Lani O’Hanlon

County

Waterford

Genre

Poet, Short-Story Writer

Sessions

Reading and Q&A, Discussion with Writer, Creative Writing Workshop

Age Group

7 - 10, 11-15, 16 - 18

Availability

Wednesday, Friday
Mornings, Afternoons

Travel

Yes

Publications/Repertoire/Productions & Background Experience

Lani O'Hanlon is a dance/movement artist, poet and writer living beside the sea in West Waterford. A highly experienced facilitator she designs and teaches creative writing retreats and workshops with The Molly Keane House, The Arts Office and the Libraries in Waterford City and County, Waterford Healing Arts and Réalta, the National Body for Arts and Health in Ireland. Lani has an MA in creative writing from Lancaster University and is a member of the Laban Guild for Dance and Drama.

Lani’s poetry collection Landscape of the Body was published in November 2023 with The Dedalus Press. She is the author of Dancing the Rainbow, Holistic Well-Being through Movement (Mercier Press) The Little Theatre (Poetry) and the editor of the poetry pamphlets; As They Blossomed (Iontas/WHA) and A Flake of My Soul (Iontas/WHA).

Lani collaborates on award-winning poetry films with director Fiona Aryan and performs with Wildsong – poetry readings and music with composer, Fergal O’ Connor.

Winner of the Poetry Ireland Trocaire Award in 2022 and selected for Poetry Ireland Introductions in 2020, she received an Agility Award from The Arts Council in 2022 and a Participatory Project Award in 2023. Other prizes include the Hennessey New Irish Writing, the Dromineer Literary Festival and Poetry on the Lake.

Lani’s writing is broadcast on RTE's Sunday Miscellany and is widely published in various publications including Poetry Ireland Review, Poetry, Poetry Wales, Portland Review, The Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, Southword, Orbis, Channel, 14 and Mslexia.

Anthologies include; Halleluiah for 50ft Women, edited by Raving Beauties, Bloodaxe (2015); Children of the Nation, edited by Jenny Farrell, Culture Matters (2019); Ten Poems for Breakfast, Ana Samson, Candlestick Press (2019); Staying Human, edited by Neil Astley, Bloodaxe (2020); Poems from Pandemia, edited by Patrick Cotter, The Munster Literature Centre (2020); Local Wonders, edited by Pat Boran, Dedalus Press (2021); Romance Options, edited by Leanne Quinn and Joseph Woods, Dedalus Press (2022); Washing Windows Too and III edited by Alan Hayes, Arlen House (2022) and (2023).

Session Details

An hour and a half or a two-hour creative writing session can be designed to facilitate learning outcomes for the curriculum. I listen to students and their teacher to discover what their creative interests are at present and can build on this through creative writing.

Facilitating younger children I read poems, emphasising sound, rhythm, and story, and encourage the children to perform a poem together or write a poem of their own with similar themes. Working with older students I give writing prompts and ask them to share their writing in pairs or small groups.

I can also read a poem or short prose piece followed by discussion and questions about my writing practice.

Age Group Details

From age eight

Availability Details

Wednesdays or Fridays and I prefer working in the afternoon or late morning unless the school is nearby.

Telephone

0851400092

Email

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