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Our Young Writer Delegates look back on West Cork Literary Festival 2023

July 26, 2023 1:58 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Earlier this month, writers, readers and book-lovers from far and wide travelled to Bantry for the West Cork Literary Festival 2023. From the 7th to the 14th of July, attendees were treated to a week full of readings, conversations, events and special guests, which showcased new voices and a wide range of writing. Among the attendees were our IWC/West Cork Literary Festival Young Writer Delegates, Rehan Ali, Maitiú Charleton, Thomas O’Donovan and Ashlin O’Sullivan. Each year, the delegates attend events of their choice and write a review of their experience; here are the reviews our delegates wrote up for West Cork Literary Festival! Soula Emmanuel & Ann-Marie MacDonald reviewed by Maitiú Charleton As a Young Writer Delegate I had the opportunity to attend a wide range of captivating literary events throughout the West Cork Literary Festival. One stood out to... Read Moreread more.


The Meridian Series: Four Professional Development Courses Starting This Autumn

July 24, 2023 1:36 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to report that Meridian – our new series of creative and professional development courses – is well underway. Launched earlier this year, Meridian is aimed specifically at professional writers and emerging writers taking their first steps towards making a career in writing. To date, Meridian courses have been taught by the likes of Jan Carson (Surviving as a Writer), Anne Tannam (Foundational Facilitation Skills), Jennie Taylor (Contemporary Art Criticism) and Madeleine Keane (Pitching to Feature Editors). The next four Meridian sessions are now available to book online. See below for details on the individuals courses and workshops. Refresh with Poetry and Mindfulness with Cath Drake CATH DRAKE Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress and improve well-being, clarity, focus and creativity. It’s also a refreshing way into your writing, to enrich and deepen your writing practice, and... Read Moreread more.


Betsy Cornwell awarded the Blue Mountains (Australia) Residency 2023

July 19, 2023 2:44 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce that author Betsy Cornwell has been awarded the Blue Mountains (Australia) Residency 2023, in partnership with the Irish Writers Centre, Varuna, The National Writers’ House, Australia and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. The Blue Mountains (Australia) Residency is a brand new four-week international residency offered in Australia in the National Writers’ House for one month in October, inclusive of participation in the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival. This four week residency includes accommodation and meals, €1250 towards airfare and expenses, and participation in the Blue Mountains Writers Festival that takes place on October 20-22, 2023.   Headshot: Betsy Cornwell   Betsy Cornwell is the New York Times bestselling author of Mechanica and five other novels, most recently Reader, I Murdered Him. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame and a BA from Smith College, and she currently teaches... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions July 2023

July 4, 2023 3:10 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Photo credit: A view across Dublin Bay towards the Poolbeg Towers taken by our Administrative Assistant Tom Jordan.  Each month we update our Competitions & Submissions page, along with our Bursaries & Funding, to ensure that we are connecting our writers with the best upcoming opportunities. Here are a few deadlines we wanted to highlight this July. Journals and Anthologies   Sans. Press Deadline: 12th July 2023 Sans. Press are accepting submissions for their next anthology until the 12th of July. They are looking for stories in any genre that respond to the title Another Name for Darkness. The anthologies that these guys put out are really interesting and beautifully designed and they pay every contributor a flat fee of €150 so make sure to get your submissions in! Channel  Deadline: 23rd July 2023 Channel’s aim is to build rich, mutually sustaining relationships... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the 2023 IWC/DBF Foundation Programme Participants

July 4, 2023 2:40 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the six writers selected to participate in the 2023 IWC Foundation Programme, organised in association with the Dublin Book Festival. The programme, now in its second year, is open to all those living in the administrative area of Dublin City Council and is aimed specifically at writers from backgrounds currently underrepresented in Irish literature. The six writers selected to participate in this year’s programme are Sam Furlong, Mai Ishikawa, Brian McGuinness, Sara Ribeiro, Glauber Silva and Kenneth Vill. As part of the Foundation Programme, the six awardees will receive a series of training and development supports, including one-on-one mentoring, writing workshops, an IWC creative writing workshop course and more. Alongside these supports, the writers will immerse themselves and contribute to Dublin Book Festival this November, with the additional opportunity to perform their new writing at... Read Moreread more.


Our Young Writer Delegates look back on Belfast Book Festival 2023

June 29, 2023 1:15 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Earlier this month, writers, readers and book-lovers from far and wide travelled to Belfast for the Belfast Book Festival 2023. From the 13th to the 18th of June, attendees were treated to a week full of readings, conversations, film screenings, walking tours, events and special guests, which showcased new voices and a wide range of writing. Among the attendees were our IWC/Belfast Book Festival Young Writer Delegates, Cian Dunne, Fatoumata Gandega, Caleb McKeever and Sarah McMahon. Each year, the delegates attend events of their choice and write a review of their experience; here are the reviews our delegates wrote up for BBF 2023!   Photo headshot: Deirdre Madden   Deirdre Madden in conversation with Wendy Erskine Reviewed by Cian Dunne The final event of the festival’s first full day saw two of Northern Ireland’s most esteemed prose writers in conversation... Read Moreread more.


Connections Through Literature Series with Kildare Libraries

June 28, 2023 2:54 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is delighted to let you know about our partnership with Kildare Libraries. Born out of our joint love of Literature, Kildare Libraries presents the Connections Through Literature course series: “This series has been born out of a joint love of literature, with the goal to unite our readers, writers and artists with our audiences through the medium of stimulating, contemporary and accessible events.” There is a fantastic range of online and in-person courses from This Modern Life Poetry Masterclass with Rachel Long to Writing for Podcasts & Radio with Zoë Comyns. Please note, in-person courses are based in Kildare Libraries. Full programme can be found here: Connections Through Literature Programme. read more.


One for the Records: Remembering Bloomsday 2012 

June 16, 2023 11:24 am Published by Leave your thoughts

In anticipation of this year’s Bloomsday celebrations – kicking off this Friday in venues across Dublin City – we at the Irish Writers Centre are looking back on a very special day in our building’s history.     Guinness Book of World Records Certificate 2012 Text reads: “The most authors reading consecutively is 111 at the Irish Writers Centre, Dublin , Ireland on 15-16 June 2012. The 111 writers read from their work in slots of 15 minutes each over 28 continuous hours before an aggregate audience of 1280.”   On the 16th June 2012, in celebration of the Irish Writers Centre’s 25th anniversary, we were delighted to play host to a Guinness World Record-setting event. The event, which began at 10am on Friday the 15th and ended at 2pm the following day, constituted a new world record for the most... Read Moreread more.


Irish Writers Centre Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Treasurer

June 14, 2023 4:42 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Irish Writers Centre Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Treasurer Deadline for applications: Wednesday 5th July 2023 at 5pm The Irish Writers Centre (IWC) is seeking to add a new Treasurer to its Board of Directors as it continues in the second year of its 2022- 2026 strategy. We are looking for those with a passion for the Arts and an interest in the literary landscape in Ireland. This Call seeks individuals with skills and experience in one or more of the following areas, having regard also to gender, diversity, and age balance: Financial reporting; Financial planning and budgeting; Statutory accounts audit; Tax; and/or Fund-raising. Functions of the Board & Duties of Directors The Irish Writers Centre is governed by a voluntary board of Directors. Our Board members receive no payments and serve a maximum of two three-year terms. The Board... Read Moreread more.


“The book would lead the process rather than me”: Alice Lyons on poetry, Novel Fair and her O-less novel Oona

June 9, 2023 11:05 am Published by Leave your thoughts

    Interviewer: Jack Delaney Jack Delaney is a writer and theatre-maker from County Meath. He joined the Irish Writers Centre as an Arts Administration Intern in March 2023.         Back in April, we published an interview with writer and 2021 IWC Novel Fair winner Bryan Moriarty about his debut novel, Sounds like Fun. Now, we are delighted to present a conversation with poet, visual artist and 2019 winner Alice Lyons, who successfully pitched her debut novel, Oona, at the IWC Novel Fair, leading to its publication with Lilliput Press in 2020. Alice Lyons is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work encompasses poetry, films and public installations. The fact that she has now written a novel – let alone a novel as strange and singular as Oona – should come as no surprise. On the surface, it tells the... Read Moreread more.


Announcing our 2023 West Cork Literary Festival Young Writer Delegates

June 8, 2023 10:26 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We’re delighted to announce our IWC/West Cork Literary Festival Young Writer Delegate awardees, who will attend the West Cork Literary Festival from 10 – 14 July and work with local writer mentor Maeve Higgins! The four awardees are Rehan Ali, Maitiú Charleton, Thomas O’Donovan and Ashlin O’Sullivan. You can find the full programme of events on the West Cork Literary Festival Website. For the past six years the Irish Writers Centre has been sending Young Writer Delegates to literary festivals around the country giving these young writers the opportunity to immerse themselves in a literary festival and also contribute to it as active participants for the first time. You can keep up with the Young Writer Delegates on their Instagram page, and through the Irish Writers Centre and West Cork Literary Festival social media channels. Also, you can now book... Read Moreread more.


37 Writers Selected for the Irish Writers Centre’s National Mentoring Programme 2023

June 6, 2023 5:02 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Following a national call out, writers from across the island of Ireland have been awarded places on the Irish Writers Centre’s National Mentoring Programme 2023. 37 writers, from a total of nearly 300 applicants, will receive literary mentoring over the next eight months from an acclaimed Irish writer of their choice. The Irish Writers Centre supports a vibrant and diverse community of writer experiences to develop their craft, capacity, and confidence to thrive as a writer in the world. Each mentor reads up to 10,000 words / 180 lines of poetry of the awarded mentee’s writing in advance of all four meetings, sharing their kind and critical feedback with the mentee, face-to-face at each meeting. Mentors also provide broad professional advice, sharing the benefit of their years of experience. The initiative is co-funded by a wide range of county arts... Read Moreread more.


We had a Fantastic Time Takin’ our Mic to International Literature Festival Dublin

May 25, 2023 11:08 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Last night, the Irish Writers Centre’s Bilingual Takin’ the Mic went to the International Literature Festival Dublin for a fantastic evening of poetry and prose in English and Irish. Featuring guest MC Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh and special guest writer, Disha Bose, it was a magical occasion with a diverse assembly of writers, poets and musicians who took to the stage! A massive thank you to all writers who performed and to the audience for making the event so welcoming and joyful. Thank you to Foras na Gaeilge for supporting this event and to International Literature Festival Dublin for hosting us. Míle buíochas le gach duine a d’fhreastail ar an ócáid! About our special guests Photograph of Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh at the Irish Writers Centre’s Takin’ the Mic, International Literature Festival Dublin 2023 Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh was our MC for the evening. Lisa is... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Awardees for the Lamplight International Residency Programme 2023

May 23, 2023 3:37 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the four Irish Writers Centre Professional Members selected to take part in the Lamplight International Residency Programme co-presented by the Irish Writers Centre and Varuna, The National Writers’ House, Australia. The four chosen writers are Christine Foley, Sinéad Ingoldsby, Aoibheann McCann and Michelle Walshe. The Lamplight International Residency Programme is a two-week online residency opportunity for fiction writers to enjoy the combined warmth and support of Varuna and the Irish Writers Centre. Each of our chosen writers will partake in an individual writer’s conversation with Mary Anne Butler and Conor Kostick to talk about their current work. They will also get the opportunity to join in three online Q+A sessions with multi-award-winning authors Kit De Waal, Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) and Pip Williams. They will be provided with facilitated professional networking opportunities with their peers throughout... Read Moreread more.