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The Stinging Fly

@stingingfly.bsky.social
2.2K followers 30 following 235 posts

Literary magazine established in 1997 to publish & promote the very best new Irish and international writing. Stinging Fly Press was launched in 2005. Summer 2026 Issue available to buy now: stingingfly.org/product/summer-2026 RCN: 20206659

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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
We are delighted to announce Isla Thomson as the winner of the 2026 @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social New Writing Prize in partnership with The Stinging Fly ✨️ Isla has won the prize for her short story, ‘Husbands’, forthcoming in our Winter 2026-27 issue in November 🎉 stingingfly.org/news/announc...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Autumn has arrived 🍁 and with it our first poetry craft seminar as part of our Second Tuesday Series ✨️ Sinéad was interviewed by Declan Meade in September 2002 following the publication of her 2nd poetry collection Between Here and There (2002) Read the interview: stingingfly.org/product/writ...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW PODCAST 🎧 Our host Nicole is joined by Susannah Dickey to discuss her story ‘Diplomats’ published in Issue 54 Nicole and Susannah discuss rivalry & jealousy in female friendships (—), the British Empire as enemy & the pleasure of writing characters in their 20's stingingfly.org/podcast/susa...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This Friday, we're excited to take part in @culturenightdub.bsky.social edition of We Love Markets Along with our books, mags and tote bags, the market features over 60 stalls of local Irish design, vintage clothing, crafts, food & live DJ 📍@thedigitalhub.bsky.social ♿️wheelchair accessible ⏰4-9PM
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
We are delighted to offer an online craft seminar with Sinéad Morrissey entitled Writing from the Inside: On Immediacy of Poetic Address. The seminar will run on Tuesday 13th October from 7pm to 8.30pm, online via Zoom. Tickets now on sale: stingingfly.org/product/writ...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The Rooney Prize was established in 1976, the prize celebrates an outstanding body of work by an emerging Irish writer under the age of 40 The prize is administered by the Oscar Wilde Centre for Creative Writing in the School of English at @tcddublin.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We are delighted with the news that Nicole Flattery has been awarded the 2026 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature ✨️ Huge congratulations to Nicole! Her debut short-story collection Show Them a Good Time was published in 2019 by The Stinging Fly Press. stingingfly.org/product/show...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Kristen Poli reviews Sugartown by Caragh Maxwell and Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare “Thirst Trap and Sugartown are memorable, sharp, realist novels about young Irish womanhood, and both authors have drawn comparisons to Sally Rooney, Dolly Alderton, and Lena Dunham.” stingingfly.org/review/sugar...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
NEW FICTION Izzie Glover ‘I, me, Sonny‘🏇 ”I know from the caravan beforehand that the villain wears more make-up than the maiden. Black pencil and they’ll twist the edges of your moustache, if you have one. To look grotesque and merciless, they said, it’s important.” stingingfly.org/2026/09/09/i...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Claire was interviewed by Declan in September 2006 following the publication of her second novel, Tenderwire. Now, almost 20 years later, Claire and Declan will pick back up where they left off to see what, if anything, has changed about the writing life.
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Second Tuesday Series with Claire Kilroy 🌸🌸🌸 Our Second Tuesday Series returns with an in-conversation event between novelist, Claire Kilroy and our publisher Declan Meade on Tuesday September 8th from 7pm to 8.15pm. stingingfly.org/product/seco...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
NEW PODCAST 🎧 Our poetry editor Annemarie Ní Churreáin is joined by Róisín Leggett Bohan, featured poet Summer 2026 issue, to read and discuss her work. Annemarie & Róisín discuss the promise they find in poetry - and how ‘body-popping’ relates to the poetic line💃 stingingfly.org/podcast/rois...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
“Bliss in Moments Like These” is the third set of letters from ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, published in partnership with @untold-narratives.bsky.social, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict Read all three letters stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Against the backdrop of tension and uncertainty in Afghanistan, Maryam describes her courtyard to Nadifa - the sparrows, her fruit trees and the call to prayer. stingingfly.org/bliss-in-mom...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Our Writers Showcase event takes place tomorrow at Kilkenny Arts Festival 🏰🍃 kilkennyarts.ie/festival/pro... Recent magazine contributors Grace Wilentz, Sam Furlong, and Rituals author Danielle McLaughlin will join Declan Meade in conversation, read from their work & discuss their writing process✨
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
“A Taut String Between Us” is the second set of letters from ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, published in partnership with @untold-narratives.bsky.social, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict. Read all three letters. stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
In the next two letters between Nadifa Mohamed and Maryam Mahjoba, exchanged earlier this year, the writers reflect on how they feel connected, despite the distance between them—Nadifa writes from her home in London to Maryam in Kabul—and the fact they’ve never met. stingingfly.org/a-taut-strin...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Did you catch @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social on @secondcaptains.bsky.social? ⚽️ The award-winning novelist & short-story writer discussed ‘Prosinečki’, a story & film by Adrian Duncan taken from our Summer 2018 magazine issue, her own writing & family life✒️ Listen here 🎧 www.rte.ie/radio/podcas...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The project was devised by Untold Narratives, a development programme for writers structurally marginalised by community or conflict. Maryam and Nadifa exchanged letters from December 2025 to June 2026. Maryam’s letters were translated for Nadifa from Dari into English by Abdul Bacet Khurram.
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
NEW on our website this week, ‘Letters Across The Mountains’, a three-part letter exchange between Maryam Mahjoba, a young Afghan fiction writer living in Kabul, and the Somali British novelist, Nadifa Mohamed, living in London. stingingfly.org/2026/08/12/l...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Come say hi to us at We Love Markets this Sunday at The Digital Hub 🌞 The July edition of the market is part of the amazing Liberties Festival, one of the oldest community festivals in Ireland🎉 What to expect: books and magazines📚 hot food🍲 live DJ🎧 Container Coffee Dublin☕ See you there!
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Our Summer School just wrapped up🌞🎊 We hope all the writers who attended had a productive & enjoyable experience🌸🌟 If you are looking for an opportunity to dedicate more time to your fiction project, our 6-Month Fiction Workshops are open for applications for 1 week stingingfly.org/6-month-work...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
NEW on our website: A short story by Max Lury, ‘The Milgrams’ “We resented the fact that she thought we would be impressed by Doug. And we also resented that we were, maybe, impressed by Doug.” Read the full story stingingfly.org/2026/07/16/t...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Thanks to judges, Sarah Moss, Romalyn Ante, WN Herbert, Michael Mullen & Yomi Ṣode Tara Bergin is from Dublin. Her first poetry collection, This is Yarrow, was published by Carcanet in 2013 and was awarded the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry Prize, & Shine/Strong Award.
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
We heartily congratulate Tara Bergin on being shortlisted for the 2026 Forward Prize for Poetry, in the category: Best Single Poem—Written 🏆 Tara's poem was one of two published in Issue 52, Summer 2025. order your copy of the Summer 2025 issue📚 stingingfly.org/product/summ...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Just over a week to apply for the 6-month fiction workshops 📬 Workshop Leaders 2026/27: Cathy Sweeney, Colin Barrett, Jan Carson, Mary Morrissy, Roisín O'Donnell & Danielle McLaughlin✨ 4 free places available thanks to Arts Council & our Friends/donors💚 stingingfly.org/6-month-work...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
NEW PODCAST Thomas Morris joins host Nicole to read from & discuss his story ‘Notes on Contributors’, in Issue 54 The Stinging Fly magazine They talk about how writers discuss their writing routine and about the benefit of maintaining mystery and ambiguity in writing stingingfly.org/podcast/tom-...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
TWO MORE WEEKS TO APPLY ✒️ We are offering four 6-month fiction workshops this year Deadline: Thursday July 23rd, 5pm (Irish Time) The 2026-27 workshops will be led by Cathy Sweeney, Colin Barrett, Jan Carson, Mary Morrissy, Danielle McLaughlin & Roisín O’Donnell stingingfly.org/6-month-work...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
30% OFF FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS ONLY🌞📚🏖️ Kick off your summer reading with our new offer, for a limited time only. Get 30% off any book or magazine until Tuesday 30th June ⏰ Use the code Summer_Reading_2026 at checkout🛒 stingingfly.org/shop/
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENJOY OUR SUMMER READING OFFER🌞🌞🌞⛱️⛱️⛱️🌅🌅🌅📚📚📚 Our books & magazines are the perfect companion for a day at the beach or lounging by the pool🏖️ Get 20% off any book or magazine until Tuesday 30th June. Use the code Summer_Reading_2026 at checkout stingingfly.org/shop/
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
3.) Thomas Morris is the award-winning author of the story collections We Don’t Know What We’re Doing and Open Up 4.) Mary Dunne is an emerging writer from Westmeath, whose work can be found in ROPES and Banshee 📍University College Cork 🔗Get tickets www.corkmidsummer.com/whats-on/the...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
1.) Chetna Maroo is the Booker Prize-listed author of Western Lane. 2.) Thomas Morris is the award-winning author of the story collections We Don’t Know What We’re Doing and Open Up.
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
There's less than a week to go until the unique collaborative event between The Stinging Fly x @bansheepress.bsky.social at @corkmidsummer.bsky.social on Saturday, 20th June🎊🌞 In the meantime, lets meet the four writers who will be sharing new writing in response to Seán Mac Erlaine's music 🎤🎵
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
The 2026 Irish Writers Centre New Writing Prize is now open @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social The aim of the award each year is to discover, promote and encourage the talents of new, undiscovered voices in Irish writing. Deadline: Tuesday 30 June, 5pm. Apply Here: stingingfly.org/news/the-iri...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Need some great holiday reads? Our summer reading offer continues for the rest of June so you can stock up on our books & magazines for your summer holiday 🌞 Get 20% off any book or magazine until Tuesday 30th June ✨ Use the code Summer_Reading_2026 at checkout📚 stingingfly.org/shop/
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
An excellent read for the weekend✨ Dane Holt's new short story 'Nor in Deep' ‘He brings his bottom lip over his top lip and makes it touch his small nose. It makes him look older somehow and like he’s disappointed in me.’ Read the full story: stingingfly.org/2026/06/04/n...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Gustav Parker Hibbett reviews Salvage: Readings from the Wreck by Dionne Brand @fsgbooks.bsky.social “Salvage is no exception. It arrives—meticulously, tenderly, wryly—to address a dishonesty, a bad-faith elision in Euro-America’s relationship to its own literature.” stingingfly.org/review/salva...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
NEW | Gustav Parker Hibbett reviews Salvage: Readings from the Wreck by Dionne Brand. "Part of the joy Salvage gives me is in Brand’s centring of the perspective of a ‘reader like [her]’, which returns me to the making of my own reading self." Read the full review: stingingfly.org/review/salva...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
This one-off event will feature new writing and improvised music, with writers from The Stinging Fly and Banshee responding to music by multi-instrumentalist and composer Seán Mac Erlaine Writers: Chetna Maroo, Billy Ramsell, Mary Dunne and Thomas Morris Sat 20th June, 5pm at UCC Granary Theatre
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
The Stinging Fly & @bansheepress.bsky.social are going to @corkmidsummer.bsky.social 🎉 Join us for ‘The Music of What Happens’: a unique call-and-response exploration of the imaginative boundaries between writing and music, and the act of creativity itself www.corkmidsummer.com/whats-on/the...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
There are just five days left to register for the next event in our Second Tuesday Series🦋 The series is intended to offer writers a space to gather, share their experiences, and learn from one another 🌸 Register for free: stingingfly.org/news/second-...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
NEW FICTION | 'Nor in Deep' by Dane Holt is now available on our website ‘Once, when Jenny called me from the hospital I stood there listening to the sounds of the A&E department behind her—the different frequencies of beep—and felt the most relaxed I’d ever felt.' stingingfly.org/2026/06/04/n...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
It's the perfect time to start stocking up for your summer reading needs 🌞✨ Use the coupon code on our website: Summer_Reading_2026 Offer ends on Tuesday 30th June stingingfly.org/shop/
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Judging were novelist & short story writer Yan Ge, Stinging Fly contributing editor and author Danny Denton and FBA agent, Carrie Plitt. The panel was chaired by programme manager, Eoin Rogers. "Breathwork is an example of how the best short stories are their own contained world.” 📸Patrick Fleming
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Rosa’s winning story, Breathwork appeared in Issue 52 Volume Two, published in May 2025. stingingfly.org/product/summ... Rosa was announced as the winner of the award at the launch event for our Summer 2026 issue at @ilfdublin.bsky.social last Saturday. stingingfly.org/product/summ...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
We are delighted to announce Rosa Mäkelä as the 2026 winner of The Stinging Fly/FBA Fiction Prize🎉 Along with a €2000 prize, sponsored by Felicity Bryan Associates, the 2026 prize include a 1-week residency at The Mill France, a writing retreat in rural France stingingfly.org/news/rosa-ma...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Tomorrow is the launch of our Summer 2026 Issue. Join us for this exciting celebration featuring contributor readings, conversation and a DJ session by Siobhan Kane. When: Saturday, 20th May, 8pm Where: The Synge Tent, Merrion Square Park Tickets: ilfdublin.com/whats-on/fes... 📸Ger Holland
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Five Days to Go ✒️ We are currently accepting submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry for our Winter 2026-27 issue until May 20th, 5pm. Poets writing in the Irish language are invited to submit their work for the Comhchealg section of the magazine. stingingfly.org/submissions/
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Our Summer 2026 issue is now available to order on our website 🌞 Thanks to all our contributors for trusting us with their words, and to our brilliant editorial team for putting together another magnificent magazine issue✨ Orders will be sent out May 18th onwards📮 stingingfly.org/product/summ...
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The Stinging Fly @stingingfly.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
TWO DAYS TO GO until our Summer 2026 Issue Launch in partnership with @ilfdublin.bsky.social🌞 The event will feature our brilliant contributor readings & a special DJ set by Siobhan Kane responding to our cover artist Diarmuid Breen’s evocative painting🎶 🎨 Book now: ilfdublin.com/whats-on/fes...
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