Annaghmackerrig

Annaghmackerrig Lake 

 This view. I love coming to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, the big house in Monaghan where writers, painters, composers, dancers... come to work, and eat and look at the lake. I've come here over the years to work on my poetry collection and novels. This time, I'm bringing together a short story collection, and re-reading Kirsty Logan's brilliant Things We Say In The Dark and an essay a day from The Agony and The Ego edited by Clare Boylan. Especially interesting is Hilary Mantel's piece - in which she writes (rather harshly?) - 'I have no time for people who talk in a vaguely mystical way about characters 'taking over.' If your characters have taken over there is something wrong with your book and there is something pretty seriously wrong with you.' Yes, a character is 'taking over,' but sure what would you expect, gazing out at that lake? The first time I came here was thanks to a bursary from Kildare County Council back in 2013. If you or someone you know is an artist, or writer - do look out for the these County Council Awards, or consider applying directly ( apply here ) It's the most magical place. 

In October, back in the real world, I'm looking forward to travelling to Abbeyleix, County Laois to facilitate a writing workshop for The Power Of Words, here are some details... 

Power of Words Retreats Welcomes Athy Author Niamh Boyce  - Whats On - Kildare Nationalist

Tyrone Guthrie Centre

by Mary Cassat

I just received a letter that made me scream (in a good way)- I've been awarded some writing time at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Monaghan. So a big thanks to Kildare County Councils Art Office - I'll be heading up to Monaghan on Friday with a big smile on my face. And it's lovely to get a letter - it really is a dying art. I asked my ten year old what he thought the woman in the Cassat painting was doing, he thought she was cleaning her face with a napkin! I'm bringing him straight home to lick an envelope :)

Retreating - The Tyrone Guthrie Centre

The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is paradise. I haven't cooked or committed acts of housework in seven days. I'll get to the writing part soon...but the food (dinner is every evening at seven) is exquisite. A fatted calf took the bus back to Laois yesterday! Thai food, vegetarian, fish, roast...every evening was different and a taste of heaven.

The novelty of writing uninterrupted never wore off. My room was large, en suite and had plenty of light. I do wish I'd brought a sketchbook, the gardens were stunning. If I went to the kitchen for coffee, there was always homemade scones and someone to talk to. The balance is perfect, if you need to work for hours at a time in silence, you have it. If you'd like a break and a chat, you have that too. I've made new friends and will be keeping an eye out for various plays, exhibitions, poems and novels...

Writing wise, it was hard work. I discovered my novel isn't as near to finished as I'd imagined. I could wrap it up now but it needs deeper writing, one of my main characters has a lot more to tell. The person who went to Monaghan would have been gutted by this revelation, but I'm not. It takes time. I've two points of view with a third one creeping in. You tackle what you can at the time of writing, and when I started this novel I didn't know the characters well enough, now I know them well enough to continue...
Another rewrite!

Did I mention the lake? The organic gardens? The relaxed atmosphere?

Albedo One

Two opportunities from the one publication, an international competition for short stories and submission guidelines for the magazine. I don't write SF, horror or fantasy but have read Albedo One Magazine and the stories are excellent. There are more guidelines on what kind of writing they're looking for on the website here. I've always loved Angela Carter's New Eve, I wonder is that considered fantasy? Robert Neilsone, co-editor of Albedo One has an interesting article on the Writing4All website entitled "Getting started in genre fiction - SF, fantasy & horror.
The Aeon Award 2010
This competition is open to writers from all countries and has a max word count of 8,000.
"The contest opens 1st January 2010, and runs for four rounds throughout the year. The submission deadline for the first round is March 31st, the second round June 30th, the third round September 30th and the final round November 30th. The final round is of two months duration, the rest of three months. Each round begins immediately after the end of the previous round (i.e. you may submit at any time from 1st Jan to 30th Nov).

At the end of each round, the best story submissions received within each round will be chosen by a panel of judges and shortlisted for the Award. The stories chosen for shortlisting in each round will be announced here on the Albedo One website (www.albedo1.com) shortly after the end of each round, as the contest proceeds. The shortlist and final results will also be printed in Albedo One magazine for all the world to see.

Shortly after Nov 30th 2010, the judges will choose the six highest-ranking stories from the shortlist. The top three winning stories will be chosen from these six stories.

Entry Fee 7 Euro
Grand Prize: €1000, Second Prize: €200,Third Prize: €100


Albedo One

"We are always looking for thoughtful, well written fiction. Our definition of what constitutes SF, horror and fantasy is extremely broad and we love to see material which pushes at the boundaries.

We will read all short story submissions, but our preferred length is between 2,500 and 8,000 words. Our response time is variable - mostly between two and four months.

Our address:

Albedo One
2 Post Road
Lusk
Co. Dublin
Ireland.

A wonderful letter came in the post, my application for a residency in The Tyrone Guthrie Centre was successful. So in August, for one week, I'll be in Monaghan, just writing! I'm thrilled of course.

"The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a residential workplace open to professional practictioners in all art forms. Artist residencies/retreats are for maximum periods of three months in the full board Big House and six months in the self catering Farmyard Cottages.
In a tranquil, beautiful setting amid the lakes and drumlins of County Monaghan everything is provided for, including delicious food. With the advice and encouragement of his family Sir Tyrone Guthrie bequeathed his family home and estate to the State with the proviso that it be used for the benefit of artists. It was an inspired decision and one that has positively reshaped the cultural landscape of Ireland forever.
‘The Big House’ as it is affectionately known, accommodates up to eleven residents and up to seven can stay in the self-catering cottages. Eight studio spaces are also available along with a performance/dance space opened in 2006.

"He gave what little wealth he had
To build a house for fools and mad
And showed by one satiric touch
No nation needed it so much."
JONATHAN SWIFT.