Bailieborough Poetry Festival 2015

The LitLab writing group are at large again :) This time hosting the fantastic Baileborough Poetry Festival. There will be readings, workshops, open mic session, and a book launch. Kate Dempsey (aka Emerging Writer & Poetry Diva) will be giving a poetry workshop. Doire Press is publishing Kate's collection 'The Space Between' later this year... Here's the line-up for the weekend... 

Friday 9th October: (Murtagh’s Lounge, Main St.)

18.30 Official launch of “Behind the Lines” Anthology by LitLab. Introduced by Myles Dungan and Julia Rice O’Dea.
19.45 A Wilde Night by Patrick Walsh.
20.00 Poetry reading by Michael Farry and Paddy Halligan.
21.00 Open mic.

Saturday 10th October:
10.00 Poetry workshop* – Kate Dempsey. (Bailieborough Library)
14.00 Competition prize giving – Michael Farry & Honor Duff (Bailieborough Library)
14.00 – 17.00 Special poetry-themed afternoon tea in Bailie Hotel on Main Street.
16.00 Literary walking tour of Bailieborough with John Ed Sheanon – (starts at Bailieborough Library)
19.00 Open Mic. Featuring writing/ arts groups. – (Murtagh’s Lounge)
20.00 Poems and stories by Patsy McDermott – (Murtagh’s Lounge)
21.00 Poetry reading by Tony Curtis.

(* Poetry Workshop is limited to 12 participants. The fee is €15 for 3 hours duration, this includes special treats and brews from local kitchens. You can book your place online through the PayPal link below.)

Writing From Stillness

Acrylic on board by Niamh Boyce 2009

“When you are present, the world is truly alive.”  
Natalie Goldberg

Shirley McClure is facilitating a one-day workshop of creative writing. I've attended Shirley's Writing From The Body workshop and it was a day well spent, she's such an experienced, creative and calm facilitator.

Writing from Stillness invites you to slow down and connect with your own creativity. Simple mindfulness techniques are used prior to writing.

It is suitable for beginners & people who have been writing for a while.

Group limited to 12 participants.

When : 24th February 2013 from 10.00 – 17.00

Where : Wilton Hotel, Southern Cross Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Ample free parking. Within walking distance of the Dart.

Cost: €55, unwaged €45

Tea/ coffee provided.  

Enquiries/ booking: shirleymcclure2@gmail.com 086-603 4481  

About Shirley:

Winner of  Cork Literary Review's Manuscript  Competition 2009, runner-up in the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award 2009 and  shortlisted for the Strokestown International Poetry Competition 2012, Shirley McClure's début collection, Who's Counting? (Bradshaw Books) was published in 2010. A practitioner & teacher of bodywork, Shirley has been working in adult education for almost thirty years, & runs a number of creative writing classes.

Leaves Literary Festival

 

Run by Laois County Council Arts Office this years festival includes readings, classes in creative writing, book launches, children’s events and music.

I haven't been able to blog much lately as I'm editing, editing, editing... you should see the state of my kitchen!  I'll be back in action soon, in the meantime I'm facilitating a day long workshop in Portlaoise as part of this autumn literary festival. The idea behind the workshop is to use one of your poems to inspire further poems, or even a series of poems. Complete beginners are completely welcome. 

Friday 9th November

Official launch: Áras an Chontae at 7.30pm.

Launching poetry collections by Ann Egan, Kathy D’Arcy, Jamie O’Connell and Pat Boran.

Chaired by James Ryan chairing the readings.  Music from Conal Rae.

Poems Beget Poems Workshop:

10am to 4pm @ Dunamaise Arts Centre: 40 Euro

By Hennessy award winner Niamh Boyce. This workshop would suit writers who have begun to write poetry and would like to explore it further, participants must bring one of their own poems to work with, its doesnt have to be complete or perfect, just one that has more to give.

 

Saturday 10th November

Seasons Of The Heart workshop:

10am to 4pm @ Dunamaise Arts Centre: 40 Euro

John MacKenna will hold a workshop exploring the ways in which we can draw on nature and our own life experiences to create fiction and memoir. 

Readings and Music

8pm @ Arthouse & Library, Stradbally: 12/10 Euro.

An exciting mix of readings and music featuring Christine Dwyer Hickey, Niamh Boyce and Nuala Ní Chonchúir, chaired by Seamus Hosey, with music by  harpist Claire O Donnell.

Bookings for all events can be made at the Dunamaise Arts Centre Tel:  057 8663355. www.dunamaise.ie

  Claire Keegan will be reading at the DLR Festival. 

Mountains to the Sea

The Mountains to Sea Festival runs from the 4th to 9th of Sept 2012, and has an interesting mixture of readings, workshops, family events and poetry events.

"Howard Jacobson, who won the Man Booker Prize for The Finkler Question, will kick off this year's Mountains to Sea dlr book festival on Tuesday September 4th. Other highlights in a stellar line-up will include UK novelist, Philippa Gregory, IMPAC winner Gerbrand Bakker and readings by superb writers such as Jonathan Dee, John Banville, Esther Freud, Daniel Woodrell, David Mitchell and Katie Fforde.

The poetry line-up includes legends such as Mark Doty, Paula Meehan, James Fenton, and a Transtromer tribute, while also including the Irish Times Award, and using some stunning new venues.

RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday Miscellany returns with its fantastically popular show, while Liam Carson will present Imram, the Irish readings extravaganza with special musical guests.

Aspiring writers can look forward to a series of Creative Writing Workshops with top tutors, and the family programme will include appearances by major authors such as Robert Muchamore, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Derek Landy and Marita Conlon McKenna."

The festival blog is here

Croi Anu

I've been lazy all January and I'm proud of it. The trauma of an Irish white christmas needs careful recovery or one could do ones self a great injury! I'm tipping my toe back into the water with a poetry workshop next sat at Croi Anu (who have just has started a blog here!) The centre hosts a diverse range of classes from art, yoga, drama and poetry to creative mentoring and is run by Mary Pat Moloney. I've mentioned this before but its one of the best places I've ever attended workshops so its worth another mention!

Eigse Poetry Workshop

Poet Rita Kelly will give a workshop for emerging poets and writers on Sat. May 22nd in Carlow. Works from this workshop will be showcased at the Emerging Poets Showcase on Mon. 14th June during Éigse. The workshop costs €7 for the day and has limited places. Contact the office on +353 (0)59-9140491 or email info@eigsecarlow.ie to book your place.
I presume this means the participants read their work during the festival in June. Its very reasonably priced for a workshop with such an experienced writer, so needless to say, I've booked myself in.
Rita Kelly's publications include five collections of poetry, the latest being Turas go bun na Spéire from Cló IarChonnachta, 2009 with a new English poetry collection due for release in 2011. Her work has earned various awards, most recently the prestigious Patrick & Kathleen Kavanagh Memorial Award.

Kildare Readers Festival
John Connolly and Stuart Neville were fantastic on Saturday night, both very talented and generous writers. What I didn't know about John Connolly was how funny he is, will write a post about the talk soon, it was very informative, witty and especially relevant to writers. (Thanks to the organisers of the Kildare Readers Festival!) There was a substantial queue to get books signed after the event so we were given little post-its to write out the dedication and make it easier for the author at the other end. I imaginatively wrote "Niamh", and stuck it to my copy of "The Whisperers." My sister, on the other hand, wrote, "To Olivia, My inspiration." An amused(?) John Connolly was very genial and wrote the dedication, "To Olivia, my inspiration. Sure what would I do without you?"