Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Shorts

Audiobooks

Podcasts

Drama

Scottish Shorts

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Rosemary Jenkinson

Maggie Cronin

Heather Larmour

Shorts: New Irish Writing: The Blackthorn Tree

The Blackthorn Tree

New Irish Writing

BBC Radio 4 - Shorts, New Irish Writing, The Blackthorn Tree

Niamh believes there are fairies on the hill behind her house, but all is not as it seems.

Niamh reflects on her crushing of childhood mystical beliefs when Belfast realities came close to home. Read by Maggie Cronin.

A series of original stories from some of Ireland’s most exciting writers. 

Donal Ryan (The Spinning Heart, The Thing About December) brings us to Limerick where a young writer befriends a local octogenarian, Tommy, and discovers the beauty within the man. Eimear McBride (A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing) takes us into a world of dark family secrets and revenge, while playwright Rosemary Jenkinson reflects on the changing landscape of Belfast and its mythology as a young girl believes she’s discovered the fairy folk in the hill behind her home.

Writer ..... Rosemary Jenkinson
Reader ..... Maggie Cronin
Producer ..... Heather Larmour

Shorts: New Irish Writing

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Series of original stories by writers from Ireland.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Shorts

New Irish Writing

The Blackthorn Tree

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4