A Collection of Poetry and Prose
by the Shimna Writers' Group.
At the foot of the Mourne Mountains, the Shimna River flows through Newcastle, County Down. It lends its name to this collection of poetry and prose from five local writers, whose imaginations wander well beyond its banks.
Like the river itself, Shimna Whispers has quiet moments, lively turns and something surprising waiting just downstream.
Coming November 2026
A Collection of Poetry and Prose
by the Shimna Writers' Group.
This powerful anthology is in essence a love letter to the beautiful place its writers have chosen to call home. Suffused with vitality, it reflects the wonder of the Mourne landscape across its changing seasons with a lyricism and reverence that at times invokes Celtic spirituality. Here is elemental nature as a life force, a rich source of healing, of energy, of wonder and of great joy.
News & Events
Celebrating the launch of their new book Shimna Whispers
Tuesday 1st December 2026 18.00–19.30hr
Newcastle Library
Free event. Tea, coffee, mince pies and seasonal snacks provided.
Special Guest: Jim Simpson (Irish author) will be in attendance and will give a public reading.
For more information, visit shimnawriters.com
Newcastle Library, 141–143 Main Street, Newcastle, BT33 0AE
Open directions in Google Maps
Shimna Writers' Group is based in Newcastle, County Down in N. Ireland. The group is an eclectic mix of adults that meet, write, and enjoy sharing their poetry and prose.
A ripple of laughter. A splash of mischief. A story around every bend.
Shimna Writers have produced an anthology rich in language, passion for place and quirky observation.
There is huge human warmth in these pages, a love of justice and a terrific appreciation of nature. The collection also strikes a highly contemporary note with a thoughtful reflection on A.I.
My abiding memory of Tollymore as a child is well captured by Liz Laird's 'auburn autumns on the turn.' How authentic too is Peter McCarron's line 'when love flows the heart glows.'
Jim Simpson (Irish Writer).
Release: end of November 2026. Not yet available to purchase.
This powerful anthology is in essence a love letter to the beautiful place its writers have chosen to call home. Suffused with vitality, it reflects the wonder of the Mourne landscape across its changing seasons with a lyricism and reverence that at times invokes Celtic spirituality. Here is elemental nature as a life force, a rich source of healing, of energy, of wonder and of great joy.
Its strength as a collection is found in the different voices exploring a common theme. Diverse, inclusive, at times profound and insightful; at others rich in self-deprecating humour and local folklore. It is a remarkable, compelling debut from this gifted group and a testament to the power of words and their writers’ sense of belonging in the natural world they celebrate.
Felicity McCall (Irish journalist and writer)
