It’s traditional for anyone who runs a website or blog to reflect on the year sometime in December. Never one to rebel against tradition, these are my thoughts on 2016. It has been an exciting year for me as a writer: the highlight, of course, having my first collection published. I had been writing Jewtown for […]
Author: simon
The 9th Light – Shalom Park
The annual event of witnessing the 9th light , the shamash, light up in Shalom Park takes place on the last night of Chanukah. This is an art installation that pays tribute to the memory of the Jewish people who lived in Cork. The 9th light only lights up one day every year, on the […]
Art Beat Interview
I was delighted to be interviewed by Don O’Mahoney again, this time on UCC98.3FM’s Art Beat programme. The interview mainly focuses on two poems in my collection, Jewtown: Preservation and The Last Sabbath at South Terrace Synagogue and the stories behind both of the poems. We also talk about Freddie Rosehill who passed away recently […]
Support from Culture Ireland
As many poets know, there’s not a lot of money to be made in the art so when one receives the gift of travel expenses or a reading fee, it is really appreciated. In general, I have been treated well by the events and festivals where I have read. I am delighted that I have been […]
Jewish Book Week
My trip to London in February for Jewish Book Week is coming closer and preparations are underway. The official announcement has been made on the Jewish Book Week website and I’m delighted to see it looking so well. The event is called Jews of Ireland and features me, Ruth Gilligan and Jonathan Self. Ruth Gilligan is […]
Published in Penny Dreadful
I am delighted that two of my poems from Jewtown were published in the Penny Dreadful Winter/Spring 2017 issue. The poems were When Father Died and The Shochet. Thanks to the editors for considering these poem and I’m delighted to be in such good company. Here is the full list of poetry in Issue 7: Matthew […]
Irish Jewish Museum Reading
I had a lovely visit to the Irish Jewish Museum to read from Jewtown. I was accompanied by other poets and musicians for the two hour celebration of Irish Jewish poetry and music. Thanks to the museum for the opportunity.
Freddie Rosehill, RIP
I was sad to hear of the death of Freddie Rosehill, who some would have described as the “last man standing” when the synagogue in South Terrace closed earlier in the year. Freddie will be remembered fondly by all of the Cork Jewish Community as well as the rest of the Jewish Community in Ireland. […]
In the Window of Waterstones
Browsing my Instagram feed, I spotted Kerrie O’Brien’s post with a photo of her collection Illuminate in the window of Waterstones in Cork. I was delighted to see my own book on the bottom right of the display. Thanks for taking the photo, Kerrie, and I hope you don’t mind me stealing it!
Next Reading: Irish Jewish Museum
I’m looking forward to my next reading in the Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin. This will be my second time reading in this venue and my first since Jewtown was published. Last time I read, it was part of a celebration of Jewish Cork. It was a very interesting day where we watched video footage […]