Poetry
Where the veil wears thin.
Verse that captures both the sensory and the spiritual. From the landscape of Ireland to the internal weather of the soul, these poems offer a language for what is felt but not always spoken.
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The rainbow on my wrist.

From Monasterevin’s quiet stopThe morning train rolls west;Past cattle grazing by the line,And rooks that guard each nest.We cross the Barrow’s silver span,The viaduct below;A hare breaks cover in the reedsAnd watches as we go.In Port Laoise-bound and drifting thoughtsI catch a sudden grin—A stranger nods as though they knowSome secret held within.In town, the… Continue reading
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Terrace. Neighbours. Gloom.

This poem is a quiet meditation on belonging. Set against the soft pulse of a sleeping terrace, it listens closely to the unnoticed life of the night — cats threading the dark, a fox passing unseen, an owl offering its steady call. In that chorus of small, living presences, the speaker finds not isolation but… Continue reading
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A Sunday kept in Love

A Sunday Kept in Love began as a reflection on an ordinary Sunday shaped by absence, devotion, and small, faithful rituals. The poem gathers simple domestic details—the batter left waiting, the organ lifting prayer at eleven, a familiar café table with one chair open, two cats keeping watch at home—and discovers in them a love… Continue reading
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Richard. Window. Watch.

In the deep hush of night, wrapped in turquoise warmth, I sit and breathe while Richard keeps his faithful vigil beside me. I sit upright in Andrew’s chair,The window open wide;My coughing stirs the early air,Yet Richard stays beside.Wrapped in a soft Sherpa’s hold,A teddy‑bear‑like hug,I brace against the night‑time coldWithin its gentle snug.Across the… Continue reading
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Front room fire

A cozy evening is shared by the fire, as love and warmth fill the home. Continue reading
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Andrew, this is you.

Some love stories are written in grand gestures. Ours has been written in endurance. This Valentine’s Day, I honour fifteen years of partnership with Andrew—and ten years of civil marriage later this year—not because the dates fall now, but because love that has lived this much deserves to be named whenever the heart nudges. Our… Continue reading
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Stubborn Grace

A train missed due to a slight delay prompts contemplation of fate and the value of waiting. Continue reading
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The Gentle Way

A gentle love provides peace, strength, and guidance, embracing family, pets, and faith daily. Continue reading
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Night Watch

The poem reflects a caregiver’s love and the comforting presence of cats during a loved one’s illness. Continue reading
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Fall. Grace. Love.

This morning did not unfold as expected. Before Mass began, our celebrant was injured in a fall and taken to hospital. In her absence, the community gathered for Morning Prayer and the Litany. The form of worship changed, but prayer continued. What had been prepared for Eucharist became something simpler and quieter, shaped by attentiveness… Continue reading
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Succession. Loss. Continuity.

Accession Day’s significance changed with the new reign, altering personal and national memories. Continue reading
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Flour. Aprons. Presence.

The poem explores faith through baking, celebrating divine presence in everyday community and labor. Continue reading
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Lines. Rise. Twice.

The author reflects on shared expressions of grief, emphasizing connection and authenticity in poetry. Continue reading
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Mary. Mother. Thanksgiving.

On my mum’s 80th birthday, I’m sharing the hymn her life inspired. I hope to give it voice at her celebration in Ballymena on Saturday — throat permitting. Some words wait years to be spoken, and sometimes love speaks most clearly when the voice is fragile. Continue reading







