Rick O'Shea
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rickoshea.bsky.social
Rick O'Shea
@rickoshea.bsky.social
Broadcaster @rte.ie - currently on Arena on @rteradio1.bsky.social.

Runs Ireland's largest book club, patron @epilepsyireland.bsky.social, board of Fighting Words NI.

Arts event curator and moderator.

Quizzer.

Links: https://linktr.ee/rickoshea
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
Today on 746 Books I'm looking forward to all the great fiction coming in 2026 from Irish authors!

746books.com/2026/01/08/i...
January 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
This was a lovely chat with the fantastic @eithneshortall.bsky.social about all things SISTER WAKE, Sam, and a dinner party argument about why, no, colonialism was not a 'mixed bag...'
January 10, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
@rickoshea.bsky.social and I had a good natter about translated fiction on Arena @rteradio1.bsky.social earlier in the week. You can listen back here if you fancy it.

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Fiction in Translation
Writer and columnist Rónán Hession joins the show to be quizzed about best foreign fiction hitting the shelves, as well as the art of literary translation.
www.rte.ie
January 9, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
My word. (Again.)

Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
January 8, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
If you are still on "X", you have to ask yourself why.

It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.

If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
Breaking: Women's Aid Ireland will no longer maintain a presence on X from tomorrow.

@womensaidireland.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM
If you are still on "X", you have to ask yourself why.

It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.

If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?
Breaking: Women's Aid Ireland will no longer maintain a presence on X from tomorrow.

@womensaidireland.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
Delighted that my next novel Richard Heart Julianne will be coming out on the mighty @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social next year.

Hope you enjoy it. I loved writing it.
Delighted to announce that we will be publishing

_Richard Heart Julianne_

By @ronanhession.bsky.social

Spring/Summer 2027.

‘In Richard Heart Julianne we enter the mindstream of Richard on his last day as he reflects on his life, his home city and his failed marriage to Julianne.'

Brilliant!
January 5, 2026 at 2:31 PM
In case you missed this last week - I took a quick run through some of the books I'm looking forward to most in 2026 for @independent.ie.

m.independent.ie/entertainmen...
Rick O’Shea: Why 2026 is going to be a special year for fiction fans
January has some gems straight out of the traps – I’m already reading Vigil by George Saunders as I’ll be talking to him on RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena soon.
m.independent.ie
January 5, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
Good to see @davetynan.bsky.social's We Used to Dance Here in @rickoshea.bsky.social's Best Books of 2025 list.

'Cracking, straight from the opening story...I rarely find a collection without a dud story somewhere - this is one of them.'

www.independent.ie/entertainmen...
Rick O’Shea’s best books of 2025: Great reads you might have missed this year
I’m attempting to focus on books that you might not find in other end-of-year lists you’ve seen in the run up to Christmas – the ones that have possibly not gotten the spotlight and love they deserve.
www.independent.ie
December 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
It's time for a break. I'll be back online on Jan 5th to tell you all about the first regular Arena of 2026.

Stay safe x
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
We've had live events for Culture Night, The Poems of Seamus Heaney, the RTE Short Story Competition, the 100th Dublin Review.

Everyone has been so lovely at every turn, don't think that every kind word hasn't meant the world to me.
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
It has been the most extraordinary and challenging time since then. I've spoken to hundreds of reviewers, musicians, filmmakers, actors, academics, composers, writers, poets, opera singers, photographers, artists, fashion designers...
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
But, it was the year I began on one @rte.ie channel and finished on another.

The year I found myself, for the last five months, sitting in the seat my late colleague Seán Rocks made his own for sixteen years before his sudden, tragic death at the end of July. No-one could have seen that coming.
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
It's been two years of a year...

It was the year we started with two dogs and ended with three, the year I wrote and ended a book column, the year the @laibluesky.bsky.social gave me their Presidents Medal, the year I interviewed authors and filmmakers on stage, curated events, gave away awards.

🧵
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
€18,850.......
Friends, this is my last day online for a few weeks.

I do it every year, does wonders for the calm over the break. But I have things I want you to know about.

My Xmas Appeal in aid of three amazing charities is €1,405 shy of the €20,000 target I set.

Little help?

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
Support The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal on iDonate.ie
The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal 2025 for DSPCA, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Children's Books Ireland, created by Rick O'Shea | iDonate.ie
www.idonate.ie
December 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
€18,850.......
Friends, this is my last day online for a few weeks.

I do it every year, does wonders for the calm over the break. But I have things I want you to know about.

My Xmas Appeal in aid of three amazing charities is €1,405 shy of the €20,000 target I set.

Little help?

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
Support The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal on iDonate.ie
The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal 2025 for DSPCA, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Children's Books Ireland, created by Rick O'Shea | iDonate.ie
www.idonate.ie
December 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It's been two years of a year...

It was the year we started with two dogs and ended with three, the year I wrote and ended a book column, the year the @laibluesky.bsky.social gave me their Presidents Medal, the year I interviewed authors and filmmakers on stage, curated events, gave away awards.

🧵
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Friends, this is my last day online for a few weeks.

I do it every year, does wonders for the calm over the break. But I have things I want you to know about.

My Xmas Appeal in aid of three amazing charities is €1,405 shy of the €20,000 target I set.

Little help?

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
Support The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal on iDonate.ie
The Rick O'Shea Book Club Xmas Appeal 2025 for DSPCA, My Lovely Horse Rescue and Children's Books Ireland, created by Rick O'Shea | iDonate.ie
www.idonate.ie
December 19, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
Now at €18,000 with €2,000 to go.....
It has happened every year for as long as I can remember when I run my Xmas Appeal. One anonymous person sends me a card with a €50 cash donation.

Whoever you are, thank you so very much *again* !

Donations are at €16,000 with nine more days to get us to €20,000...

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
December 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
A few things to note about Arena next week:

Monday it's our inaugural Arena Arts quiz! Two teams of Arena contributors take each other in for the title of champions...

Tuesday we have a panel looking back at their favourite film, books, TV, and music of 2025.

7pm on @rteradio1.bsky.social.
December 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A few things to note about Arena next week:

Monday it's our inaugural Arena Arts quiz! Two teams of Arena contributors take each other in for the title of champions...

Tuesday we have a panel looking back at their favourite film, books, TV, and music of 2025.

7pm on @rteradio1.bsky.social.
December 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Now at €18,000 with €2,000 to go.....
It has happened every year for as long as I can remember when I run my Xmas Appeal. One anonymous person sends me a card with a €50 cash donation.

Whoever you are, thank you so very much *again* !

Donations are at €16,000 with nine more days to get us to €20,000...

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
December 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Friends. €2,500 gets us to target...

The appeal is open until Christmas, but if we do this by Friday I can knock off for the break 🙂

Donate €2.50, €25 or the full €2,500(!!!!!)

Shares also hugely welcome!

Almost there.......

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
December 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Rick O'Shea
It has happened every year for as long as I can remember when I run my Xmas Appeal. One anonymous person sends me a card with a €50 cash donation.

Whoever you are, thank you so very much *again* !

Donations are at €16,000 with nine more days to get us to €20,000...

www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/r...
December 16, 2025 at 11:43 AM