Jessica Grene
@jgrenewriter.bsky.social
Irish writer. Reader. Mother of redheads. Leftie nerd. She/her.
https://www.jessica-grene-writer.com
https://www.jessica-grene-writer.com
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Congratulations to Liam Donnelly and Tony Hayes of Hodges Figgis Bookshop, Dublin, who were named The O’Brien Press Booksellers of the Year 2026 at the Bookselling Ireland Conference in Waterford this evening!
@thebookseller.com
@thebookseller.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Congratulations to Liam Donnelly and Tony Hayes of Hodges Figgis Bookshop, Dublin, who were named The O’Brien Press Booksellers of the Year 2026 at the Bookselling Ireland Conference in Waterford this evening!
@thebookseller.com
@thebookseller.com
Reposted by Jessica Grene
We are deeply concerned that Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been handed further prison sentences of seven-and-a-half years by an Iranian court and appeal for her release. Re-post please. #FreeNarges @englishpen.bsky.social @peninternational.bsky.social @scottishpen.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 11:27 PM
We are deeply concerned that Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been handed further prison sentences of seven-and-a-half years by an Iranian court and appeal for her release. Re-post please. #FreeNarges @englishpen.bsky.social @peninternational.bsky.social @scottishpen.bsky.social
I sold a book to Jonathan Rhys-Meyers without recognising him. A colleague told me who it was just as he left, and I ran to have a look as he went down the stairs. The loud thudding of my pursuit made him look up and see me, and I wished the floor of Hodges Figgis would open up and swallow me.
One of my academic colleagues looks a bit like Bob Mortimer. One time near our labs I saw him walking towards me and I warmly said Hey Kevin. It was Bob Mortimer.
Please share your very low impact celebrity encounters here.
Please share your very low impact celebrity encounters here.
Fun low level anecdote: I once sat near Peter Mandelson in a theatre but I had a name blank and said rather too loudly ‘ooh look it’s Michael Portillo!’
He was visibly unamused.
He was visibly unamused.
February 5, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I sold a book to Jonathan Rhys-Meyers without recognising him. A colleague told me who it was just as he left, and I ran to have a look as he went down the stairs. The loud thudding of my pursuit made him look up and see me, and I wished the floor of Hodges Figgis would open up and swallow me.
Reposted by Jessica Grene
#SpéirGorm Aramark also has the contract for lots of DP facilities, and it owns Avoca. Think twice before going for your bougie lunch at Kilmacanogue!
Pretty much every story you hear about prisoners and ICE kidnap victims being fed rotten and bug-infested food, the company that is serving them that food is either Aramark or Trinity Services Group
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramark
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramark
Aramark - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:16 AM
#SpéirGorm Aramark also has the contract for lots of DP facilities, and it owns Avoca. Think twice before going for your bougie lunch at Kilmacanogue!
Reposted by Jessica Grene
"Classes taught in twelve languages: Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Croatian, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Kurdish, Portuguese, Serbian and Spanish."
Nice opportunity here: "the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop offers majority world students and those from underrepresented communities in G20... a chance to learn from some of the world’s most well-respected photojournalists & photography professionals." foundryphotoworkshop.org?utm_campaign...
foundryphotoworkshop.org
APPLY NOW Visitors enjoy rides at the Cologne Spring Folk Festival along the Deutz Rhine embankment, Cologne, Germany, April 2022. Photo by Ayham Khalifeh Now in its eighteenth year…
foundryphotoworkshop.org
January 29, 2026 at 8:16 PM
"Classes taught in twelve languages: Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Croatian, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Kurdish, Portuguese, Serbian and Spanish."
Awesome writer Jan Carson @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social writes about awesome writer Barbara Pym.
Barbara Pym is Jane Austen with a side of jumble sales, public transport and laugh-out-loud one-liners
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Barbara Pym is Jane Austen with a side of jumble sales, public transport and laugh-out-loud one-liners
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Barbara Pym is Jane Austen with a side of jumble sales, public transport and laugh-out-loud one-liners
Her dour, unflinching portraits of women doing their level best not to lose any part of themselves reek of real life
www.irishtimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Awesome writer Jan Carson @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social writes about awesome writer Barbara Pym.
Barbara Pym is Jane Austen with a side of jumble sales, public transport and laugh-out-loud one-liners
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Barbara Pym is Jane Austen with a side of jumble sales, public transport and laugh-out-loud one-liners
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Excited to sign again with @lilliputpress.bsky.social for my next novel Glorious Monsters. Features Mary Shelley of Frankenstein fame, set in 1819 … and Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley are also characters. Out Sep 2026. Here’s me with Antony Farrell of Lilliput #books #histfic
January 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Excited to sign again with @lilliputpress.bsky.social for my next novel Glorious Monsters. Features Mary Shelley of Frankenstein fame, set in 1819 … and Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley are also characters. Out Sep 2026. Here’s me with Antony Farrell of Lilliput #books #histfic
Reposted by Jessica Grene
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in multiple ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:06 PM
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
This book is utterly amazing, and genuinely original.
We are thrilled to reveal that Water in the Desert, Fire in the Night by Gethan Dick has been shortlisted for the 2026 Kate O’Brien Award! The shortlisted writers will be talking about their books at the Festival on Sunday 1st March at 11:15am in the Belltable, Limerick. We hope to see you there!
January 14, 2026 at 5:15 PM
This book is utterly amazing, and genuinely original.
Reposted by Jessica Grene
'My Fourth Time, We Drowned' is 4.99 pounds on Audible in the UK for January only. The audiobook version includes original audio from reporting I did over those years.
Please consider listening if you haven't already. It (unfortunately) has not stopped being relevant. @4thestatebooks.bsky.social
Please consider listening if you haven't already. It (unfortunately) has not stopped being relevant. @4thestatebooks.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 5:35 PM
'My Fourth Time, We Drowned' is 4.99 pounds on Audible in the UK for January only. The audiobook version includes original audio from reporting I did over those years.
Please consider listening if you haven't already. It (unfortunately) has not stopped being relevant. @4thestatebooks.bsky.social
Please consider listening if you haven't already. It (unfortunately) has not stopped being relevant. @4thestatebooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Jessica Grene
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry, Maggie O’Farrell, Keith Ridgway, Danielle McLaughlin, Louise Nealon, Sarah Gilmartin, Patrick Freyne, Liz Nugent, Jan Carson, Tana French, Kathleen MacMahon & more
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry and more
A comprehensive round-up of fiction from Irish and international authors due out this year
www.irishtimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:04 AM
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry, Maggie O’Farrell, Keith Ridgway, Danielle McLaughlin, Louise Nealon, Sarah Gilmartin, Patrick Freyne, Liz Nugent, Jan Carson, Tana French, Kathleen MacMahon & more
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Good. Quite aside from Walliams being a creep, there are MUCH, MUCH better children’s books out there.
www.thebookseller.com/news/david-w...
www.thebookseller.com/news/david-w...
David Walliams sales down 30% in weeks after author 'dropped by HarperCollins'
Sales of David Walliams’ books decreased 30% in the last two weeks of 2025, and were down 19% year on year, according to NielsenIQ BookData.
www.thebookseller.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Good. Quite aside from Walliams being a creep, there are MUCH, MUCH better children’s books out there.
www.thebookseller.com/news/david-w...
www.thebookseller.com/news/david-w...
Reposted by Jessica Grene
E-books are reading.
Comics are reading.
Genre is reading.
Fanfic is reading.
Text-based games are reading.
Audiobooks are reading.
Braille books are reading.
Non-fiction is reading.
Picture books are reading.
There is no single way to read, nor is any reading style more worthy than another.
Comics are reading.
Genre is reading.
Fanfic is reading.
Text-based games are reading.
Audiobooks are reading.
Braille books are reading.
Non-fiction is reading.
Picture books are reading.
There is no single way to read, nor is any reading style more worthy than another.
January 3, 2026 at 11:05 AM
E-books are reading.
Comics are reading.
Genre is reading.
Fanfic is reading.
Text-based games are reading.
Audiobooks are reading.
Braille books are reading.
Non-fiction is reading.
Picture books are reading.
There is no single way to read, nor is any reading style more worthy than another.
Comics are reading.
Genre is reading.
Fanfic is reading.
Text-based games are reading.
Audiobooks are reading.
Braille books are reading.
Non-fiction is reading.
Picture books are reading.
There is no single way to read, nor is any reading style more worthy than another.
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Why ‘failed’? She didn’t fail to restore it.
It looked different is all.
‘After news broke of the restoration the small town of Borja saw a boom in tourism from people eager to see it.’
Success!
jrnl.ie/6914979 Spanish woman known for failed restoration of Jesus Christ fresco dies
It looked different is all.
‘After news broke of the restoration the small town of Borja saw a boom in tourism from people eager to see it.’
Success!
jrnl.ie/6914979 Spanish woman known for failed restoration of Jesus Christ fresco dies
Spanish woman known for failed restoration of Jesus Christ fresco dies
Cecilia Gimenez rose to international fame in 2012 after her botched restoration of the Ecce Homo fresco.
jrnl.ie
December 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Why ‘failed’? She didn’t fail to restore it.
It looked different is all.
‘After news broke of the restoration the small town of Borja saw a boom in tourism from people eager to see it.’
Success!
jrnl.ie/6914979 Spanish woman known for failed restoration of Jesus Christ fresco dies
It looked different is all.
‘After news broke of the restoration the small town of Borja saw a boom in tourism from people eager to see it.’
Success!
jrnl.ie/6914979 Spanish woman known for failed restoration of Jesus Christ fresco dies
Reposted by Jessica Grene
This year the British establishment covered up this new #Banksy.
Can we get it Retweeted 10,000 times to show that they can never cover up their complicity in war crimes??
Protect the right to protest! RT!
Can we get it Retweeted 10,000 times to show that they can never cover up their complicity in war crimes??
Protect the right to protest! RT!
December 30, 2025 at 4:42 AM
This year the British establishment covered up this new #Banksy.
Can we get it Retweeted 10,000 times to show that they can never cover up their complicity in war crimes??
Protect the right to protest! RT!
Can we get it Retweeted 10,000 times to show that they can never cover up their complicity in war crimes??
Protect the right to protest! RT!
Reposted by Jessica Grene
If, like me, you did NOT get the ONE thing you wanted from Santy (a 95-year-old bachelor farmer with plenty land and a bad cough), treat yourself to a print from an Irish doodler instead - big discounts across the shop, including on bundles, so go on. Go on go on go ON.
www.ciaraioch.com/artprints
www.ciaraioch.com/artprints
December 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
If, like me, you did NOT get the ONE thing you wanted from Santy (a 95-year-old bachelor farmer with plenty land and a bad cough), treat yourself to a print from an Irish doodler instead - big discounts across the shop, including on bundles, so go on. Go on go on go ON.
www.ciaraioch.com/artprints
www.ciaraioch.com/artprints
Reposted by Jessica Grene
The most brutal way of telling someone they’re a few sandwiches short of a picnic that I’ve heard in French is t’es pas la truite la plus oxygénée de la rivière. It means “you’re not the most oxygenated trout in the river.”
* read on for similar insults from around the world (a thread)…
* read on for similar insults from around the world (a thread)…
December 19, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The most brutal way of telling someone they’re a few sandwiches short of a picnic that I’ve heard in French is t’es pas la truite la plus oxygénée de la rivière. It means “you’re not the most oxygenated trout in the river.”
* read on for similar insults from around the world (a thread)…
* read on for similar insults from around the world (a thread)…
This show jumped the shark several seasons ago.
Reading about US politics online is like trying to follow a drama where the writers are crap at continuity:
Wasn’t he in prison?
She was suing him and now she’s marrying him?
He had a different job yesterday!
Which blonde is this?
Last week God told him to do it and now it’s a sin?
Didn’t she die?
Wasn’t he in prison?
She was suing him and now she’s marrying him?
He had a different job yesterday!
Which blonde is this?
Last week God told him to do it and now it’s a sin?
Didn’t she die?
December 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This show jumped the shark several seasons ago.
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Please stop reposting that vicious amoral man's words.
You're spreading poison.
You're spreading poison.
December 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Please stop reposting that vicious amoral man's words.
You're spreading poison.
You're spreading poison.
There’s also a feature that blocks screenshots from X and other media. However, it doesn’t always work, so I IMPLORE people to *STOP* sharing deranged and toxic content on here.
If I wanted to read it, I’d be on those networks. Thanks.
If I wanted to read it, I’d be on those networks. Thanks.
For those who don't know what "detach quote" is or how to use it, it's described here:
bsky.social/about/blog/0...
bsky.social/about/blog/0...
New Anti-Toxicity Features on Bluesky - Bluesky
Trust and Safety (T&S) affects everything — from community policy and spam detection, all the way to the order that replies show up on a post. At Bluesky, the product team works hand-in-hand with T&S ...
bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
There’s also a feature that blocks screenshots from X and other media. However, it doesn’t always work, so I IMPLORE people to *STOP* sharing deranged and toxic content on here.
If I wanted to read it, I’d be on those networks. Thanks.
If I wanted to read it, I’d be on those networks. Thanks.
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers.
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
December 15, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers.
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
Reposted by Jessica Grene
Public service announcement to anyone in the UK trying to phone people in Ireland. Chances are that, unless you are a ‘contact’, you won’t get through. We’re being bombarded by spam calls from 0044 numbers atm, & so most of us are not answering unknown UK numbers.
#SpeirGorm
#IrishBluesky
#SpeirGorm
#IrishBluesky
December 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Public service announcement to anyone in the UK trying to phone people in Ireland. Chances are that, unless you are a ‘contact’, you won’t get through. We’re being bombarded by spam calls from 0044 numbers atm, & so most of us are not answering unknown UK numbers.
#SpeirGorm
#IrishBluesky
#SpeirGorm
#IrishBluesky
Reposted by Jessica Grene
In my latest piece for @thebookseller.com, I talk about my experience working as a Champion of Reading in a secondary school in Dublin with reluctant readers. Rather than concentrating on text, I made my focus the point where language triggers the imagination.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
Instilling a hunger for language
Children's Books Ireland's Everyone a Reader programme holds powerful lessons for the National Year of Reading.
www.thebookseller.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM
In my latest piece for @thebookseller.com, I talk about my experience working as a Champion of Reading in a secondary school in Dublin with reluctant readers. Rather than concentrating on text, I made my focus the point where language triggers the imagination.
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/copy...
Reposted by Jessica Grene
📌 ciaraioch.com is now taking Christmas orders for prints, cards, and vouchers - each archival-quality print on heavy art paper is made in Ireland, ships internationally in eco-friendly packaging with discount tracked postage, and comes with a FREE card and treats for every customer 🎁 #SpéirGorm
December 3, 2025 at 8:25 AM
📌 ciaraioch.com is now taking Christmas orders for prints, cards, and vouchers - each archival-quality print on heavy art paper is made in Ireland, ships internationally in eco-friendly packaging with discount tracked postage, and comes with a FREE card and treats for every customer 🎁 #SpéirGorm