Editorial: Five Years of Splonk

With this issue – Issue 11 – we celebrate five years of Splonk; five years of showcasing fabulous flash and micros in English and, importantly, as Gaeilge. When I set out on this mission in 2018 – and began the journal proper in January 2019 – the Irish language was a crucial part of my vision for it.

I’m so proud of the work we’ve published, so happy for the writers we’ve nominated for prizes who have won and been short- and longlisted. So delighted with the look of Splonk, thanks to behind the scenes wonders Janice Leagra, Visual Artist, and Finbar McLoughlin, Website Manager.

Our editors – Adam Trodd, Sadhbh Devlin, Robert Barrett, and Marie Gethins, and formerly Lisa Nic an Breithimh – are very serious about the selection process and very light-hearted in its execution. I want to thank them for all the committed, voluntary hours spent on this venture. I think they’ll agree it’s very time-consuming but very worth it – each issue has been its own special joy.

It is something of a coup for a small journal like ours to feature a great like Lydia Davis but thanks to the efforts of our own Marie, we have. We hope you enjoy Lydia’s wisdom and wit in this issue’s Splonk 5 interview.

Splonk is a quiet magazine because I’m a quiet person; one who loves small, concise, interesting writing. I didn’t start Splonk to ‘go big’, or expand, or have any fanfare. My aim has only ever been to find and publish good work – great work – and the last five years has been spent happily doing just that. Go raibh míle maith agaibh – huge thanks – to everyone who has helped Splonk on that journey.

Nuala O’Connor, EIC