this Spring issue of Corncrake.
You may wish to write about Hope. You may want to enlarge upon the Dickinson poem, or take a new perspective. Or perhaps the phrase brings to mind something entirely different. It is after all the title of a film, based on Max Porter’s novella Grief is the Thing with Feathers.
Perhaps it brings to mind some other bird, real or mythical. Or something else entirely: an arrow, an angler’s hand-tied fly, the hairy hooves of a carthorse. What does the ‘The Thing with Feathers’ convey to you?
Corncrake is a small online-only publication based in Fermanagh and the surrounding counties of Northwest Ireland that welcomes writers from all over the world. We are looking for poems, of course, but also for any genre of writing, factual or fantastical, up to 800 words, as well as news and reviews of work and events of local interest. Accompanying images are especially welcome, but please make sure that they are free to use and their source has been properly acknowledged.
Submissions to editor@corncrakemagazine.com
Deadline: March 31
Corncrake is up at Last
The long-delayed Autumn issue of Corncrake is finally live.
A couple of announcements:
Noelle McAlinden writes: Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition continues to Jan 4th 2026 at The Ulster Museum. Admission Free
An excellent stimulus for artists across artforms. Always a warm welcome to Fermanagh writers. For more info on Tours, Talks & Masterclasses & sources of inspiration from exhibiting artists www.royalulsteracademy.org
Bee Smith writes: There are openings for more to join my Wednesday Lunchtime Zoom creative writing group. Meets from 1pm -3pm. International group, all women over 55 in the group. Supportive chat, timed writing prompts on a variety of themes. Donation basis by PayPal or cheque. Don’t let money put you off.
If Saturday 3-5pm appeals to you there is room for 1 more. Same demographic, international group.
To book email dowrabeesmith@gmail.com
LeafLight Moon Launch
On Friday, 10 October, Leitrim author Monica Corish received two prizes at the 2025 CAP Awards in Dublin – best Fiction novel, and the Golden CAP Award for the best independently published book. LeafLight Moon evokes the story of the fateful encounter between the First Farmers and the hunter-gatherers who had lived in Ireland for thousands of years. Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch announced the Golden CAP award in a short video – see https://capawards.ie/
The CAP Awards serve as a fund-raiser for Aware.ie, a mental health charity. Entry fees support the programmes and services of Aware, while volunteers, book clubs and libraries screen the competition entries.
Monica Corish will read from LeafLight Moon on Saturday, 1 November in the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton. She will also launch the novel in conversation with memoirist Olive Travers at the 2025 Allingham Festival on Sunday 9 Nov at 1:30 pm in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon.
LeafLight Moon is available from A Novel Idea, Ballyshannon; Liber Books, Sligo; Four Masters Bookstore, Donegal Town; and Chapters Bookstore and Books Upstairs, Dublin. On-line sources include The Lulu Bookstore and Amazon.co.uk for paperback and Kindle versions.
(An early extract from LeafLight Moon was featured in Fermanagh Writers’ anthology Loughshore Lines)
All Ireland Poetry Slam – Fermanagh Heat
Fermanagh Writers will host the Fermanagh heat of the All Ireland Poetry Slam competition on Tuesday, 28th October in Blakes of The Hollow, Enniskillen at 7.30pm. (Doors open 7pm and competition starts 7.30pm). No need for pre-entry, just come along on the night with two poems prepared.
Poems can be up to 3 minutes long (points deducted for going over the time).They must be your own original work. It is recommended that you have memorised your poems as you will be judged on presentation and audience engagement. No accompaniments are allowed; it is just the poet and the poem.
The winner and the runner-up will go forward to the Ulster Final in Derry/Londonderry on the first weekend of November. The All Ireland Poetry slam final is in Bangor on Saturday, 22 November.
Autumn Call for Submissions
Deadline extended to October 31st
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
– Mary Oliver, Sometimes
Note the order: Our world is full of alleged astonishments that are designed to steal attention, but the work of attention comes first, then astonishment follows.
What have you been paying attention to, and found that it astonished you? Quite likely it was something entirely mundane, something no one else would notice if they had not been paying attention. You did not expect to be astonished, but you were. You were wrong, at least in this little detail; the world is not quite as you imagined it to be.
Perhaps you are glad you were wrong. Perhaps you already knew that you were, but didn’t understand how or why. What have you done with your astonishment? What are you doing to do?
Tell about it.
As always, we are looking up to about 800 words of any kind of writing – whether it be poetry, flash fiction, folktale, legend, memoir, philosophy or other non-fiction. Previews and reviews of recent and upcoming Arts events are also welcome, particularly those in Fermanagh and the surrounding area, as are images and links to relevant media.
Submissions to editor@corncrakemagazine.com
Deadline 31st October
Donal Ryan at the Allingham Festival
Irish Author Donal Ryan is to be featured at 2025 Allingham Festival
Irish author Donal Ryan, winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, will share his observations on contemporary society and the writing life in an interview at the 2025 Allingham Festival. His novel Heart, Be at Peace revisits the characters of The Spinning Heart as a small Irish community faces the contemporary challenges of social media, drugs, and illegal industries.
Previously featured guest at the 2013 Allingham Festival, Donal Ryan’s path to literary recognition reflects the highs and lows of a writing career. His first two novels were rejected 47 times before finding a publisher. Then The Spinning Heart was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and Ryan now lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick.
Interviewing Donal Ryan will be Nuala O’Connor, prizewinning author of Seaborne and Nora. Their conversation will take place at 3:30 Saturday afternoon 8 November at the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon.
2025 Allingham Festival events run from from 5-9 November. Highlights will include a Keynote Speech by human rights activist Nelofer Pazira, a performance of Paddy: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong featuring Don Wycherley, an in-depth interview with veteran broadcaster John Creedon, and a programme of reminiscences and excerpts from the work of Donegal playwright Brian Friel – plus films, exhibitions, podcasts, book launches and open-mic events. Programme details are listed on-line at www.allinghamfestival.com.
Yarnspinners
The Yarnspinners storytelling sessions are continuing.
This month:
Friday 22nd Townhall Arts Centre Townhall Street Cavan
Guest Teller Órla McGovern
To book, email Catherine or Daniel at breifneyarnspinners@gmail.com
Monday 25th Culley’s Bar 78 Cornagrade Road Enniskillen
Guest Teller Eimer Burke
To book, email Nuala at fermanaghyarnspinners@gmail.com
Both events are free and start at 7.30 pm. Booking is advised
National Poetry Competition 2025
The competition, run by The Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. This year’s judging panel includes Denise Saul, Ian Duhig and Susannah Dickey. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+. Prizes: £5,000, £3,000, £2,000, commendeds £500.
Deadline: 11.59 GMT, 31st October 2025.
Enter at http://npc.poetrysociety.org.uk
Yarnspinners this month
The Yarnspinners storytelling sessions are continuing. All events are free and start at 7.30 pm. Booking is advised.
This month:
Friday 8th Townhall Arts Centre Townhall Street Cavan
Guest Teller Steve Lally
To book, email Catherine or Daniel at breifneyarnspinners@gmail.com
Monday 28th Culley’s Bar 78 Cornagrade Road Enniskillen
Guest Teller Marianne McShane
To book, email Nuala at fermanaghyarnspinners@gmail.com