Mike Philpott

No water or electricity, and children begging in streets filled with rubbish – but this is why I won’t leave Cuba Whether you blame the US or the communist regime, there is no doubt that this is an island spiralling into tragedy

Beautiful, humane piece of journalism. Well worth your time. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

The moment I knew: as soon as we parted I realised Hitomi was the one. I waited years to see her again There was a language barrier, a mother who burned their letters and a record label manager who disapproved. But Kerry Cox was madly in love

Your heartwarming story for today: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Saved by a stranger: The 100-year-old Irish man in London Michael Hopkins was let down by the Irish system as a child and the British system as an elderly bachelor. Then he met a photographer at a bus stop

Today’s antidote to the hatred and negativity in the world. www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Excited to reveal our next #DromoreBookFestival guests! Wed 6th May will see Miriam O’Callaghan chatting about her memoir & broadcasting career. On Fri 8th May, we welcome the best-selling author of 19 books, Cecelia Ahern. Two incredible guests, two unmissable events. Save the dates!

Yeah come along!

The great cartoonist does it again.

📣Guest announcements 📣
I'm delighted to start revealing guests for Dromore Book Festival with two of my favourite Irish writers!
LIZ NUGENT @liznugent.bsky.social on Sat 9 May 2026 and CLAIRE KEEGAN on Sun 10 May 2026!
More reveals and ticket releases this week, but in the meantime, save the dates!

Last May was bookish bliss… so I'm doing it again! (Am I mad? Possibly 🙈) Plans are brewing, authors incoming & green t-shirts at the ready. Watch this space for confirmed guests over the next week or so and, most importantly, save 4th–10th May!
#DromoreBookFestival

I really enjoyed doing this.

Please do listen in on Sunday (or listen back afterwards) to hear me discuss Leonard and Hungry Paul with James Naughtie and a roomful of readers with interesting questions.

Christmas Morning, 1949 Novelist Paul Auster reads a story written by Sylvia Seymour Akin about a special Christmas. (Source: NPR All Things Considered)

Christmas Morning 1949. True story by Sylvia Seymour Akin, read by Paul Auster. Your antidote to the negativity in the world. edcyphers.com/2014/12/17/c...

Wait, what? My son’s friend, traveling in China, is staying at a hotel chain called ‘James Joyce Coffetel’, and instead of a Gideon Bible, they leave a copy of Ulysses by the bedside.

Two men sitting at table autographing books.

Two men sitting at table autographing books.

Huge thanks to @markcarruthers7.bsky.social and Colin Davidson for being such entertaining and inspiring guests at tonight’s @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social event in Dromore Cathedral. Lovely to see so many people there - and to hear their very positive reactions afterwards. #TwelvePaintings

Dromore Cathedral is the beautiful venue for our event with Colin Davidson, @markcarruthers7.bsky.social, and @mikephilpott.bsky.social tomorrow evening at 7.30pm ♥️

Thanks to @stubailie.bsky.social for coming along last night to entertain us with tales from the music world over the past 40 years. Everyone really enjoyed it! Thanks, as ever, to @mikephilpott.bsky.social for hosting. You can pick up all of Stuart's books in-store now!

Man with beard wearing striped navy shirt and glasses.

So sorry to learn of the death of lovely Charlie Warmington. The first producer I worked with on my first day at the BBC, and one of the good guys.

Yes, all good thanks. Hope life is being good to you. Opened the Guardian online this morning and who should be looking out of the page? It’s the portrait Steve Pyke took of you for Scribendi: Portraits of Irish Writers!

Yup it is.

Congrats! Well deserved, too.

It’s called a square drive budget lock key. Amazon have them, as do most ironmongery suppliers.

Boy and man on film set. Boy is holding a clapperboard for Trespasses.

Grandson James makes his (brief) TV debut tonight in the wonderful Trespasses on Channel 4. Here he is on set with his dad Adam, First Assistant Director. If you listen carefully you might hear my voice as a newsreader, too.

Best one I ever saw was about an Indian restaurant owner who was crazy about Star Trek. “To Balti go where no naan has gone before.” 😂

@junec.bsky.social Hi June, just got the email containing your Personal Anthology. I’ve read a few (such as Bullet in the Brain and Fox 8) but thanks for introducing me to the others.

Self portrait of Colin Davidson advertising event on Dec 2 at 7.30pm.

I’ll be in conversation with Mark Carruthers and Colin Davidson on Dec 2, courtesy of @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social
Really looking forward to this very special event. Tickets are selling fast. Get yours at
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...

We had a wonderful evening with #IrishBookWeek ambassador @sheilawriter.bsky.social last night. Sheila chatted openly and warmly with @mikephilpott.bsky.social
and spent time signing and posing for photos with her army of fans! It was just lovely to be in her company ♥️

Tomorrow evening, an actual legend of Irish fiction will be in Dromore! Join us for an evening with @sheilawriter.bsky.social chatting with @mikephilpott.bsky.social. Plus, I've just remembered that tomorrow is my birthday so you absolutely must come along!
www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books...

Can we take a moment to talk about our event with @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social...

Everyone was absolutely enthralled and could have sat until morning listening to Wendy chat to @mikephilpott.bsky.social about her work, her influences, and what's next. When I grow up, I want to be as cool as Wendy!

Woman autographing book at table.

Woman standing beside popup stand advertising Bridge Books.

What a magnificent evening’s conversation with the wonderful @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social organised by @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social One of those guests you just feel lucky to have met.

@ronanhession.bsky.social Hi Rónán, just watched the first three episodes of Leonard and Hungry Paul. What beautiful, slow-paced, heartfelt television. Nothing will ever top the book, but they’ve certainly done it justice.

So sorry to read this, Guy. As you say, I hope they find each other in the heavens.

Thank you, Iain. Lovely to see you again.