With St. Patrick's Day happening this week, I'm hoping the weekend brings some good sales of Paddy Brown's History of Irish Comics. The booklet version launched at Belfast's Black Books market last month. The essay form is on Paddy's website here and print copies are still available. He also has other comics such as “Tamara Knight”, which when pronounced with an Ulster accent sounds like “tomorrow night”.

Give “Baking Buddies” the same treatment and it sounds like “Bacon Butties”. Alice Quigley behind a table of home-made cakes, is the organiser-facilitator of the market events. She's passionate about launching the Black Books and other all-ages events.

“Northern Ireland has a vibrant literary scene, and even with traditional comics and zines, I felt books were over-looked at the monthly market. Also it's nice to see them all in one room, it creates a sense of unity. And the name's too good not to use!”

(From an excellent sitcom featuring a grumpy Irish bookseller, played by Dylan Moran)

The Black Markets are part of the Sundays programme associated with Trans, the Belfast arts academy festival were Alice works for to provide an alternative around traditional Ulster summers.

“The Market came about when the Black Box were approached. We don't pay room hire, it's free, although stall-holders are expected to make a donation. It's an arts funded venue.”

The Scene

We're talking in the hallway of this commercial nightclub. Beside us, racks and rows of open letter-drop units hold papers and magazines and is proof of a vibrant community arts scene. The Floorsucker is an arts free-sheet with “content designed, devised or decided by young people in Northern Ireland” crossing economic backgrounds. Features “How To Make A Comic Strip Mural” and several thought-provoking articles on mental health awareness.

I think I am not a good enough a writer to write for The Vacuum, which makes me think I'd like to try. A news-print fixture around Belfast, it's gained a reputation for upsetting city hall. Unsurprising, as it features some of the funniest, well-informed and enlightening articles of high professional quality. Recommended reading.

Exchange Mechanism is another news-print, to accompany “an exhibition that questions the demands and denials of freedom in contemporary life.” CAN contains information and resources linking to the Northern Ireland community arts forum.

Verbal Magazine has reviews and interviews from the Arts centre in Derry, with illustrations by 2D comics festival's own David Campbell. The glossier AU magazine is 84 pages of rock music, art and culture: like Mojo or Rolling Stone, supported by The National Lottery.