Author Archives for IWC_admin

Our new IWC Online Writer-in-Residence with HeadStuff

June 26, 2019 10:05 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The team here at the IWC is very happy to introduce Shirley-Anne McMillan as our new Online Writer-in-Residence in partnership with Headstuff! Shirley will be attending literary events and festivals, and report on the literary scene in Ireland. Her work will be published on Headstuff. Shirley-Anne McMillan is an author of contemporary Young Adult fiction. She lives in Co Down with her family where she writes, tutors, and works in the local Integrated school as an Alternative Chaplain. Shirley-Anne’s third novel, Every Sparrow Falling, will be published by Atom in 2019.  read more.


Introducing Hilary Copeland as the IWC Acting Director

June 12, 2019 3:36 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are very pleased to welcome Hilary Copeland to our team! Hilary will act as our new Acting Director, in Valerie Bistany‘s stead during her partial sabbatical year. Hilary Copeland has worked in arts management for over ten years, for festivals, arts and theatre companies and nonprofits in Edinburgh and Belfast. She has worked across business management, strategic planning, creative programming and event delivery. Hilary started her career in literature at the Stanza Poetry Festival and The Byre Theatre before joining the Programming Team at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. She has worked for clients including NI Science Festival, Kabosh, Culture Northern Ireland, Whittrick Press, Belfast Book Festival and Young at Art. Hilary led long-standing arts and cultural institution The John Hewitt Society from 2013 – 2019, where she ran the John Hewitt International Summer School and established the Hillsborough Festival... Read Moreread more.


Introducing the Anam Cara / IWC Irish Language Bursary writers 2019

June 12, 2019 10:05 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are very pleased to introduce Máire Dinny Wren and Dave Duggan as the selected writers for the Anam Cara / IWC Irish Language Bursary 2019. They will be going on a week-long residency to the Anam Cara Writer’s & Artist’s Retreat to give them time and space to write or develop their work in Irish.   As Gaoth Dobhair i dTír Chonaill don fhile agus gearrscéalaí Máire Dinny Wren. D’fhoilsigh Coiscéim a céad bailiúchán filíochta, Ó Bhile go Bile, in 2011. In 2016, d’fhoilsigh Éabhlóid a céad cnuasacht gearrscéalta, Go mbeinnse choíche saor. Tá saothair léi foilsithe in irisí ar nós Duillí Éireann, Comhar, an tUltach, Feasta, Poblachd nam Bàrd The Bramley, Strokestown Poetry Anthology 3  agus tá ceithre scéal dá cuid sa chnuasacht Go dtí an lá bán a d’fhoilsigh Éabhlóid in 2012. Tá go leor duaiseanna liteartha bronnta ar Mháire... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Cavan Writer-in-Residence

June 5, 2019 1:32 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are thrilled to introduce Anthony J. Quinn: the newly appointed Cavan Writer-in-Residence. Anthony J Quinn lives in County Tyrone with his wife Clare and their four children. He is the author of eight novels, and currently teaches creative writing at Queen’s University Belfast. His debut, Disappeared, was picked by The Times and the Daily Mail as one of the best novels of the year, and was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award in the US.   The Cavan WIR is a new initiative, delivered in partnership with Cavan County Council Arts Office. read more.


Haiku as Gaeilge

June 5, 2019 1:23 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We have a little treat for you!  Funded by Foras na Gaeilge, the Irish Writers Centre is proud to present an introduction to the art of Haiku and Haiku in Irish presented by writer Gabriel Rosenstock. Gabriel and videographer George Hooker worked hard to bring you three excellent videos in Irish. Don’t worry if your Irish is not up to scratch: they all have English subtitles too. If you want to know more about the (Irish language) Haiku, search no more – these are the videos you’ve been longing for. Watch the videos here: video one, video two and video three.  read more.


We’re looking for an Acting Director/CEO of the Irish Writers Centre (50 weeks from July 2019)

April 16, 2019 9:32 am Published by Leave your thoughts

A vacancy for the position of Acting Director of the Irish Writers Centre will arise in July 2019 for a fixed term period of 50 weeks.  The Board of the IWC therefore wishes to appoint an Acting Director to lead, manage and develop the work of the organisation, building on the success and achievements of the last 28 years. This full-time temporary position will be based at 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland.  It is an important cultural leadership role, reporting to the Board, encompassing responsibility for the overall management of the IWC’s full range of operations and its resources and finances, its premises and management of the team in Parnell Square.  The role will involve maintaining current sources of funding to service the regular programmes as well as finding new opportunities for both funding and new programming, within the existing... Read Moreread more.


It is with great regret that we heard of the death of Frank Buckley

April 10, 2019 11:35 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It is with great regret that we heard of the death of Frank Buckley, who passed away on Thursday March 28th, 2019. Frank has been a longstanding friend of the Irish Writers Centre since its founding, and he was a man whose love of the arts made a considerable contribution to the life of the Centre both as a former Board member and as a patron of the arts. His generosity is evident in the fine collection of works that grace its rooms. We will miss his extraordinary talks about each and every painting on Culture Nights – they became a tradition with the tours booked out long in advance.  Frank has been an inspiration to all of us who knew him. He will be remembered for his charm and kindness and, with his passing, all of us at the... Read Moreread more.


Introducing the Marian Keyes Young Writer Award recipients!

April 3, 2019 12:29 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the first two Marian Keyes Young Writer Awards. Congratulations to Emily Murtagh and Conor Duggan who will receive financial support to the value of €500 in the first six months of 2019. The new award is kindly sponsored by IWC Ambassador Marian Keyes specifically to encourage young writers aged 18-26 in the development of their artistic practice. Emily Murtagh Emily is a youth worker and freelance writer from Kilkenny, writing about hopeful things whenever possible. Her work has appeared on the RTE Culture website, in The Scotsman newspaper and in BND Magazine among others. Her poem ‘Fire Breathers’ was recently selected for the CS Lewis themed curation of The Poetry Jukebox in Belfast.    Conor Duggan Conor Duggan is a geologist who graduated from Trinity in 2014. After spending several years exploring... Read Moreread more.


Keeping Up With Our Roaming Writer-In-Residence

March 26, 2019 4:25 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

  Deirdre Cartmill was our Roaming Writer-in-Residence 2019, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and in partnership with Translink and Irish Rail. Travelling via train and delivering workshops at Queens University Belfast, Ulster University Coleraine, National University of Ireland, Galway and University College Dublin, Deirdre wrote haikus based on her experience.  Deirdre listened to voices and conversations of people on the trains, accumulating stories and building a treasure chest of potential workshops or essay ideas. Deirdre also connected and worked with creative writing students all over Ireland. Deirdre noticed on the trains that many people have their headphones on, listening to their phones, ipods and laptops. She has therefore recorded the haiku sequence as a 5 minute audio journey entitled Crossing Points. People can now listen to this audio journey as they travel on their train journeys. We are thrilled to be able to present the outcome of Deirdre’s journey.... Read Moreread more.


Introducing the Writing for a Change: Flash Fiction Winners!

March 20, 2019 4:06 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Writing for a Change: Flash Fiction Competition in association with the National Botanic Gardens and the Five Lamps Arts Festival. We received well over one hundred submissions, leaving our judges with the unenviable task of whittling it down to four winners – one in each category: English Language over 30, under 30, Irish language over 30 and under 30. Congratulations to: Geraldine McCarthy Jasper Stone Ian McMillan  Katie McGreal Geraldine McCarthy is the winner of the English Language over 30 category with her story, “Tell Me A Story”. Geraldine lives in West Cork and writes short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Her work has been published in various journals online and in print.   Jasper Stone is the winner of the English Language under 30 category with his story “Grilled Bread”. Jasper is... Read Moreread more.


Announcing Our Second IWC Members’ Nominee to the Board of Directors

March 20, 2019 10:29 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Introducing our second IWC Members’ Nominee to the Board of Directors, Dermot Davis! Dermot Davis is an award-winning novelist and playwright. Dermot’s creative work encompasses varied genres and styles with a special focus on human themes and characters transformed by life experience. Dermot’s Pitch: “There are so many changes happening in the writer’s world right now that it is a challenge to keep up and stay informed. As a member of WORD, the professional writers group attached to the centre, I am well placed to be made aware of writers’ needs and concerns.” If you would like to vote for Dermot, the email voting period opens on Wed March 20th and closes Mon March 25th at 5pm. All subscribed members are eligible to vote at this time if they cannot come to the election. The election itself will take place on Tues 26 March at 6pm in the IWC, 19 Parnell... Read Moreread more.


Announcing Our First IWC Members’ Nominee to the Board of Directors

March 12, 2019 1:08 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Introducing our very first IWC Members’ Nominee to the Board of Directors, Harry Browne! Harry Browne is a long-time member and current facilitator of the Inkslingers Writing Group in the Centre. He has varied work experience as a Chef, Window Maker, Fenestration Designer and Multifunction Project Team Leader.  Harry’s Pitch: “I have extensive management experience in the construction industry with team work as a priority. I am very comfortable with project management and I have managed several projects with The Inkslingers Writers Group in the IWC.” If you would like to vote for Harry, the email voting period opens on Wed March 20th and closes Mon March 25th at 5pm. All subscribed members are eligible to vote at this time if they cannot come to the election. The election itself will take place on Tues 26 March at 6pm in the IWC, 19 Parnell... Read Moreread more.


Introducing the IWC/Cúirt/ILFD Young Writer Delegates!

March 7, 2019 1:30 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

This week we are delighted to announce the selected IWC/Cúirt/ILFD Young Writer Delegates! Congratulations to Kit Connolly, Alex Irwin, Jess Mc Kinney and Conor Duggan who will be attending Cúirt International Festival of Literature in Galway this April for four full days of literary immersion. During this period, they will be mentored by award-winning writer, Mary Costello. Kit Connolly is a bookworm who’s trying to write a book. She graduated with a degree in English from Trinity College and interned at The Paris Review in New York. She has spent the past few years doing temp jobs and travelling. She now lives in Dublin. Alex Irwin, a freelance writer and editor from Co. Meath, studied English Literature and Anthropology in Maynooth University and recently earned an M.Sc in Multimeda from DCU. Their first published story ‘Star Walker’ appeared in the Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology Perchance to... Read Moreread more.


Novel Fair Finalists 2019

Announcing the Novel Fair 2019 Finalists

January 30, 2019 3:59 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Announcing the Novel Fair 2019 finalists – as selected by judges Catherine Dunne, Anthony Glavin and Anna Carey. Twelve aspiring novelists have been selected from over 200 applicants to take part in Novel Fair 2019. This is an annual initiative of the Irish Writers Centre where the twelve successful applicants are offered the rare and unique opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the most influential names in publishing from Ireland and the UK. This platform acts as a springboard for the literary career of this year’s winners. Congratulations to: Neil Sharpson Sue Divin Alice Lyons Jim Lawlor Dee Collins Marianne Lee Catherine Browne James A. Simpson Gráinne Murphy Ronnie Trouton Michelle Gallen Jennifer Wilson O’Raghallaigh  It was a difficult task for this year’s judges, who can now be revealed as award-winning writer Catherine Dunne, writer and editor Anthony Glavin... Read Moreread more.