Birthday wishes to author Val Mulkerns – my favourite Irish lady of twentieth century letters, 90 years today: pictured here last week, on a morning walk near her home. Starting out in the literary world as Associate Editor working with Seán O’Faoláin in The Bell, she has published five novels, three collections of short stories, two children’s books and many published essays and critical writings. The third edition of Val’s 1984 novel The Summerhouse was published last year, and a new edition of her 1986 novel, Very Like A Whale follows this Spring. For more see: www.valmulkerns.com
