Nesting is the debut novel by Roisin O'Donnell, following her acclaimed short story collection Wild Quiet - read an extract from Nesting here.
The story of one woman's bid to start over, Nesting tells the story of young mother Ciara Fay, who on a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, makes a split-second decision that will change everything. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, she straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe...
Roisin talks to Miriam O'Callaghan below.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
We asked Roisin for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Small Things Like These was one of my favourite books of recent years, and the film adaptation did not disappoint. It struck me that the length of this novella was perfectly suited to film adaptation, and the screenplay captured all the claustrophobia and tension of Keegan’s taut tale of misogyny and secrets in small-town '80s Ireland. Cillian Murphy was brilliant in the lead role as coal merchant Bill Furlong, whose life is thrown into flux when he comes across a young inmate of the local laundry locked in a coal cellar. His heartache and moral turmoil make for painful viewing, but the story is ultimately defiant. Like the best stories, it leaves you wondering what happens next.
MUSIC
According to Spotify Wrapped, my most-listened to song last year was the theme tune from Disney's animation movie Brave. Somewhat worryingly, I was in the top 0.01% of listeners worldwide. Clearly the wee women in my life (aged 6 and 8) largely control the airwaves around here. On those rare occasions when I am able to choose the music, I like the mellow folksy sound of bands like Amble and Wild River. My sister, who is very musical and has a fabulous singing voice herself, recently introduced me to Irish singer Morgana whose debut single I’ll Cry When I’m Dead was released this year. She has such a unique voice, combined with a multi-layered rock-pop sound quite unlike anything I’ve heard before. Definitely one to watch.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
BOOK
Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer-Hickey had me utterly captivated. This tale of two Irish immigrants in London over the course of several decades made me think about my parents’ experience of leaving Derry and moving to England in the 1970s. Dryer-Hickey deftly captures the immigrant experience and gives us two characters who leap off the page with their will-they-won’t-they relationship. It's an anti-love story in some ways, and I liked that about it.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
A non-fiction book I am currently reading and enjoying is Gaeilge i Mo Chroi by Molly Nic Céile, which was an award winner at this year’s Irish Book Awards. I learnt Irish from scratch at the age of 27 in order to fully qualify as a teacher here, and I am always keen for ways to keep up a cuplá focail.
THEATRE
Belfast theatre company Big Telly stage mind-altering immersive theatre experiences. Their play Department Store was staged in an abandoned shop, and the audience were guided from one department to another, where different stories unfolded. They used my story No Fury for the bridal department! The actor who read it was brilliant, and it totally opened my mind to the possibility of what theatre can do. Their latest production Granny Jackson's Dead takes place at a wake, again with different stories unfolding in various settings. I'd really like to catch that.
I'm also hoping to bring my children to The Velveteen Rabbit at the Lyric in Belfast. The script has been written by the phenomenally talented Jan Carson, and is bound to be superb. It runs from Friday 13th- Sun 30th March 2025.
TV
The Durrells, inspired by Gerald Durrell's memoir The Corfu Trilogy, tells the story of an eccentric English family headed by widow Louisa, who decides on a whim to move the entire family to the Greek Island of Corfu. Although it is set in the 1930s, The show offers a surprisingly contemporary depiction of the unexpected thrills found by stepping away from the stress of urban life and living a life less ordinary; connected with nature and the simple pleasures of friendship and community. Louisa Durrell is so refreshing and relatable, referring to her ‘parenting hat’ as ‘a crash helmet most of the time.’ Darkness gathers as Europe hurtles towards the onset of World War II, and an unexpected romance pulls at the heartstrings. Add to this the gorgeous scenery with turquoise bays and whitewashed towns, and a host of madcap locals and expats, and it's an utterly charming show, funny and heartwarming. Made by ITV, you can catch The Durrells on Netflix.
GIGS
Gigs are not something on my radar at the moment. As a single parent, the cost and logistics of going out to concerts makes it prohibitive, but I heard great things about Róisín O’s gig at the Olympia. I hear that Raye is playing at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in August 2025. She has an incredible voice, and the venue will be stunning.
ART
The Harry Clarke room at the Chester Beaty Museum has long been one of my favourite places of retreat and calm in Dublin city centre, so I was excited to hear about the new exhibition of his work at the National Museum of Ireland. This exhibition is a collaboration between the NMI and the Crawford Gallery, and brings together six stained glass panels never displayed together before. Clarke achieved such mastery in his tragically short life, and his work is utterly mesmerising. The Eve of St Agnes is one of my favourite of his panels, with the jewel-like colours and whimsical details retelling the legend from the famous Keats poem. I am looking forward to visiting this new exhibition (and never leave).
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
RADIO
Spoken Stories on RTÉ Radio 1 offers 30 minute literary gems from some of Ireland’s best storytellers. Commissioned by Cliodhna Ní Anluain, each episode features a specially commissioned short story on a set theme, the most recent of which was The State of Us. Contributing writers have included Elaine Feeney, Mike McCormack and Wendy Erskine. For the episodes, each writer is paired with an actor who reads their story, which adds a really interesting dimension to the work. One that has lingered in my imagination is a story called Shorn by Sue Rainsford, author of Follow Me To Ground, which is read hauntingly by Saoirse Ronan.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
TECH
Don’t ask me what the acronym stands for, but Frolo is a great app for solo parents. There you can find meet-up groups, a forum for discussion, and articles offering advice on everything from managing finances to family cooking. As with many of these things, the best part is the off shoots, and I would encourage anyone to persevere with the app and find your ‘tribe within the tribe.’ I’m part of a Frolo book club called A New Chapter, and it’s great to chat to parents in a similar situation. Meetups are scheduled for post kid-bedtime, and there is just this level of support and understanding which makes the world of difference. Somewhat terrifyingly, they are threatening to read my novel for the February meet up.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
She has been around for a while, but I'm going to pick St Brigid! Ever since it became a national holiday in 2023, St Brigid's day on February 1st is fast becoming an important day to celebrate the incredible women of Ireland. This year, Women's Aid are inviting everyone to channel Brigid's energy and Stand Strong to raise much needed funds for victims of domestic abuse. You can find out more at standstrong.ie There are several festivals taking place across the country in St Brigid's honour. The 2025 St Brigid Spirit of Kildare festival features a great line up of artists, including Imelda May, Lyra, Sharon Shannon, Una Healy, Róisín O, Mary Coughlan, Orla Gartland, Lisa O’Neill, Camille O’Sullivan, Lemoncello, Megan O’Neill, Irish Women In Harmony, HamsandwicH, Cathy Jordan, Eimear Quinn, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Muireann Bradley, Rachael Lavelle and Laura Whitmore. Tickets are on sale now, with events from 24th January. Meanwhile the St Brigid Awakening festival in Roscommon looks set to be a celebration of female mythology, wisdom and inspiration.
Nesting is published by Simon & Schuster
