The Seán Dunne Writer’s Festival honours the life and works of Waterford-born journalist, editor and poet who died at age 39 in 1995. This year the Festival takes place from 18 – 20 March and features John Boyne, Pauline McLynn, Claire Keegan, Christine Dwyer Hickey as well as John W. Sexton, Michael Coady, Alan Garvey, Rosita Boland and Mary O Donnell.
For more details about the festival visit seandunne.ie
The new website of Irish Pages: A Journal of Contemporary Writing is now online. On the website, you can:
> Subscribe or renew online, or print off an order form
> Read our submission guidelines for writing and photography
> Browse the contents of previous issues
> Browse our current selection of photographs, Portfolio
> Find out about our latest news and events
Note from the Editors:
Although Irish Pages is mainly a prose journal, poetry is, of course, a major component of the journal’s mix of genres. On average, about a third of contributors and about a quarter of each issue have been given over to poetry, in both Irish and English, and including translations from other languages. There are also substantial essays on the poetic art by noted practitioners. This distinct but circumscribed space for poetry reflects the view of both poet-editors that in the context of a general-readership journal such as Irish Pages, a lean selection of poetry is likely to be read more attentively within the overall mix.
The sole criteria for inclusion in the journal are the distinction of the writing and the integrity of the individual voice. There are no favoured styles, themes, schools, publishers, critical hierarchies, and so on. Equal editorial attention will be given to established, emergent and new writers. Submissions are especially encouraged from younger poets, or poets at an early stage in their careers.
The Western Writers’ Centre (Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude) Galway presents Forge At Gort festival, running from March 26 – 27.
All events are free. The preliminary line-up for the festival includes – John Arden, Patrick Early, Marty Mulligan, Pete Mullineaux, Rosemarie Rowley, Kate Thompson and Pádraig Ó Moráin.
For more details contact westernwriters@eircom.net and or visit twwc.ie
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s Poetry Now Festival runs from March 25 – 30 with the Pavilion Theatre as the main venue for
events.
Highlights include a keynote address from Paul Muldoon entitled ‘Go Fish: Six Irish Poets’, and readings from TS Eliot Prize winner Philip Gross, Derek Mahon, Anne Stevenson, Tom Mathews, Vona Groarke and John F Deane, plus the presentation of the Irish Times Poetry Now and Rupert and Eithne Strong Awards.
For a programme, visit poetrynow.ie or contact the Arts Office, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire,Co Dublin (T: 01 2719531; E: arts@dlrcoco.ie).
The Arts Office of Kilkenny County Council is seeking submissions from poets born or based in Kilkenny City and County for the tenth issue of the Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet.
The aim of the publication is to give local writers a platform for their work. Each poem selected is included in the broadsheet which is available for free throughout the County.
The tenth issue of Kilkenny Poetry will be edited by Pat Boran. Closing date for receipt of submissions is no later than
4pm on Monday 22nd March 2010
Application forms and submission rules are available from the Arts Office, No. 72 John Street, Kilkenny
T 056 7794138 E niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie / franziska.zimmermann@kilkennycoco.ie
The Diverse Writers Group are holding a workshop at Tralee Library on Saturday the 6th of March from 12-4pm in the Women’s Resource Centre, 35, Ashe St, Tralee.
Anyone interested in attending should contact Jane Obude at 0870635812 or by email.
The Forge at Gort festival will feature a poetry workshop with Pete Mullineaux and will take place on Saturday, March 27th. at 11am in Sullivan’s Royal Hotel, the Square, Gort, Co. Galway.
The poetry workshop is open to writers at all levels. Participants are invited to bring one of their own poems for discussion. Some of the time will be spent writing short spontaneous pieces, with the aim of unlocking new perspectives and inner voices. He will also touch on the poet’s ‘voice’ and how the poem sounds when read aloud.
For more details contact 0872178138 or email westernwriters@eircom.net
The Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Iniskeen, will host a weekend of poetry workshops with poet Noel Monahan from 17-18 April. The weekend course is suitable for both beginners and those who have written some poetry.
The programme will deal with all aspects of Poetry writing. Starting with the initial stirring of a poem (first inspiration), the workshop will cover such headings as:
The line as a basic unit of a poem.
The outline of images.
The mass of language: Words : Syllables
Rhythm and line breaks
Editing a poem
The final form of a poem
Getting your poetry published
The Workshop will take each participant’s poems and assist with the editing of the same. For more information visit patrickkavanaghcountry.com or email here.
For those of you that couldn’t make the lunchtime reading with Seamus Heaney in the National Gallery – we have the entire reading on film. Visit our video archive to watch the full reading – or click below to hear Mid-term Break.
Listowel Writing Workshops for spring 2010 will take place at the Seanchaí Literary Centre, Listowel, Co Kerry.
WRITING FOR THEATRE: 10 – 11 April with Billy Roche.
This workshop will deal with beginnings and endings and the bits in-between, along with the rules of the road regarding writing for the stage. Participants may send in their work beforehand for assessment and discussion.
SHORT FICTION: 17 – 18 April with Leo Cullen
How does the writer of fiction accomplish success? – By presenting the work in such a way that the reader can see, hear, taste, smell, touch it. The reader must be engaged and stimulated through his/her senses. With this in mind, the workshop will incorporate:
1. Characterization: We will develop character by showing how the character acts in given situations. We will get to know the character. We will present him/her in such a way that the reader can see, hear, taste, smell, touch him/her.
2. Setting (or) Atmosphere: We will show the setting in which the character acts out his/her situation. We will present the setting (or atmosphere) in such a way that the reader can see, hear, taste, smell, touch it.
3. Plot (or) Conflict: We will show the conflict. Where characters interact with one another and with the setting we have conflict/plot. We will present the conflict in such a way that the reader can – yes, you’ve guessed – see, hear, taste, smell, touch it!
The emphasis will be on group participation; writers will read their own course work and then the class will discuss. On completion of the course, writers will have brought greater energy and tension into their work.
WRITING POETRY: 24 – 25 April with Paul Perry
This workshop will focus on the creation of new work through the use of writing exercises and assignments in poetry. Mornings in particular will be devoted to the writing of new work with directed assignments. During the afternoon session we will workshop the new work with constructive criticism. Workshop participants will also have a chance during the two days for individual one-on-one sessions with Paul to discuss their work, its strength and weaknesses, and strategies for improving their work. Participants may bring some examples of work-in-progress for critique, but the main focus of the two days will be the making of new work while in Listowel. The workshop will aim to create a supportive environment while investigating and developing the notion of a ‘voice’ for each author. We will also discuss the practicalities of publishing and appropriate ways participants can submit work for publication. The workshop is open to new or experienced writers who want to develop their craft.
LITERARY READINGS:
As part of the 2010 Spring Workshops Programme all three writers will give a reading from their works on each Saturday evening of the workshop at 8 pm in the Seanchaí Centre. Admission is free for workshop participants, and €5.00 for the general public.
Fee Per Workshop : €130.00
T: 068 22212 E: info@kerrywritersmuseum.com W: www.kerrywritersmuseum.com
