The Ocean Magazine – The Worlds Finest Literature – Spring 2025
The Ocean – Spring 2025 (Volume 2, Issue 1) invites readers into a rich literary prism of poetry, fiction, and personal essays, written by a range of emerging voices from Ireland and beyond. Curated by guest editor Christina Hennemann, this issue explores themes of memory, self-discovery, nature, grief, historical trauma, and healing. Each piece uniquely refracts reality, offering readers both personal intimacy and global resonance.
Contents include:
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Villa El Salvador by Sr. May Lynam – A powerful memoir recounting missionary work in Peru, capturing local life, spirituality, and profound lessons of community.
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Waiting for Sam by Susan Temple – A historical fiction set around the 1916 Rising, blending family tension, political unrest, and maternal devotion.
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I Am Searching by Durga Dhakal – A heartfelt poem of self-reclamation and emotional clarity.
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A Lost Breeze by Patrick O’Brien – A poetic reflection on chance encounters and shared wisdom.
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Glanageenty by Redmond Burke – A ghostly, personal meditation set in a historic Irish forest, blending family memory with haunting folklore.
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Sacrificial Lives by John Farragher – A stark, visceral poem reflecting on the cycles of life, sacrifice, and history.
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Elements by Michelle Harte – A minimalistic poem exploring the forces of nature and molecular interconnection.
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The Banana Skin Incident by Fred Price – A humorous and surreal short story imagining a global banana peel conspiracy.
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I’ll Be Up Soon by John Gobbett – A moving narrative of love, loss, and intergenerational healing through sport.
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Memory Tree by Ann Marie Horgan – A poetic ode to family, legacy, and resilience rooted in nature.
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The Fox, My Friend by Deborah Glennon – A touching poem about grief, loss, and the silent companionship of a watchful fox.
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The Black Sisters by Julie Johanning – A dramatic story of family, addiction, and maternal strength against the backdrop of a suburban dance world.
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The Shadow by Breda Hyland – A lyrical poem evoking mystery, childhood wonder, and the eerie beauty of fairy hills.
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Meeting Point by Marian Roche – A poignant tale of reunion, secrets, and reckoning with a past trauma once buried.
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The Forgotten Dream by Vivienne Byrne Baruch – A visionary story blending utopia, memory, and rebirth set in a dreamlike kibbutz.
This issue showcases talented writers like Durga Dhakal (UK/Nepal), Redmond Burke, Michelle Harte, Fred Price, and more. From poetry to narrative memoir, the publication provides a space where the literary voices of Ireland and international contributors come together under one unified vision.

