Author Archives for IWC_admin

Introducing the Marian Keyes Young Writer Award recipients!

April 3, 2019 12:29 pm Published by IWC_admin 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 IWC_admin 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 IWC_admin 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 IWC_admin 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 IWC_admin 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.

Announcing the Novel Fair 2019 Finalists

January 30, 2019 3:59 pm Published by IWC_admin 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.

Special Offer on Screenwriting Course

October 10, 2018 10:28 am Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce a special offer on The Bigger Picture: Short Films with Ferdia Mac Anna. We are offering places on the remaining 8 weeks of Ferdia’s course for just €200. Book within the next week to get one session free of charge!  To avail of this offer, use the discount code FILM200 at the checkout.  This unique course focuses on developing the budding screenwriter’s vision to create an original short film screenplay. Ferdia Mac Anna has taught Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Scriptwriting and Radio and TV broadcasting at DCU, Trinty College, NUI Maynooth and IADT (the national film school). He is also known for his original screenplays and has worked on TV shows like Fair City, Scannal and Ros na Rún. read more.

Announcing the participants for XBorders: Transition!

September 26, 2018 3:43 pm Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the participants of XBorders: Transition, a programme that challenges writers to examine ways of seeing and thinking about borders, physical or inter-personal, their potential for art, and in particular, writing. XBorders: Transition focuses on the states of change and flux beyond borders, and will take place from November 2018 to March 2019 during which time the group will work closely with facilitator Maria McManus and editor Patsy Horton. This year the programme participants are: Anne McMaster Cassia Gaden Gilmartin Cliona O’Connell Colin Hassard Don Ó Donnacháin Elizabeth Byrne Frédéric Huska Gary Hunter Iva Yates James A. Simpson Kate Kiernan Liz Quirke Louisa Carroll Louise Williams Lucy Beevor Niamh Donnellan Niamh Donnelly Peter McNamara Simon Gibson Congratulations everyone and we look forward to seeing the exciting work produced over the next five months. Find out more about XBorders:... Read Moreread more.

Annual Survey

November 1, 2018 6:38 pm Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

Thank you to all who took the time to complete our Annual Survey! The survey allows us to find out more about the people who use the Irish Writers Centre and how we can improve our services for writers around the country.  The survey is now finished.  read more.

AUTUMN FLASH SALE

September 18, 2018 4:26 pm Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

It’s the start of the school year and the perfect time to begin or finish a novel, start your writing career or advance it by stepping our of your comfort zone! We’re offering up to 20% off selected Autumn Courses. Sale ends at 12pm on Thursday 27 September.  Enter the code AUTUMN20 at checkout and get 20% off the following weekend courses.  Propel: Learn To Be Your Own Editor with Mia Gallagher Blogwriting with Ketty Quigley Voice, Character, and Dramatic Action with Lisa Harding   Enter the code AUTUMN10 at checkout and get 10% off the following weekday courses. Getting Started with Nessa O’Mahony Mindshift: Stepping out of your Comfort Zone – Writing in New Areas The Bigger Picture: Short Films with Ferdia Mac Anna Creating a Scene: Playwriting with Rosemary Jenkinson Focus your Form: Style, Pacing and Character* with Catherine Dunneread more.

Focus Your Form This Summer

May 4, 2018 11:35 am Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

Our new Focus Your Form courses are designed to help you get started in your writing or hone particular skills such as character development, dialogue and structure. Whether you are a beginner or emerging writer these short intensive courses aim to help you build specific writing skills and stimulate new ideas.  May Focus Your Form: Poetry with Jessica Traynor (excluded from the bundle) Focus your Form: 3-Week Kickstarter with Yvonne Cullen Focus your Form: Character and Dialogue with Catherine Dunne July Focus your Form: Plot and Structure* with Gavin Corbett Focus your Form: Style and Pacing with Catherine Dunne  read more.

Announcing the winners of our Imbolc Flash Fiction Competition!

April 25, 2018 10:19 am Published by IWC_admin Leave your thoughts

Congratulations to the winners of our Imbolc Flash Fiction Competition! Our Irish language winners are Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh and Seán Mac Dhonnagáin and Kyle Malone and Roxana Rodica Badea are our english language winners.  The winning stories will be published in Books Ireland Magazine and you will have the opportunity to hear the work read at our Flash Fiction showcase in Books Upstairs in June. Stay tuned for more info!read more.