Author Archives for IWC_admin

Announcing the Irish Writers Centre 2026 Pride Programme

May 6, 2026 5:22 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

This year, the Irish Writers Centre celebrates Pride Month with a host of diverse creative events for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. We’ll get started on Thursday, 4th June with Writing Queer Irish Womanhood, a conversation between writers Katherine O’Donnell and Rosamund Taylor exploring the diversity and complexity of queer Irish women’s stories. This online event (7-8pm via Zoom) is designed to increase accessibility to all who are interested in attending. On Saturday 6th June, artist Mel Galley will lead a Queer Futures Zine Workshop at our home on Parnell Square (12-2pm.) Open to all levels, this session invites attendees to imagine queer futurities through zine making and bookbinding techniques, combining text and image into speculative, self-made pamphlets. We’ll close out our Pride celebrations on Tuesday, 16th June with Beyond Blooming: An Open Page Reading Night & Celebration of Queer... Read Moreread more.


The Young Writer Delegates Reflect on Cúirt 2026 (Part 2)

May 6, 2026 2:52 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Every April for the past forty-one years, lovers of literature have travelled from across Ireland, and the wider world to Galway, for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature. In 2026, the festival ran from 21-26 April, and alongside a packed programme of literary events, attendees were blessed with a rare sight in the West of Ireland – the sun. Among those who flocked to Galway were our Irish Writers Centre/Cúirt Young Writer Delegates. The five writers chosen this year were: Liam Carton, Luke Condon, Eddie Critchley, Shauna Murphy, and Sadhbh Valentine Carton. As well as attending the wide variety of panel discussions, performances, and open mic nights around the city, the Delegates also performed at their own showcase to a packed audience in the O’Donoghue Centre for Theatre, Drama, and Performance. Their local writer-mentor Alan McMonagle was in attendance, and... Read Moreread more.


The Young Writer Delegates Reflect on Cúirt 2026

May 6, 2026 2:52 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Every April for the past forty-one years, lovers of literature have travelled from across Ireland, and the wider world to Galway, for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature. In 2026, the festival ran from 21-26 April, and alongside a packed programme of literary events, attendees were blessed with a rare sight in the West of Ireland – the sun. Among those who flocked to Galway were our Irish Writers Centre/Cúirt Young Writer Delegates. The five writers chosen this year were: Liam Carton, Luke Condon, Eddie Critchley, Shauna Murphy, and Sadhbh Valentine Carton. As well as attending the wide variety of panel discussions, performances, and open mic nights around the city, the Delegates also performed at their own showcase to a packed audience in the O’Donoghue Centre for Theatre, Drama, and Performance. Their local writer-mentor Alan McMonagle was in attendance, and... Read Moreread more.


Why Bowen Matters: A Conference Celebrating Elizabeth Bowen

April 30, 2026 5:01 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Join us for this very special hybrid event celebrating the legendary Irish writer Elizabeth Bowen on her birthday. Renowned for her novels and short stories, including The Death of the Heart, The Heat of the Day, and The Last September, Elizabeth Bowen is one of Ireland’s most enduring literary figures. Since 2022, the Elizabeth Bowen Society have organised an annual lecture for the writer’s birthday, and this year the Irish Writers Centre is delighted to collaborate on this fantastic day exploring and discussing the legacy of Elizabeth Bowen. Note: This is a hybrid event and attendees can attend in person at the Irish Writers Centre or via Zoom. The morning’s panel discussion between Danielle McLaughlin, John Banville and Nuala O’Connor is €15, while the afternoon annual birthday lecture is free to attend. Timetable: Welcome: 11.00 – 11.15am Join us for... Read Moreread more.


Gallery: The Irish Writers Centre Launches Patrons Programme

April 29, 2026 5:28 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

On a glorious evening, Thursday, April 23, we launched the Irish Writers Centre Patrons Programme, a new initiative to support our emerging writers and next generation of Irish storytellers. Designed to bring together corporate and private supporters who want to play a direct role in developing our writers, the Patrons Programme will help expand our creative writing and mentoring programmes, increase the number of masterclasses and events nationwide and provide additional bursaries and residencies. The initiative will also help broaden public engagement opportunities for writers and help us promote our work nationally and internationally.   Speaking at the launch, our special guest, author and Irish Writers Centre ambassador, Joseph O’Connor said Ireland’s reputation for literature and storytelling remains one of its strongest cultural assets. “All over the world, Ireland is known for great literature, poetry and storytelling. More than ever,... Read Moreread more.


Gallery: Words, in Other Places Literary Festival

April 16, 2026 2:00 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Words, In Other Places, an Irish Writers Centre Literary Festival, in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland Please enjoy these photos from Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, at the Seamus Heaney Centre (taken by Declan Roughan / Press Eye) and Irish Writers Centre (taken by Paul Sherwood) respectively. With 280+ in attendance, over the course of two days, Words, In Other Places, was a trilateral literary festival featuring 18 writers. Curated by the Irish Writers Centre, it was funded by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland, supported by our Belfast venue, the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University, alongside our two supporting bookstores, No Alibis bookshop in Belfast and Chapters bookshop in Dublin. This unique, two-day festival took place in the Seamus Heaney Centre in Queens University, Belfast, on Saturday 11 April and in Dublin... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Writers Selected for 2026’s National Mentoring Programme

April 16, 2026 2:01 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

After a national callout by the Irish Writers Centre for their National Mentoring Programme (NMP) in December 2025, 41 writers have been awarded places from a record number of applicants. Each writer will receive mentoring from an established writer over the course of 2026. Founded in 1991, the Irish Writers Centre is Ireland’s leading resource and development organisation for writers. Its vision is to support the life of the writer at every stage of their career. As one of the largest writer mentoring programmes in Ireland, the National Mentoring Programme has an enormous impact on a writer’s journey by providing essential professional support, and this year saw an increase of over 150 applications from around the country. The programme is aimed at both emerging and established writers. Since 2017, the programme has numerous published authors among its alumni including Amy... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: April 2026

April 7, 2026 10:42 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Our monthly list of submission windows, competitions, bursaries, residencies and general literary opportunities is now live. This list offers information on opportunities with April deadlines. For information on other upcoming opportunities, see our competitions and submissions and bursaries and funding pages.                                                                                          Opportunities Scripts: Ireland’s Playwriting Festival Deadline: 7th April SCRIPTS: Ireland’s Playwriting Festival, in partnership with Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, seeks new works for stage! Scripts invites playwrights to craft stories that ignite, provoke and linger. The theme for 2026 is: desire. The deadline is Tuesday, April 7 at 12pm. More information here. ILFD Date... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the 2026 Irish Writers Centre Irish Language Poetry Mentorship

March 19, 2026 4:35 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Meantóireacht Filíochta Gaeilge Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann 2026 Tá lúcháir ar Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann ár gcéad meantóireacht Gaeilge a fhógairt. I mbliana, beidh an mheantóireacht ann do scríbhneoirí filíochta; beidh béim ar seanraí eile sna blianta atá le teacht. Is í an file iomráiteach Aifric Mac Aodha a bheidh mar mheantóir againn. Cáilitheacht Tá an scéim ar oscailt do scríbhneoir ar bith thar 18 a bhfuil cónaí orthu áit ar bith in Éirinn faoi láthair. Bronnfar trí shéisiúin meantóireachta ar an bhuaiteoir i rith na bliana 2026. Déantar iarratais trí Google Form. Amlíne Beidh glacadh le hiarratais ó 5 pm, Dé Déardaoin 19 Márta go 5 pm, Dé hAoine 10 Aibreán. Nuair atá an scríbhneoir roghnaithe tarraigeofar trí shéisiúin meantóireachta 90 nóiméad dó nó di idir sin agus deireadh 2026. Treoracha Roimh gach séisiúin seolfaidh an scríbhneoir suas le... Read Moreread more.


Now Live: Words in the Air Podcast

March 19, 2026 11:07 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We’re thrilled to present to listeners the very first episode of the Irish Writers Centre’s new literary podcast, Words in the Air! Ep 1 features Professor Joseph O’Connor in conversation with Madeleine Keane about growing up in Dún Laoghaire and how the coastline inspired his early writing. This audio was recorded in May 2025, at the DLR Lexicon Library and The James Joyce Tower Museum Sandycove, Dublin as part of the video series Dublin, One City, Many Stories. You can watch the full video here.  read more.


Announcing the Awardees of New Voices: North 2026

March 12, 2026 1:40 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the ten writers selected to participate on New Voices: North 2026: Kara Barlow, Joshua Beatty, Ben Behzadafshar, Tiffany Eaton, Elaine Gormley, Katharina Maria Kalinowski, Cónal McGlinchey, Niall McKenna, Sean Rowan and Ryan Wiles. The second installment in a new, all-island development series, New Voices: North is a three-month development programme that will provide ten emerging writers living in the North of Ireland with the sustained support of an experienced writer-mentor. The programme will culminate in a showcase hosted by the Belfast Book Festival, which will take place in the summer. The six writers selected in the fiction strand are Ben Behzadafshar, Tiffany Eaton, Elaine Gormley, Cónal McGlinchey, Niall McKenna and Ryan Wiles. They will be mentored by Jan Carson and Susannah Dickey. The four writers selected in the poetry strand are Kara Barlow, Joshua Beatty,... Read Moreread more.


Words, In Other Places, An Irish Writers Centre Literary Festival

March 11, 2026 12:29 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Words, In Other Places, an Irish Writers Centre Literary Festival, in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland Over the course of one weekend, Saturday 11 April at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University in Belfast, and Sunday 12 April  at the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin, Words, In Other Places will showcase a tri-lateral range of form, talent and diversity in today’s literary scene, looking to the north and south of Ireland while welcoming international writers. Each day will be divided into 3 separate events: Saturday 11 April Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast  12pm to 1pm: Inside Out, Telling Tales Elsewhere, panel discussion Inside Out, Telling Tales Elsewhere is a panel discussion, featuring three contemporary writers from the south of Ireland, Louise Nealon (author of Snowflake and Everything that is Beautiful), Patrick Holloway (author of The... Read Moreread more.


Announcing our 2026 Young Writer Delegates at Cúirt

March 6, 2026 11:30 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We’re delighted to announce the five Irish Writers Centre Young Writer Delegates who will attend and contribute to Cúirt International Festival of Literature from 21-26 April. The delegates will be mentored by local writer Alan McMonagle and perform readings at a festival showcase as part of this year’s programme (free entry). The five awardees are Liam Carton, Luke Condon, Eddie Critchley, Shauna Murphy and Val. Now in its eighth year, the Irish Writers Centre’s Young Writer Delegates Programme gives young writers an opportunity to immerse themselves in a literary festival and to contribute to it as active participants. You can keep up with the Young Writer Delegates on their Instagram page, and through the Irish Writers Centre and Cúirt’s social media channels. The programme is in partnership with Cúirt International Festival of Literature. The Irish Writers Centre is supported by the... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: March 2026

February 25, 2026 12:06 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Our monthly list of submission windows, competitions, bursaries, residencies and general literary opportunities is now live. This list offers information on opportunities with February/March deadlines. For information on other upcoming opportunities, see our competitions and submissions and bursaries and funding pages. Opportunities Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition Deadline: March 7th The Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition was inaugurated in 2012 by the late Barney Sheehan – poetry impresario of the White House Poetry Revival, in honour of the late Limerick poet Desmond O’Grady, who died in 2014. The Limerick Writers’ Centre now runs the competition as part of April is Poetry Month in Limerick festival. The prize winner of this year’s competition will be announced during April 2026 and will be invited to give a reading of his/her work during the 2027 festival. First Prize 200.00 Euro, Runner-Up Prize 50.00 Euro. More information here. Mairtín Crawford Awards for Poetry and Short Story 2026 Deadline: March... Read Moreread more.