"...one may refer to these poems as a collection of romantic imaginings, but I would like to go on record as to say they are a collection of cosmic happenings."
Following a decade as one of Ireland's most distinctive songwriting voices, Ryan Hennessy is set to release In Another Lifetime, a collection of original poetry published by Faber Music on 8 October 2026. Featuring 32 poems, bilingual English and Irish texts, and reproductions of Hennessy's handwritten pages, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the imagination behind some of contemporary Irish music's most memorable lyrics.
A time-travelling collection of poems, In Another Lifetime sees each piece begin with the same opening line: "In another lifetime". From that shared starting point, Hennessy follows a multitude of paths through love, loss, memory, longing and possibility, creating a collection that is both deeply personal and expansively imaginative.
Presented in English alongside Irish translations by Póilín Rainsford, the collection includes full-colour reproductions of Hennessy's original handwritten manuscript pages and a foreword by his friend and neighbour, Allen Dalili. Published as a beautifully designed hardback edition, In Another Lifetime is a collector's volume that brings readers closer than ever to Hennessy's creative process.
"In Another Lifetime is a collection of poems that all begin with the same opening line, the aforementioned title 'In another lifetime'… Although each poem sets off from the same place, they all find their way from a multitude of stories and experiences from heartbreak to comfort, from Sicily to Kansas City. I surmise that one may refer to these poems as a collection of romantic imaginings, but I would like to go on record as to say they are a collection of cosmic happenings." – Ryan Hennessy
To mark the publication of the book, Hennessy will appear at a series of special launch events across the UK, Ireland and Germany, featuring readings, conversation and audience Q&A.
Book Launch Events
7 October 2026
Rough Trade Denmark Street, London, UK
7.15pm doors, 7.30pm start
8 October 2026
Roth Bar & Bistro, Hamburg, Germany
5pm doors, 6pm start
9 October 2026 - SOLD OUT
Harlem Café, Belfast, Northern Ireland
6.30pm doors, 7pm start
10 October 2026
The Sugar Club, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
2pm doors, 2.30pm start
Tickets for all events are available here.
All event tickets include a pre-signed copy of the book.