Skip to main content

The Magic of Words on St. Patrick’s Day

By March 17, 2025Language, Literary Events, News

St. Patrick’s Day is a time of folklore, storytelling, and lyrical magic—a celebration not just of Ireland but of the words and wisdom that have shaped its literary soul. From the ancient legends of the Fianna to the poetry of W.B. Yeats and the wit of Oscar Wilde, Irish literature has always been steeped in rhythm, humour, and an unshakable sense of wonder.

Ireland’s storytelling tradition is as rich as its rolling green hills. Long before the written word, seanchaí (traditional storytellers) carried history, myth, and mischief from village to village, keeping the past alive through spoken word. Their tales of faeries, heroes, and cunning tricksters still echo in modern literature, reminding us that words have the power to enchant and endure.

On St. Patrick’s Day, we celebrate more than shamrocks and parades—we honour the gift of storytelling, the melody of language, and the magic of a well-told tale. Whether you lose yourself in a classic Irish novel, recite a Yeats poem, or share a funny limerick over a pint, today is a day to revel in words that bring us together.

So, may the luck of the Irish be with you, may your bookshelf be ever full, and may you always find a story that feels like home. Sláinte!

David Nicholls to adapt The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ for BBC

| Adaptations | No Comments
Author, David Nicholls is set to adapt Sue Townsend’s YA novel, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (1982) for BBC. The author and screenwriter, Nicholls, who is known…

Word of the Day – Snirtle

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Snirtle (intransitive verb) (Scots) snur-tl

Word of the Day – Oracular

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Oracular (adj) or-ak-yu-ler

Word of the Day – Ireful

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Ireful (adj) ayur-ful full of intense anger; wrathful. Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; ire, -ful (more…)

Word of the Day – Intermission

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Intermission (noun) in-ter-mish-un

Artist repurposes Harry Potter books to create protest pieces honouring trans lives

| News | No Comments
Tai Ericson, an artist based in Vermont, U.S.A is repurposing books from the Harry Potter collection to create a series of portraits that honour the lives of murdered trans people,…

Author of award-winning Shuggie Bain returns with new novel

| New Releases, News | No Comments
Douglas Stuart, the Booker Prize-winning, Sunday Times-bestselling author of Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo is returning with a new novel exploring sexuality in a rural Scottish Hebrides setting. ‘John of…

Sara Pascoe novel wins inaugural Jilly Cooper award

| Literary Awards | No Comments
Weirdo, a novel by comedian, Sara Pascoe, has won the inaugural Jilly Cooper award, named in honour of the acclaimed Riders novelist, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The…

Newly discovered Dr Seuss to be published next year

| New Releases, News | No Comments
A newly discovered and never-before-seen manuscript from much-loved children’s writer and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel AKA Dr Seuss will be published by Random House Children’s Books in 2026. The manuscript…