James Conor Patterson

Updated / Saturday, 23 May 2026 10:01 'Doireann Ní Ghríofa is surely one of our most important writers' (Pic: Pat Boran) The problem with the works of German author WG Sebald is that anyone who cites his influence is immediately heralded as a genius.

James Patterson reviews the blackly comedic debut novel from the Irish Times columnist and author of acclaimed memoir Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? There’s not enough cynicism anymore. Too much of what we’re offered in a world gone mad amounts to little more than formulaic dreck that pleases algorithms and plays to the attention-poor gallery with just enough exposition to make us raise our heads from the endless cycle of Reels and TikToks which has poisoned our collective unconscious.

Updated / Monday, 30 Mar 2026 15:00 With each passing week, it becomes more and more difficult to remark upon the strength of Irish debut fiction with any kind of originality. It should be obvious by now that we are in a golden age of creativity, as the well-spring of Irish history renews itself as an endless source for good storytelling. We've had the Sally Rooney phenomenon play itself out on a global stage.