Margot McCuaig

It’s all been leading to this… I guess it seems quiet on the PhD thesis front, but it isn't. As you'll know from my last update, I have submitted my thesis, and this is where another chapter begins (if that makes sense!). Given my Viva Voce is really close now, presumably my examination committee are reading, or have read my thesis, and will be collaborating on questions ahead of the exam discussion.

It’s all been leading to this…

I guess it seems quiet on the PhD thesis front, but it isn't. As you'll know from my last update, I have submitted my thesis, and this is where another chapter begins (if that makes sense!). Given my Viva Voce is really close now, presumably my examination committee…

A poem for the day from Seamus Heaney (with a wee bit of interaction from myself)
vm.tiktok.com/ZNdvXsRxy/

Histories of Women’s Football in Britain and Ireland This beautiful book, edited by Fiona Skillen, Helena Byrne and Gary James, was published by Peter Lang and launched at the Irish Embassy in London this month (September 2025). I'm thrilled to have written a chapter in the collection, writing about documentary films I have made with my company purpleTV, which feature women in football. Women's stories are incredibly important, particularly in an environment where they have been silenced, misremembered or not deemed important enough to be remembered in the first place.

Histories of Women’s Football in Britain and Ireland

This beautiful book, edited by Fiona Skillen, Helena Byrne and Gary James, was published by Peter Lang and launched at the Irish Embassy in London this month (September 2025). I'm thrilled to have written a chapter in the collection, writing…

Aye Write book festival I'm really excited to be featuring on a panel at the Aye Write Book festival, following the publication of Women Who Dared, From the Famous to the Forgotten, published by Edinburgh University Press. 'This is a vibrant, defiant and deeply human collection of stories about women who have made history - even if history hasn't always remembered them.' I've written an essay in the publication and I'll be speaking about my woman who dared alongside Jo Shaw, Dr Chisomo Kalinga and Dr loulia Kolovou at the Mitchell Library on Saturday 8th November at 7.45pm.  Tickets to the event are available here and the book is available to purchase here.

Aye Write book festival

I'm really excited to be featuring on a panel at the Aye Write Book festival, following the publication of Women Who Dared, From the Famous to the Forgotten, published by Edinburgh University Press. 'This is a vibrant, defiant and deeply human collection of stories about…

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

PhD thesis submitted. And that's it! After two crazy years, which were marred by horrendous grief and major surgery, I've managed to stick to my self imposed deadline and submit my thesis. I feel flat, rather than ecstatic, but only because I can't shake off the feeling that my commitment to my work, and its ability to demand my focus over the last couple of years, has been something of a strength that's been keeping me together.

PhD thesis submitted.

And that's it! After two crazy years, which were marred by horrendous grief and major surgery, I've managed to stick to my self imposed deadline and submit my thesis. I feel flat, rather than ecstatic, but only because I can't shake off the feeling that my commitment to my…

Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday, the 26th of May, marked six months since my beautiful daddy died on the 26th of November 2024. It marks six painfully long months since I caressed my fingers around his, his voice no longer even a whisper, his light fading. In the early hours of that morning, I kissed him goodbye, praying that the silence between us was Mum taking his hand and his final breath, stirring a wave of rekindled joy they would resume in a world apart from the one they had left behind.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Yesterday, the 26th of May, marked six months since my beautiful daddy died on the 26th of November 2024. It marks six painfully long months since I caressed my fingers around his, his voice no longer even a whisper, his light fading. In the early hours of that…

We Can Make an Impact. Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training

It seems insane that we are having to beg a Labour government to give then tiniest measliest shit that an American company has stolen an entire industry FROM A PIRATE SITE but, here we are. 2025 man. chng.it/F7GYJDMVtn

BBC pledges to 'champion' audio drama in new 90-minute Radio 4 slot BBC Radio 4 is to introduce a 90-minute slot for audio drama this spring, months after the organisation shared plans to stop broadcasting plays on Radio 3

BBC Radio 4 is to introduce a 90-minute slot for audio drama this spring, months after the organisation shared plans to stop broadcasting plays on Radio 3👇

Call it brutal, as indeed it is by design, but my goodness it is also beautiful, in the life that it once had and in the extraordinary eerie and yet somehow buoyant presence it has now. I waited too long to gaze upon this majestic beauty. Have you been to St Peter’s Seminary?

Could you fill this bookcase with new books? If so, what with? Today is #scotwriterpitch2025, here on BlueSky for the first time after dumping toxic Twitter, hurrah,so please follow the hashtag, then repost and like according to the book pitches which catch your eye. @peterurpeth.bsky.social

When Enoch’s lifelong best friend disappears overnight she asks if Helen is a victim of violence and coercion or the architect of a cruel betrayal. But can Enoch be trusted? Is she hiding an even darker truth? #scotwriterpitch2025

Hi, Peter, the pack sounds great. Can you add me, please?

Thank you so much!

The Women Who Built Glasgow City The Sideline podcast and Glasgow City FC are hosting a special screening of my 2020 Royal Television Society award winning film, The Women Who Built Glasgow City. I'm thrilled about this as the premiere screening scheduled to take place at the Everyman Cinema in Glasgow (pre BBC ALBA transmission) had to be cancelled because of Covid so it will be lovely for the film to have a wee bit of glitz and glamour after all.

The Women Who Built Glasgow City

The Sideline podcast and Glasgow City FC are hosting a special screening of my 2020 Royal Television Society award winning film, The Women Who Built Glasgow City. I'm thrilled about this as the premiere screening scheduled to take place at the Everyman Cinema in…

Women Who Dared It's lovely to be included in this important new book from Edinburgh University Press. It's called Women Who Dared and is 'stories of resistance, power and defiance from the women who dared to make history'. It's edited by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw and the forward is by the amazing Sara Sheridan. My essay is on a Scot who was involved in the early days of organised women's football, Lady Florence Dixie. You can see a list of all the authors here. The book is out in September.

Women Who Dared

It's lovely to be included in this important new book from Edinburgh University Press. It's called Women Who Dared and is 'stories of resistance, power and defiance from the women who dared to make history'. It's edited by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw and the forward is by the…

On the road It's been a while since I've posted a wee update on my thesis progress, but I have a very good reason. I've been busy, writing, and as of yesterday (20th March) I completed a full draft of my thesis. I'm going to pause and take a wee moment to appreciate this. The last 18 months have been challenging to say the least and researching and writing this first draft has been at the centre of keeping me afloat amidst heartbreak and chaos.

On the road

It's been a while since I've posted a wee update on my thesis progress, but I have a very good reason. I've been busy, writing, and as of yesterday (20th March) I completed a full draft of my thesis. I'm going to pause and take a wee moment to appreciate this. The last 18 months have…

That cable in the aisle at the inauguration is seriously messing with my head. Do they not have mats? Do they not do health and safety…

Notes of a life It's been forty two days since my dad died. In terms of a number it has no real meaning, not in the sense of it being aligned to a specific date, like a month or two months, or even a birthday or an anniversary. It is another day of losing him again. A day, like the forty one before this one, where I reach for my phone in the middle of the night to check he's okay, or plan my timings for visiting him before I have fully opened my eyes in the morning.

Notes of a life.

Hello Bluesky writing community. Can you write a 75 word story? Then why not submit to Paragraph Planet who publish a new story every day. Here’s mine from yesterday.

Making funeral arrangements for the kindest irishman, the most caring, considerate gentleman and the best daddy. I am heartbroken.
Dad was 91, a long life, but I have lived all my 56 years alongside him and this makes it harder to lose him. My core, is gone. I am discombobulated by his absense 💔

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How are we all doing over here? The world is a incredibly horrifying place for so many so hoping everyone is as well as they can be just now.

A weird thing happened today…I was listening to Desert Island Discs on my way to visit dad in hospital. A new episode came on with gardener and writer Sarah Raven (who I had never heard of) and I really enjoyed it. When I got home, this was through my letterbox….what a spooky synchronicity…

Here’s a rainbow over my house. Sure, why don’t you make a wish, it’s worth a try.

Thank you so much. That’s really kind of you.

Thank you for the welcome!

Introducing my dog, Cuisle. The cutest Irish terrier there ever was ☘️💚☘️

An image of a smiley face moulded out of freshly laid plaster on a white wall. The face has hollowed out eyes and a stone for a nose and lines cut into the plaster for hair. The picture was taken at the Coastguard Hut on Rathlin Island, Ireland.

First post…I guess hello should be the beginning.