MEET THE AUTHORS : Issue 5
Yellow House Publishing Ltd is delighted to announce the successful list of authors selected to feature in New Isles Press Issue 5, a landmark set of anthologies bringing together an extraordinary breadth of voices from across the Island of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
This fifth issue represents the continued growth of New Isles Press as a vibrant home for poetry and prose in English, Irish and Ulster Scots, showcasing both established writers of national and international standing alongside emerging and first-time contributors. Issue 5 reflects the press’s commitment to literary excellence, linguistic diversity, and the richness of contemporary writing rooted in place, memory, identity and imagination.
We are honoured to include work by acclaimed author Dermot Bolger, our featured writer for this issue, alongside a remarkable cohort of poets, fiction writers, translators and performers whose work spans multiple forms, traditions and communities in these Isles. From prize-winning collections and celebrated debuts to bold new voices appearing in New Isles Press for the first time, Issue 5 is a testament to the strength and vitality of writing from across our shared Isles.
The official launch of New Isles Press will take place as part of the Look North Belfast Arts Festival on 1 March at 14:30, marking an exciting moment for the press and its contributors. FREE EVENT TICKET
The festival provides a fitting setting to celebrate this publication, bringing writers and readers together in the spirit of shared cultural exchange. Launch details and festival programme: Look North Belfast Arts Festival Yellow House Publishing Ltd extends sincere thanks to all who submitted work and warm congratulations to the authors selected for New Isles Press Issue 5. We look forward to sharing this new collection with readers and celebrating its launch in Belfast this March. YHP is very thankful for the hard work of the editing team Dr Arthur Broomfield, Dr Linda Ervine OBE, Alan Millar, and YHP Chairman Dr Connal Parr.
Meet the authors in Issue 5 New Isles Press Anthology
Ivy Bannister
Ivy Bannister’s poems have appeared in Crannóg, Skylight 47, The Irish Times, Poetry Ireland Review, Acumen and Magma. Her short story Love won the Francis MacManus Award. She has published a poetry collection, a short story collection, and a memoir.
Leanne Bell
Leanne Bell is a voice actress and fiction writer. Her short fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in journals and anthologies across Ireland, the UK and North America, including Trasna and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. She produced the audio drama The Death of Dr Davidson and is completing her second novel.
Tony Black
Tony Black was born in Carnlough in The Glens of Antrim and lives in West Belfast. Across the last fifteen years, almost fifty of his short stories and micro-fictions have appeared online, in literary journals, and in print anthologies; and he has twice been runner-up in the Colm Tóibín International Short Story Award. His work has featured in The Irish Times and on BBC Radio Ulster and can be found in collections in the National Library of Ireland and The Linenhall Library, Belfast. He has just completed a MA in Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast. ‘Anything Strange or Startling’ is his debut short story collection published by Yellow House Publishing Ltd.
Dermot Bolger
Dermot Bolger is an Irish playwright, poet and short story writer. The author of numerous poetry collections, novels and plays, he is a founding editor of Raven Arts Press and a member of Áosdána. Yellow House Publishing Ltd gratefully acknowledges his contribution as the featured author in New Isles Press Issue 5.
Robert Boyd
Robert Boyd began learning Irish in 2023 with Turas in East Belfast. He earned his Cúpla Focal in (2024) and is currently studying for his Fáinne Airgid. His haiku and tanka in Irish have appeared with New Isles Press, and his work featured in CAP’s Measure: Poetry in Motion anthology.
Cat Brogan
Cat Brogan is a poet and spoken-word educator based on the Derry/Donegal border. An Ulster Poetry Slam Champion and UNESCO Slamovision finalist. Cat’s work appears in Shenandoah, Local Wonders, Skylight 47 and Ragaire, exploring ecology, queerness and Northern Irish identity.
Emily Cullen
Emily Cullen is an award-winning Galway-based writer. She is the Meskell Poet in Residence at the University of Limerick, where she teaches Creative Writing and English. Emily has published three poetry collections: Conditional Perfect (Doire Press, 2019), In Between Angels and Animals (Arlen House, 2013) and No Vague Utopia (Ainnir Publishing, 2003).
Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha
Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha (Lucy Costello) was born and raised in the Laggan in East Donegal. She now lives in the Conamara Gaeltacht. Solas Geimhridh agus Dánta Eile Barzaz, (2023) is her first collection, and her second collection, Mainistir na Feola has just been published Barzaz, (2025). She is currently the Irish-language writer in residence in DCU.
Ellen Corbett
Ellen Corbett is a translator and Irish-language scholar from Cookstown, County Tyrone. She holds a bachelor's in German and Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish Translation Studies), and a master’s in translation studies. She is currently working towards her PhD. She is the 2024 winner of the Stephen Spender Prize for her translation of Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha’s poem ‘Scrúdú’ (‘Exam’).
Polina Cosgrave
Polina Cosgrave is a bilingual writer and performer based in Dublin. Her debut collection My Name Is published by Dedalus Press featured in the Forward Prizes Book of Poetry (2022). Her work appears widely in print, broadcast and performance contexts. Her second collection Cargo was published by The Gallery Press in (2024).
Mary E. Curran
Eileen grew up North Belfast and her writing is greatly influenced by the grit and humour that is so special to Belfast. Although often seen as a tough city, Eileen says our history has just made us resilient, Belfast people are full of character, humour and heart. A member of the Duncairn Writer’s Hub, Eileen has presented work at spoken word events across Belfast including the recent Seanchoiche. And although she didn’t start writing until she was in her fifties, Eileen says it’s never too late.
John Drennan
John Drennan has been a political columnist and writer for the Irish Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail since 2018. He has also worked for independent newspapers, the Irish Sun, Newstalk and RTE. An award-winning journalist he has written four books on politics - Cute Hoors and Pious Protesters/ 50 Dail Debates That Shaped the Republic Paddy Machiavelli How the Irish Prince Secures Power The Great Betrayal: How the government betrayed the People and has over a quarter of a century of experience in political journalism.
Thor Ewing
Thor Ewing is a writer, translator and storyteller. He has translated Medieval Welsh poetry, Old Irish triads and Middle English ballads, and is the author of The Wisdom of the Celts and The Original Robin Hood. His poetry has appeared in Poetry Scotland and Lallans. He is Chief of Clan Ewing.
Ray Givans Ray Givans has published five poetry pamphlets. His debut collection Tolstoy in Love Dedalus Press was shortlisted for the Strong Award for Best First Collection. His most recent collection The Innermost Room was published by Salzburg Poetry Press at the University of Salzburg.
Ann Harrison
Ann Harrison is an emerging poet with a first-class honours’ degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from University College Dublin. She is a member of the Irish Writers Centre and was selected for The Stinging Fly Summer School in (2025).
Jen Herron
Jen Herron’s work has appeared in The Honest Ulsterman, Skylight 47, The Irish Times, Abridged and on BBC Radio. She won the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing in (2022) and was highly commended for the Patrick Kavanagh Award in (2025).
Noel King
Noel King lives in Tralee, County Kerry. His poetry collections include Prophesying the Past, The Stern Wave, Sons, Alternative Beginnings and Suitable Music for a View. His short story collection The Key Signature was published by Liberties Press in (2017).
Stephen Knox
Stephen Knox lives in East Belfast. A retired social worker, he remains involved in child welfare work in Northern Ireland and Eastern Europe. His writing reflects his Christian faith and celebrates nature and everyday life. His work has appeared with Rancid Idols Productions and FLAME, New Isles Press. His debut collection Sensing Wonder was published by Yellow House Publishing Ltd in 2024.
Kate O’Shea
Kate O’Shea has two books published. Crackpoet, Wurm Press, (2013) and Homesick at Home Revival Press (2018).
Dubhán Ó Longáin
Dubhán Ó Longáin is a poet, researcher and Irish-language teacher. He is Scríbhneoir Cónaithe at Maynooth University and has lectured internationally. His PhD research focused on Fiannaíocht. He chairs the Irish Language Writers’ Association and contributes regularly to Nós.
Ciarán Parkes
Ciarán Parkes lives in Galway. His poems have appeared in The Rialto, The Threepenny Review, Asimov’s Science Fiction and elsewhere. He won the Waterford Poetry Prize in (2017). His work appeared in New Isles Press, and his lyrics feature on From Chaos to Joy.
Michael McAloran
Michael McAloran is a contributor to New Isles Press Issue 5
Catherine Phil MacCarthy
Catherine Phil MacCarthy is the author of six books, including Daughters of the House and Emblemas. A graduate of UCC, Trinity College Dublin and the Central School of Speech and Drama, she has received the O’Shaughnessy Award and the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Poetry Prize. Her work appears in The Canadian Journal of Irish Studies.
Margarita Meklina
Margarita Meklina was born in Leningrad and has lived in Ireland since 2015. Her work has appeared in Cyphers, The Galway Review, The Honest Ulsterman, Boyne Berries.
Peggy McCarthy
Peggy McCarthy is a poet from Waterford City. She won the Fish Poetry Prize in (2020) and has been shortlisted for the Gregory O’Donoghue, Patrick Kavanagh and Bridport prizes. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from UCC.
Stuart McFarlane
Steward McFarlane’s poems have appeared in Eksentrika, Borderless, Culture Matters, The Recusant and Militant Thistles.
E.M Morrow
E.M. Morrow is a Northern Irish poet from West Belfast. Her poetry springs from the seeds of intergenerational trauma, symbolism, and the surrealism of the subconscious. Her poems have been published in the OSP Review, Abridged, and New Isles Press. Her debut pamphlet Scarlet In The Hatchet Field was a highly commended entry in the Munster Literature International Chapbook Prize (2025).
Louis Mulcahy Louis Mulcahy is a contributor to New Isles Press Issue 5.
Bill Richardson Bill Richardson is Emeritus Professor of at the University of Galway. His poetry has appeared widely in The Stony Thursday Book, Orbis, Crannóg and the Fish Anthology.
Heather Robinson
Heather Robinson is learning Irish at Turas in East Belfast and has recently begun writing poetry and short fiction in Irish. Her work has previously appeared in New Isles Press.
Penny Sharman
Penny Sharman holds an MA in Creative Writing from Edge Hill University. She won the (2025) Charles Causley International Poetry Competition. Her seventh collection Dancing with Words is forthcoming from Hedgehog Press. She edits Obsessed with Pipework Poetry.
Janet Shepperson
Janet Shepperson lives in Belfast. Her novella Vinny’s Wilderness was published by Liberties Press.
Morna Sullivan
Morna Sullivan is a member of the Coney Island Writers Group and Regional Advisor for Ireland with SCBWI. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Yarns. She won the Linenhall Library Ulster Scots Award, and featured in its (2025) poetry jukebox.
Gerard Walsh
Gerard Walsh is from County Kildare. His poems have appeared in Skylight 47, New Isles Press. He was runner-up in the Trim Poetry Competition in (2022).
Glen Wilson
Glen Wilson is a poet from Portadown, Northern Ireland. He has won the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing, the Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Award and the Goldsmith Poetry Competition. His collection An Experience on the Tongue is published by Doire Press.
Yellow House Publishing Ltd. our work is guided by a clear commitment to the principles of Free Press, Free Speech, Free expression and meritocracy in Irish independent publishing. We believe that literary value must stand above background, status or affiliation and that publishing should remain a space where diverse, challenging and imaginative voices are selected on the strength of work alone. New Isles Press exists to protect and nurture that principle. Offering an open, yet rigorous and inclusive platform for resident writers in Ireland and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland only, whose work deserves to be read, heard and celebrated.
Christoph Thackaberry
Publisher