News
At Doolin Winter School
November 2025
Neil Hegarty joins Donal Ryan, Emily Cullen, Sarah Moore Fitzgerald and others at the University of Limerick creative-writing school.
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Judging the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award
October 2025
The Michael McLaverty Short Story Award is one of the island of Ireland's premier short fiction prizes - and this edition is judged by Neil Hegarty and Emma Warnock.
linenhall.com/michael-mclaverty-short-story-award-2025/
A Paris residency
September 2025
Neil Hegarty receives a Residency at Centre Culturel Irlandais.
centreculturelirlandais.com/
At Cairde arts Festival, Sligo
July 2025
Neil Hegarty in conversation with Eoin McNamee, spotlighting Eoin's remarkable new novel The Bureau.
cairdefestival.com/2025/eoin-mcnamee-in-conversation
A new essay in Banshee
June 2025
'Beach Trip to Gaza' is published in Banshee 19 (Spring-Summer 2025).
bansheepress.org/read/introducing-issue-19-springsummer-2025
At Belfast Book Festival
June 2025
A range of discussions during the Festival, including radio drama, the author-agent professional relationship; and a conversation with Brian McGilloway and Andrea Carter.
belfastbookfestival.com/
Neil Hegarty at Listowel Writers Week
May 2025
Neil Hegarty in conversation with John Patrick McHugh and Lynda Marron; and with Seán Farrell and June O'Sullivan.
writersweek.ie/
Neil Hegarty at ILF Dublin
May 2025
Neil Hegarty in conversation with Wendy Erskine and Lisa Harding, and with Garrett Carr and Gerbrand Bakker at International Literature Festival Dublin.
ilfdublin.com/whats-on/festival/the-heartbreaking-truth-wendy-erskine-lisa-harding/
ilfdublin.com/whats-on/the-view-over-the-horizon-gerbrand-bakker-garrett-carr/
Neil Hegarty judges the RTE Short Story Competition 2025
March 2025
Neil Hegarty joins Jan Carson and Tristan Rosenstock in judging this year's edition of Ireland's national short story competition.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/rte-short-story-competition/2025/0305/1500398-judges-2025/
Tidal Bore: a new essay in The Dublin Review
March 2025
Neil Hegarty writes about architecture, memory, and place in The Dublin Review 98.
thedublinreview.com/
A new podcast for the Dublin Review
March 2025
Neil Hegarty discusses his essay 'Gallet' with Aingeala Flannery.
thedublinreview.com/podcasts/
Neil Hegarty at Ennis Book Club Festival 2025
March 2025
Neil Hegarty in conversation with Rónán Hession, discussing Ghost Mountain and Rónán's wider writing life.
ennisbookclubfestival.com/Event_slug/ronan-hession-in-conversation-with-neil-hegarty/
Announcing the winners of the 2024 RTE Short Story Competition
November 2024
Competition judges Kathleen MacMahon, Claire Kilroy, and Neil Hegarty join a live broadcast of RTE Arena, at the Pavilion Theatre.
paviliontheatre.ie/events/view/arenalive
Persimmon: A new essay for Sunday Miscellany
November 2024
Neil Hegarty discusses Japan, Ireland, and connectedness.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22458403/
Neil Hegarty at Dublin Book Festival 2024
November 2024
Neil Hegarty in conversation with Catherine Dunne at Dublin Castle, discussing her new novel A Good Enough Mother, and a long and fascinating writing career.
dublinbookfestival.com/event/dublin-city-libraries-readers-day/
Neil Hegarty at the Festival of Italian and Irish Literature
September 2024
Neil Hegarty interviews Rónán Hession (Leonard and Hungry Paul) and Laura Imai Messina (The Phone Box at the Edge of the World) at the second edition of FIILI at Trinity College Dublin.
iicdublino.esteri.it/en/news/dall_istituto/2024/09/fiili-2024-download-the-full-programme-here/
A new essay on Derry's past and future
August 2024
Neil Hegarty writes for the Irish Times on Derry's lost twentieth century - and his hopes for the future.
irishtimes.com/life-style/2024/08/18/northern-ireland-is-in-its-terminal-phase-this-place-never-made-any-ethical-or-economic-sense/
Queer Lives: Neil Hegarty at Belfast Book Festival 2024
June 2024
Neil Hegarty interviews Diarmuid Hester and Katherine O’Donnell at the Crescent Arts Centre.
belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on/late-night-art-our-queer-lives-katherine-odonnell-and-diarmuid-hester
Curating the Belfast Book Festival
June 2024
Neil Hegarty has co-curated the Belfast Book Festival 2024, with a host of writers coming to the Crescent Arts Centre from 6-13 June.
belfastbookfestival.com/
Neil Hegarty at ILF Dublin
May 2024
'Uncertain Futures': Neil Hegarty interviews Julia Armfield and Caoilinn Hughes at International Literature Festival Dublin.
ilfdublin.com/whats-on/festival/type/conversations/uncertain-futures-caoilinn-hughes-julia-armfield/
Neil Hegarty joins RTE Short Story Competition judging panel
March 2024
Neil Hegarty joins Kathleen MacMahon and Claire Kilroy in judging this year's edition of the long-established competition.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/rte-short-story-competition/2024/0312/1437532-how-to-enter/
Neil Hegarty and Aingeala Flannery judge the inaugural Ennis Book Club Festival short story competition
March 2024
'Skin Care', by Susan Elsley: read the winning entry here.
ennisbookclubfestival.com/announcing-the-winner-of-the-ennis-book-club-festival-short-story-competition/
Neil Hegarty with Sunday Miscellany at Dublin's National Concert Hall
December 2023
Neil Hegarty joins a host of writers and the RTE Concert Orchestra for Sunday Miscellany's annual Christmas event.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22337342/
Neil Hegarty at Echoes Festival
October 2023
Neil Hegarty joins a host of writers and contemporary cultural figures in Dalkey.
echoes.ie/
Neil Hegarty at Kildare Readers' Week
October 2023
Join Neil in conversation with Katherine O’Donnell and Declan Toohey - and there are many more events in a wonderful programme.
kildarecoco.ie/library/KildareReadersFestival/events/index.html
Neil Hegarty at the Italian Irish Literary Festival
September 2023
Join Neil at Dublin's Istituto Italiano di Cultura for a conversation with novelists Elaine Feeney (How to Build a Boat) and Viola Ardone (The Children's Train): all part of a weekend of readings, culture, and conversation.
iicdublino.esteri.it/iic_dublino/it/gli_eventi/calendario/2023/09/festival-della-letteratura-itaconversati
Neil Hegarty at Derry's Feile 2023
August 2023
Join Neil at Little Acorns bookshop for conversations with Andrea Carter, author of the Inishowen Mysteries novels; and with Kerri ní Dochartaigh, author of Cacophony of Bone and of Thin Places.
eventbrite.co.uk/e/feile-2023-andrea-carter-in-conversation-with-neil-hegarty-tickets-686066061057?aff=oddtdtcreator
eventbrite.co.uk/e/feile-2023-kerri-ni-dochartaigh-in-conversation-with-neil-hegarty-tickets-686049631917?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
A new essay for RTE Sunday Miscellany
July 2023
'Swift Boxes': Neil Hegarty discusses the climate crisis and Anthropocene on RTE radio.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22271945/
Impermanence at the John Hewitt Summer School
July 2023
Neil Hegarty in conversation with fellow Impermanence contributors Susan McKay, Jan Carson, and Nandi Jola at the Marketplace Theatre, Armagh.
visitarmagh.com/2023-07-26t1900000100/
Programming the Belfast Book Festival
June 2023
Neil Hegarty acts as programming associate at the Belfast Book Festival, featuring Deirdre Madden, Kerri ni Dochartaigh, Kathleen MacMahon, and a host of other writers. The Festival runs 13-18 June.
belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on
Neil Hegarty at Listowel Writers' Week
June 2023
Neil Hegarty joins Susannah Dickey and Emma Warnock for 'Essays from the Centre Culturel Irlandais', a discussion of Impermanence.
writersweek.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873634774
Neil Hegarty at Étonnants Voyageurs
May 2023
Neil Hegarty speaks about La surface de l'eau and Impermanence at Étonnants Voyageurs, St Malo: one of the great literary festivals of France.
etonnants-voyageurs.com/spip.php?page=invites&id_article=27093&id_rubrique=12
A Certain Heroism: a new essay for RTE Sunday Miscellany
April 2023
A Certain Heroism remembers the courage and persistence of Pat Hume and other discreet peacemakers who helped forge the Good Friday Agreement.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22233441/
Impermanence on radio: a new landmark series on RTE Radio One
March 2023
Impermanence has been transformed into a six-part radio series, reflecting on twenty-five years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The series begins with Neil Hegarty's essay Klondike, introduced by Nora Hickey M'Sichili.
rte.ie/radio/radio1/impermanence/
Neil Hegarty at the Ennis Book Club Festival
March 2023Neil Hegarty at Ireland's springtime festival, in conversation with Olivia Fitzsimons, Michelle Gallen, and Lucy Caldwell.
ennisbookclubfestival.com/etn/northern-irish-writing-flourishi202
Northern Soul at the Irish Writers' Centre
February 2023Neil Hegarty reads from 'Impermanence' at Northern Soul, the Irish Writers' Centre's exploration of writing and ideas from Northern Ireland.
irishwriterscentre.ie/whats-on/irish-writers-centre-unveils-northern-soul-roadshow-a-showcase-of-northern-irish-writing/
A new essay for RTE Sunday Miscellany
January 2023In Red Granite, Neil Hegarty considers Sweden, Ireland, and the allure of the western horizon. rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22190592/
Neil Hegarty at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace
December 2022Neil Hegarty, Nora Hickey M'Sichili, Brian McGilloway, and Nandi Jola discuss the writing of 'Impermanence' with Denzil McDaniel.
seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873629045
Neil Hegarty discusses 'Impermanence' at the Dublin Book Festival
November 2002Impermanence editors Neil Hegarty and Nora Hickey M'Sichili join Henrietta McKervey and Kerri ni Dochartaigh to explore their essays, writing and the nature of impermanence.
dublinbookfestival.com/event/the-nature-of-impermanence/
Neil Hegarty and Mona de Pracontal at Trinity College Dublin
November 2022The French translation of Inch Levels was published by Éditions Joëlle Losfeld in October: and at this event hosted by the Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation, Neil Hegarty and translator Mona de Pracontal discuss the art of translation.
tcd.ie/literary-translation/upcoming-events/
Neil Hegarty at the Belfast Festival
October 2022Neil Hegarty joins Gail McConnell and Maria McManus to discuss the themes and context of 'Impermanence' with Denzil McDaniel.
belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/event/conversations-on-impermanence/
Neil Hegarty discusses 'Impermanence' at the Omagh Literary Festival
October 2022Neil Hegarty in conversation with Sam McBride at the Strule Arts Centre, discussing the evolution of the essays collected in Impermanence.
struleartscentre.co.uk/show/omagh-literary-festival-neil-hegarty-in-conversation-with-sam-mcbride/
Inch Levels is published in French translation as La surface de l'eau
October 2022La surface de l'eau is translated by Mona de Pracontal, and published by Éditions Joëlle Losfeld/Gallimard. It was launched by Clíona de Riordan at the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris.
gallimard.fr/Catalogue/GALLIMARD/Joelle-Losfeld/Litterature-etrangere-Joelle-Losfeld/La-surface-de-l-eau
Kaleidoscope presents 'Burned', a new essay by Neil Hegarty
October 2022The EFACIS Kaleidoscope project explores the relationship between Irish writers and Europe.
kaleidoscope2.efacis.eu/writer/neil-hegarty
Neil Hegarty and Mona de Pracontal at Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
October 2022Neil Hegarty and Mona de Pracontal discuss the translation of Inch Levels into La surface de l'eau, published by Editions Joelle Losfeld on 6 October 2022.
www.centreculturelirlandais.com/en/whats-on/exhibitions-events/rencontre-avec-neil-hegarty
'A Ming Bowl', for RTE Sunday Miscellany
September 2002A new radio essay on the Spanish Armada, history, time, and space.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22142368/
'Do better': A new essay in The Stinging Fly
July 2022Neil Hegarty contributes to an essay season in The Stinging Fly, with reflections on the effects of time, patience, and self-knowledge. stingingfly.org/2022/07/28/notes-on-rejection/
Excellent reviews of Impermanence
July 2022The first reviews of Impermanence are full of praise. 'A wide-ranging, moving and beautifully written series of reflections on friendship, family, place and society,' writes the Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/review/2022/07/23/impermanence-lifts-us-up-and-beyond-the-enclosed-and-the-inevitable/?
'Supple, subtle, and surprising,' writes the Irish Independent.
www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/impermanence-what-lies-north-of-the-border-depends-on-whos-looking-41839601.html
RTE Sunday Miscellany feature
July 2022Neil Hegarty's radio feature on 'la mer d'Iroise'
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22116280/
Primadonna Festival lineup announcement
July 2022Neil Hegarty appears at this summer's Primadonna Festival, Suffolk.
www.primadonnafestival.com/year-2022/
Salon de Livre Insulaire, France
July 2022Neil Hegarty appears at the Salon de Livres, Ouessant, France
fr.calameo.com/read/006272294d0721d811eb5
Publication of Impermanence
June 2022Impermanence, a new collection of essays edited by Neil Hegarty and Nora Hickey M'Sichili, and published by No Alibis Press and the Centre Culturel Irlandais, is launched in Paris. Impermanence features essays by Jan Carson, Carlo Gebler, Henrietta McKervey, Nandi Jola, Gail McConnell, Neil Hegarty, Susannah Dickey, Maria McManus, Susan McKay, Paul McVeigh, Brian McGilloway, and Kerri ni Dochartaigh.
www.noalibispress.com/news/new-publication-impermanence
Residency on the isle of Ouessant, France
June 2022Neil Hegarty is awarded the Sémaphore du Creac’h writers' residency.
www.livre-insulaire.fr/
Focus on Northern Ireland at Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
June 2022Neil Hegarty takes part in a soirée of visual arts, literature, music and film from Northern Ireland.
www.centreculturelirlandais.com/en/whats-on/exhibitions-events/regards-sur-lirlande-du-nord/
Neil Hegarty judges Irish Novel Fair 2022
February 2022Neil Hegarty, Cauvery Madhavan and Gavin Corbett select the twelve Novel Fair finalists.
www.irishwriterscentre.ie/12-emerging-writers-selected-as-the-winners-of-novel-fair-2022/
Neil Hegarty on Shelfmarks podcast, with Zoe Comyns and Royal Irish Academy
December 2021New writing plus discussion of the Anthropocene, nature, and the climate crisis.
www.ria.ie/news/publications/shelfmarks-neil-hegarty
Queer Love: Emma Donoghue and Neil Hegarty in conversation with Paul McVeigh at the Dublin Book Festival 2021
8 November, 7pm-8pm GMTFree
ONLINE EVENT
More information: dublinbookfestival.com/programme/queer-love/
Neil Hegarty reviews The New Frontier: Reflections from the Irish Border
Irish Times, 24 October 2021.Read the review here:
irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-new-frontier-reflections-from-the-irish-border-true-north-1.4696516
Border Literatures, at the National Library of Ireland
Wednesday 20 October, 7pmRegister for this event
Neil Hegarty, Liam McIlvanney, and Elizabeth Mannion in conversation at the National Library of Ireland, discussing Andrea Carter's Death at Whitewater Church: An Inishowen Mystery.
More information: www.nli.ie/en/border-literatures.aspx
Neil Hegarty on BBC Open Book
October 2022
A discussion of the long and fascinating relationship between literature and painting.
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pvd9
