The Stinging Fly
@stingingfly.bsky.social
Magazine established in 1997 to publish & promote the very best new Irish and international writing. Stinging Fly Press was launched in 2005. Winter 2024-25 Issue #51 available now https://stingingfly.org/product/winter-2024-25/
NEW FICTION
Miriam Needham's story ‘Sometimes Women Find It Strange’
“How can this man be so sure of himself, Róisín thinks, when he is so strange, so different to the people around him? It’s almost offensive, the level of comfort he has with himself.”
full story🔗
stingingfly.org/2025/11/12/s...
Miriam Needham's story ‘Sometimes Women Find It Strange’
“How can this man be so sure of himself, Róisín thinks, when he is so strange, so different to the people around him? It’s almost offensive, the level of comfort he has with himself.”
full story🔗
stingingfly.org/2025/11/12/s...
November 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
NEW FICTION
Miriam Needham's story ‘Sometimes Women Find It Strange’
“How can this man be so sure of himself, Róisín thinks, when he is so strange, so different to the people around him? It’s almost offensive, the level of comfort he has with himself.”
full story🔗
stingingfly.org/2025/11/12/s...
Miriam Needham's story ‘Sometimes Women Find It Strange’
“How can this man be so sure of himself, Róisín thinks, when he is so strange, so different to the people around him? It’s almost offensive, the level of comfort he has with himself.”
full story🔗
stingingfly.org/2025/11/12/s...
THE CLIMATE ISSUE 🌊
Our Winter 2025-26 issue is out next week launching on Thursday 27th November in The Digital Depot, Dublin
🎨The Conversation by Limerick-based artist Robert Ryan, selected from the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition / Cover design Eimear Gavin.
More info stingingfly.org/newsletter/
Our Winter 2025-26 issue is out next week launching on Thursday 27th November in The Digital Depot, Dublin
🎨The Conversation by Limerick-based artist Robert Ryan, selected from the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition / Cover design Eimear Gavin.
More info stingingfly.org/newsletter/
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
THE CLIMATE ISSUE 🌊
Our Winter 2025-26 issue is out next week launching on Thursday 27th November in The Digital Depot, Dublin
🎨The Conversation by Limerick-based artist Robert Ryan, selected from the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition / Cover design Eimear Gavin.
More info stingingfly.org/newsletter/
Our Winter 2025-26 issue is out next week launching on Thursday 27th November in The Digital Depot, Dublin
🎨The Conversation by Limerick-based artist Robert Ryan, selected from the 195th RHA Annual Exhibition / Cover design Eimear Gavin.
More info stingingfly.org/newsletter/
NEWS: Emma Dabiri joins as our new non-fiction editor.
Emma Dabiri FRSL is an award-winning broadcaster & bestselling author of Don’t Touch My Hair, What White People Can Do Next and Disobedient Bodies.
Emma will be reading for the current open submission round.
stingingfly.org/news/announc...
Emma Dabiri FRSL is an award-winning broadcaster & bestselling author of Don’t Touch My Hair, What White People Can Do Next and Disobedient Bodies.
Emma will be reading for the current open submission round.
stingingfly.org/news/announc...
November 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
NEWS: Emma Dabiri joins as our new non-fiction editor.
Emma Dabiri FRSL is an award-winning broadcaster & bestselling author of Don’t Touch My Hair, What White People Can Do Next and Disobedient Bodies.
Emma will be reading for the current open submission round.
stingingfly.org/news/announc...
Emma Dabiri FRSL is an award-winning broadcaster & bestselling author of Don’t Touch My Hair, What White People Can Do Next and Disobedient Bodies.
Emma will be reading for the current open submission round.
stingingfly.org/news/announc...
NEW: Valerie Flynn reviews After the Train edited by Evelyn Conlon and Rebecca Pelan and published by
@ucdpress.bsky.social
“[A]n eye-opening and evocative mosaic of first-person reflections on the 1975-1977 feminist collective”
stingingfly.org/review/after...
@ucdpress.bsky.social
“[A]n eye-opening and evocative mosaic of first-person reflections on the 1975-1977 feminist collective”
stingingfly.org/review/after...
November 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
NEW: Valerie Flynn reviews After the Train edited by Evelyn Conlon and Rebecca Pelan and published by
@ucdpress.bsky.social
“[A]n eye-opening and evocative mosaic of first-person reflections on the 1975-1977 feminist collective”
stingingfly.org/review/after...
@ucdpress.bsky.social
“[A]n eye-opening and evocative mosaic of first-person reflections on the 1975-1977 feminist collective”
stingingfly.org/review/after...
Great to see two of our titles listed in the '10 of the best Irish short story collections' this week @rte.ie by journalist @laurenmurphyjourno.bsky.social
t.co/GFEduC6U8r
1. Kevin Barry - There Are Little Kingdoms (2007) t.co/rzORCbHNAb
6. Colin Barrett - Young Skins (2013) t.co/50JJvsOQZg
t.co/GFEduC6U8r
1. Kevin Barry - There Are Little Kingdoms (2007) t.co/rzORCbHNAb
6. Colin Barrett - Young Skins (2013) t.co/50JJvsOQZg
October 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Great to see two of our titles listed in the '10 of the best Irish short story collections' this week @rte.ie by journalist @laurenmurphyjourno.bsky.social
t.co/GFEduC6U8r
1. Kevin Barry - There Are Little Kingdoms (2007) t.co/rzORCbHNAb
6. Colin Barrett - Young Skins (2013) t.co/50JJvsOQZg
t.co/GFEduC6U8r
1. Kevin Barry - There Are Little Kingdoms (2007) t.co/rzORCbHNAb
6. Colin Barrett - Young Skins (2013) t.co/50JJvsOQZg
NEW: Jade Bailey Brock reviews A Hut at the Edge of the Village
stingingfly.org/review/a-hut...
A newly-reissued anthology of excerpts from the work of Irish writer and philosopher John Moriarty, edited by writer & storyteller Martin Shaw, and published by @lilliputpress.bsky.social in April 2025
stingingfly.org/review/a-hut...
A newly-reissued anthology of excerpts from the work of Irish writer and philosopher John Moriarty, edited by writer & storyteller Martin Shaw, and published by @lilliputpress.bsky.social in April 2025
October 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
NEW: Jade Bailey Brock reviews A Hut at the Edge of the Village
stingingfly.org/review/a-hut...
A newly-reissued anthology of excerpts from the work of Irish writer and philosopher John Moriarty, edited by writer & storyteller Martin Shaw, and published by @lilliputpress.bsky.social in April 2025
stingingfly.org/review/a-hut...
A newly-reissued anthology of excerpts from the work of Irish writer and philosopher John Moriarty, edited by writer & storyteller Martin Shaw, and published by @lilliputpress.bsky.social in April 2025
One week until Halloween...
Get 50% off The Stinging Fly Magazine - Fear & Fantasy Issue (Winter 2016-17) 🦇
Sale ends November 1st 🏮
Enter code at checkout: Halloween2025 🌙
stingingfly.org/product/wint...
Get 50% off The Stinging Fly Magazine - Fear & Fantasy Issue (Winter 2016-17) 🦇
Sale ends November 1st 🏮
Enter code at checkout: Halloween2025 🌙
stingingfly.org/product/wint...
October 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
One week until Halloween...
Get 50% off The Stinging Fly Magazine - Fear & Fantasy Issue (Winter 2016-17) 🦇
Sale ends November 1st 🏮
Enter code at checkout: Halloween2025 🌙
stingingfly.org/product/wint...
Get 50% off The Stinging Fly Magazine - Fear & Fantasy Issue (Winter 2016-17) 🦇
Sale ends November 1st 🏮
Enter code at checkout: Halloween2025 🌙
stingingfly.org/product/wint...
More good news🎉📚
Wendy Erskine's debut novel The Benefactors (Sceptre Books) shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year award
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/the-...
We published Wendy's two short story collections, Sweet Home (2018) and Dance Move (2022).
Wendy Erskine's debut novel The Benefactors (Sceptre Books) shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year award
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/the-...
We published Wendy's two short story collections, Sweet Home (2018) and Dance Move (2022).
October 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
More good news🎉📚
Wendy Erskine's debut novel The Benefactors (Sceptre Books) shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year award
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/the-...
We published Wendy's two short story collections, Sweet Home (2018) and Dance Move (2022).
Wendy Erskine's debut novel The Benefactors (Sceptre Books) shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year award
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/the-...
We published Wendy's two short story collections, Sweet Home (2018) and Dance Move (2022).
BIG NEWS 📚🎉
We couldn't be happier to see this year's shortlist for 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards!
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year: Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn (The Stinging Fly Press)
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/ever...
We couldn't be happier to see this year's shortlist for 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards!
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year: Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn (The Stinging Fly Press)
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/ever...
October 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
BIG NEWS 📚🎉
We couldn't be happier to see this year's shortlist for 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards!
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year: Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn (The Stinging Fly Press)
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/ever...
We couldn't be happier to see this year's shortlist for 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards!
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year: Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn (The Stinging Fly Press)
You can vote now
www.irishbookawards.ie/nominee/ever...
Here are some photos from the lecture by Dublin-based photographer Patrick Fleming.
See more on our Instagram page:
t.co/nkK4QjMICH
See more on our Instagram page:
t.co/nkK4QjMICH
October 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Here are some photos from the lecture by Dublin-based photographer Patrick Fleming.
See more on our Instagram page:
t.co/nkK4QjMICH
See more on our Instagram page:
t.co/nkK4QjMICH
The text of the 2025 Stinging Fly Annual Lecture is now available to read on our website.
stingingfly.org/2025/10/16/l...
We were delighted to have Sarah Moss deliver the The Stinging Fly 2025 Annual Lecture at Pearse Street Library in Dublin on the 25th of September.
stingingfly.org/2025/10/16/l...
We were delighted to have Sarah Moss deliver the The Stinging Fly 2025 Annual Lecture at Pearse Street Library in Dublin on the 25th of September.
October 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The text of the 2025 Stinging Fly Annual Lecture is now available to read on our website.
stingingfly.org/2025/10/16/l...
We were delighted to have Sarah Moss deliver the The Stinging Fly 2025 Annual Lecture at Pearse Street Library in Dublin on the 25th of September.
stingingfly.org/2025/10/16/l...
We were delighted to have Sarah Moss deliver the The Stinging Fly 2025 Annual Lecture at Pearse Street Library in Dublin on the 25th of September.
Join our meet and greet session on Thursday October 30th to share your experiences as a writer with a disability, as we devise a range of targeted supports for disabled writers.
Please contact Declan Meade by Wednesday October 22nd
We’d love to hear from you.
stingingfly.org/news/a-call-...
Please contact Declan Meade by Wednesday October 22nd
We’d love to hear from you.
stingingfly.org/news/a-call-...
October 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Join our meet and greet session on Thursday October 30th to share your experiences as a writer with a disability, as we devise a range of targeted supports for disabled writers.
Please contact Declan Meade by Wednesday October 22nd
We’d love to hear from you.
stingingfly.org/news/a-call-...
Please contact Declan Meade by Wednesday October 22nd
We’d love to hear from you.
stingingfly.org/news/a-call-...
NEW FICTION: On our website, Eamon McGuinness's story ‘Los Sotos’
stingingfly.org/2025/10/08/l...
“Swallows are everywhere. Golondrinas, I say to myself and remember the day on the balcony when Pilar taught me that word. She used to praise them for eating the mosquitos in summer.”
stingingfly.org/2025/10/08/l...
“Swallows are everywhere. Golondrinas, I say to myself and remember the day on the balcony when Pilar taught me that word. She used to praise them for eating the mosquitos in summer.”
October 8, 2025 at 12:13 PM
NEW FICTION: On our website, Eamon McGuinness's story ‘Los Sotos’
stingingfly.org/2025/10/08/l...
“Swallows are everywhere. Golondrinas, I say to myself and remember the day on the balcony when Pilar taught me that word. She used to praise them for eating the mosquitos in summer.”
stingingfly.org/2025/10/08/l...
“Swallows are everywhere. Golondrinas, I say to myself and remember the day on the balcony when Pilar taught me that word. She used to praise them for eating the mosquitos in summer.”
NEW: Philip Ó Ceallaigh reviews Goat Song, a novel from 1928 by the Russian writer Konstantin Vaginov, published this year in English for the first time by New York Review Books
– translated by Ainsley Morse.
read here: stingingfly.org/review/goat-...
– translated by Ainsley Morse.
read here: stingingfly.org/review/goat-...
October 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
NEW: Philip Ó Ceallaigh reviews Goat Song, a novel from 1928 by the Russian writer Konstantin Vaginov, published this year in English for the first time by New York Review Books
– translated by Ainsley Morse.
read here: stingingfly.org/review/goat-...
– translated by Ainsley Morse.
read here: stingingfly.org/review/goat-...
STORY PACK📚Limited time offer ⏰
Order 3 of these 6 great books for 20 euro including postage within Ireland, 30 euro to GB and Europe.
Offer is only available until Monday.
🔗 stingingfly.org/product/stor...
Order 3 of these 6 great books for 20 euro including postage within Ireland, 30 euro to GB and Europe.
Offer is only available until Monday.
🔗 stingingfly.org/product/stor...
October 1, 2025 at 11:41 AM
STORY PACK📚Limited time offer ⏰
Order 3 of these 6 great books for 20 euro including postage within Ireland, 30 euro to GB and Europe.
Offer is only available until Monday.
🔗 stingingfly.org/product/stor...
Order 3 of these 6 great books for 20 euro including postage within Ireland, 30 euro to GB and Europe.
Offer is only available until Monday.
🔗 stingingfly.org/product/stor...
BIG NEWS: Dublin, Written In Our Hearts
@dublincityoflit.bsky.social
is now available as an audiobook! You can access the audiobook via
@dublincitylibs.bsky.social
BorrowBox online library service 🎧
🔗 dublin.borrowbox.com/product/SFA_...
@dublincityoflit.bsky.social
is now available as an audiobook! You can access the audiobook via
@dublincitylibs.bsky.social
BorrowBox online library service 🎧
🔗 dublin.borrowbox.com/product/SFA_...
September 26, 2025 at 11:44 AM
BIG NEWS: Dublin, Written In Our Hearts
@dublincityoflit.bsky.social
is now available as an audiobook! You can access the audiobook via
@dublincitylibs.bsky.social
BorrowBox online library service 🎧
🔗 dublin.borrowbox.com/product/SFA_...
@dublincityoflit.bsky.social
is now available as an audiobook! You can access the audiobook via
@dublincitylibs.bsky.social
BorrowBox online library service 🎧
🔗 dublin.borrowbox.com/product/SFA_...
NEW: on this month's episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Rosa Mäkelä to read from and discuss her story ‘Breathwork’, published in the Summer 2025 issue of The Stinging Fly Issue 52 Volume Two.
Listen 🔗https://stingingfly.org/podcast/rosa-makela/
Listen 🔗https://stingingfly.org/podcast/rosa-makela/
September 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
NEW: on this month's episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Rosa Mäkelä to read from and discuss her story ‘Breathwork’, published in the Summer 2025 issue of The Stinging Fly Issue 52 Volume Two.
Listen 🔗https://stingingfly.org/podcast/rosa-makela/
Listen 🔗https://stingingfly.org/podcast/rosa-makela/
A limited number of tickets have been made available for this Thursday's TSF annual lecture.
The lecture will be delivered by Sarah Moss and is entitled Losing the Plot: Reading, writing, realism and reality.
Tickets are free but booking is essential.
t.co/6Ynew0ot35
The lecture will be delivered by Sarah Moss and is entitled Losing the Plot: Reading, writing, realism and reality.
Tickets are free but booking is essential.
t.co/6Ynew0ot35
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A limited number of tickets have been made available for this Thursday's TSF annual lecture.
The lecture will be delivered by Sarah Moss and is entitled Losing the Plot: Reading, writing, realism and reality.
Tickets are free but booking is essential.
t.co/6Ynew0ot35
The lecture will be delivered by Sarah Moss and is entitled Losing the Plot: Reading, writing, realism and reality.
Tickets are free but booking is essential.
t.co/6Ynew0ot35
We are delighted to announce that Ellen Flanagan is the inaugural recipient of the Irish Writers Centre New Writing Prize for ‘A Typical Barbie’, which is her first published piece of fiction.
Full announcement: stingingfly.org/news/announc...
Full announcement: stingingfly.org/news/announc...
September 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
We are delighted to announce that Ellen Flanagan is the inaugural recipient of the Irish Writers Centre New Writing Prize for ‘A Typical Barbie’, which is her first published piece of fiction.
Full announcement: stingingfly.org/news/announc...
Full announcement: stingingfly.org/news/announc...
NEW on our website | Liz Quirke @lizquirke.bsky.social's essay 'The fear of stepping into focus' the latest instalment in our This So Called Writing Life series (edited by Olivia Fitzsimons @oneflawediris.bsky.social)
stingingfly.org/2025/09/09/t...
stingingfly.org/2025/09/09/t...
September 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
NEW on our website | Liz Quirke @lizquirke.bsky.social's essay 'The fear of stepping into focus' the latest instalment in our This So Called Writing Life series (edited by Olivia Fitzsimons @oneflawediris.bsky.social)
stingingfly.org/2025/09/09/t...
stingingfly.org/2025/09/09/t...
New short story, Real love by Thomas Morris as part of our online fiction series.
”Whistling expletives, the gull set off. Where should she go? Gliding through the sky she didn’t fully trust her body.”
Read more 🔗 stingingfly.org/2025/09/03/r...
📸 Author headshot by Dave O'Carroll
”Whistling expletives, the gull set off. Where should she go? Gliding through the sky she didn’t fully trust her body.”
Read more 🔗 stingingfly.org/2025/09/03/r...
📸 Author headshot by Dave O'Carroll
September 3, 2025 at 10:34 AM
New short story, Real love by Thomas Morris as part of our online fiction series.
”Whistling expletives, the gull set off. Where should she go? Gliding through the sky she didn’t fully trust her body.”
Read more 🔗 stingingfly.org/2025/09/03/r...
📸 Author headshot by Dave O'Carroll
”Whistling expletives, the gull set off. Where should she go? Gliding through the sky she didn’t fully trust her body.”
Read more 🔗 stingingfly.org/2025/09/03/r...
📸 Author headshot by Dave O'Carroll
NEW on our website | Conor Crummey reviews ‘The Bureau’ by Eoin McNamee, published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social
“ McNamee’s narrators tend to place you at the scene of a violent event, then show you the myth being made in real time.”
stingingfly.org/review/the-b...
“ McNamee’s narrators tend to place you at the scene of a violent event, then show you the myth being made in real time.”
stingingfly.org/review/the-b...
August 27, 2025 at 4:53 PM
NEW on our website | Conor Crummey reviews ‘The Bureau’ by Eoin McNamee, published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social
“ McNamee’s narrators tend to place you at the scene of a violent event, then show you the myth being made in real time.”
stingingfly.org/review/the-b...
“ McNamee’s narrators tend to place you at the scene of a violent event, then show you the myth being made in real time.”
stingingfly.org/review/the-b...
NEW: on this month's episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Aoife Bhreatnach to read from and discuss her essay ‘Re-cataloging’, published in the Summer 2025 issue of The Stinging Fly, Issue 52 Volume Two.
Listen 🔗 stingingfly.org/podcast/aoif...
Listen 🔗 stingingfly.org/podcast/aoif...
August 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
NEW: on this month's episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Aoife Bhreatnach to read from and discuss her essay ‘Re-cataloging’, published in the Summer 2025 issue of The Stinging Fly, Issue 52 Volume Two.
Listen 🔗 stingingfly.org/podcast/aoif...
Listen 🔗 stingingfly.org/podcast/aoif...
New short story, The Gregor Montgomery by Rory Gleeson @rorygleeson.bsky.social as part of our online fiction series.
”Gregor Montgomery, she said, sweeping her palm to behold the clouds. He was the one who set that night sky alight.”
stingingfly.org/2025/08/14/t...
”Gregor Montgomery, she said, sweeping her palm to behold the clouds. He was the one who set that night sky alight.”
stingingfly.org/2025/08/14/t...
August 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
New short story, The Gregor Montgomery by Rory Gleeson @rorygleeson.bsky.social as part of our online fiction series.
”Gregor Montgomery, she said, sweeping her palm to behold the clouds. He was the one who set that night sky alight.”
stingingfly.org/2025/08/14/t...
”Gregor Montgomery, she said, sweeping her palm to behold the clouds. He was the one who set that night sky alight.”
stingingfly.org/2025/08/14/t...
Three writers & a visual artist share their experiences on the BIA pilot scheme.
Read the full interview
stingingfly.org/2025/08/07/b...
”...the Basic Income meant I could choose to have a child without the same financial insecurity and without the fear that I would have to give up creative work“
Read the full interview
stingingfly.org/2025/08/07/b...
”...the Basic Income meant I could choose to have a child without the same financial insecurity and without the fear that I would have to give up creative work“
August 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Three writers & a visual artist share their experiences on the BIA pilot scheme.
Read the full interview
stingingfly.org/2025/08/07/b...
”...the Basic Income meant I could choose to have a child without the same financial insecurity and without the fear that I would have to give up creative work“
Read the full interview
stingingfly.org/2025/08/07/b...
”...the Basic Income meant I could choose to have a child without the same financial insecurity and without the fear that I would have to give up creative work“