I don't buy into the idea that an Irish writer should write about Ireland, or a gay writer should write about being gay.

It's a wonderful thing to write for children.

To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart.

A straight writer can write a gay novel and not worry about it, and a gay novelist can write about straight people.

The sea, the snotgreen sea, the scrotumtightening sea.

I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.