Author Archives for IWC_admin

Announcing the Irish Writers Centre New Writing Prize in association with The Stinging Fly

April 30, 2025 2:09 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The New Writing Prize is an annual literary award, a collaboration between the Irish Writers Centre and The Stinging Fly, that aims to discover, promote and encourage the talents of new, undiscovered voices in Irish writing. For this year, 2025, the prize will cater for beginner and emerging writers – specifically, writers working in either fiction or non-fiction who have yet to publish their first short story or essay (in print or online). In 2026, the competition will be open to short story writers who have not previously been published in The Stinging Fly. Submissions for the 2025 competition will be open on Submittable from Saturday 17 May until Wednesday 4 June at 5.00pm. During this time, writers are invited to submit short stories and essays up to 1,500 words in length. The winner of the prize will receive mentoring... Read Moreread more.


Irish Writers Union Open Networking Event for Emerging, Established and Aspiring Writers

April 29, 2025 3:23 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to share the news about this upcoming networking event – due to take place in Rathmines Library from 6.00pm to 7.50pm on Saturday 21 May – from our friends at the Irish Writers Union. Irish Writers Union Open Networking Event for Emerging, Established and Aspiring Writers Wednesday 21st May 2025 6 p.m. – 7.50 p.m. sharp The Exhibition Room, 1st Floor, Rathmines Library Lower Rathmines Road (opposite clock tower) Rathmines, Dublin 6 D06 K2K6 The Irish Writers’ Union (IWU) is delighted to announce this networking event for writers which is part of a series to be held around the country. Writing, no matter how driven we are or how much we enjoy it, can be an isolating activity. Post-pandemic, it feels important to the IWU committee – and this has been echoed by members of the IWU... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: May 2025

April 29, 2025 4:41 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Check out the current opportunities available for writers. See a list below of May/June deadlines for submissions, competitions, bursaries, residencies and other opportunities. For the full list of opportunities, check out: Competitions, submissions and other opportunities and Bursaries and funding  Submissions   Deadline: 30th April 2025 The Pig’s Back The Pig’s Back (named for Donegal’s Muckish mountain and for the phrase ar mhuin na muice, to be in luck) is a literary prose journal that aims to bring the rest of Ireland – and in turn, the world – to the northwest. Founded by the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, it publishes short fiction and essays. Accepted forms: The Pig’s Back seeks submissions of previously unpublished fiction and non-fiction. They accept work from anywhere in the world but currently can only accept English language pieces. They do not accept poetry. Contributor payment: All contributors will receive... Read Moreread more.


New Masterclasses: Book Now

April 29, 2025 2:40 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

In 2025, we launched a new masterclass series delivered by a range of experienced and critically acclaimed writers. Taking place on Saturdays, either in-person in the Irish Writers Centre (Dublin) or online, these masterclasses are ideal for writers looking to acquire the tools and confidence to take their practice to the next level. Past masterclass facilitators include Martina Devlin, Caelainn Hogan, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mia Gallagher. Find details of our May and June masterclasses below.   From Inspiration to Pitch: Masterclass in Creating Factual and Documentary Ideas with Hilary Fennell Saturday 10 May, 2025 | 10.30 am – 4.30 pm Cost: €115 (€103 Members) Location: Irish Writers Centre Book here Where do great factual and documentary programme ideas come from and what are the key steps in developing, writing them and getting them made? This masterclass looks at the creative... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the 2025 International Lamplight Fellowship Awardees

April 30, 2025 9:57 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the selected writers for the 2025 International Lamplight Fellowship, a two-week online programme for published fiction writers in partnership with Varuna the National Writers’ House (Australia). Now in its third year, the Lamplight Fellowship is an opportunity for the eight writers to build international connections and benefit from the combined mentorship and support of both organisations.  Congratulations to Irish writers June Caldwell, Orla Mackey, Deirdre Cartmill and Geraldine Walsh and Australian writers Courtney Collins, Sam Elkin, Julie Janson and Amanda O’Callaghan. The programme will run from 9-20 June 2025 and includes a mentorships with Mary Anne Butler and Conor Kostick, online Q&A sessions with best-selling Australian writer Pip Williams and award-winning Irish writer Mike McCormack, and an online industry exchange, with representatives from the Irish and Australian publishing industries, including Penguin Random House Australia publisher Meredith Curnow.... Read Moreread more.


Words in the Air on Parnell Square

April 9, 2025 4:26 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

On Saturday 5 April 2025, poetry leapt off the page at our special spoken word showcase hosted by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Muldoon. We would like to thank the incredible line-up of artists, and our wonderful audience for making this event an unforgettable and awe-inspiring evening of performances. Thank you to our host Paul Muldoon who performed alongside acclaimed musician Fiach Moriarty, and to the four spoken word artists, Ciara Ni É, Anna D, Cormac Mac Gearailt and Stephen James Smith who shared their beautiful writing with us. Nigerian multidisciplinary artist and Global Slam winner, Samuel Yakura, was unable to make it, but we hope to have him appear at the Centre for another event soon. Muldoon captivated the audience with a performance of blues and poetry. Fiach Moriarty (left) and Paul Muldoon (right) at Words in the Air on... Read Moreread more.


New Irish Communities 2025

April 8, 2025 4:26 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

  The Irish Writers Centre is excited to announce the 2025 New Irish Communities (Saturday 10 May  – Saturday 21 June), a series of six creative writing sessions for non-native speakers to explore creative writing in English. In a warm and supportive environment, participants can meet new writers, share their stories, and take part in creative writing exercises. All sessions are facilitated by writers from diverse literary backgrounds, in both poetry and prose. The sessions will be led by Amy Abdullah Barry, Aashima Rana, Mark Granier, Ola Majekodunmi with more to be announced soon. These sessions are ideal for beginner and emerging writers. For the first time, we are excited to host a special showcase event on Saturday 28 June 2025 of the writing produced during the six weeks period. (Writers will be required to sign up for all of... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: April 2025

April 3, 2025 12:46 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Check out the current opportunities available for writers. See a list below of April/May deadlines for submissions, competitions, bursaries, residencies and other opportunities. For the full list of opportunities, check out: Competitions, submissions and other opportunities and Bursaries and funding  Irish Writers Centre Opportunity   Deadline: 16th April 2025 Young Writer Delegates at Belfast Book Festival 2025 We invite ambitious writers aged 18-26 to apply for this extraordinary opportunity to attend and contribute to Belfast Book Festival 2025 as Irish Writers Centre Young Writer Delegates. This opportunity is open to writers aged 18-26 living in Belfast or in its surrounding areas. More Information here: irishwriterscentre.ie Submissions Deadline: 30th April 2025 Faerie Press: Anthology for Teens and Young Adults Writing submissions for Faerie Press are now open! Following the success of our first book ‘Hide and Seek: An Anthology of the Inner Child”, we’re... Read Moreread more.


Announcing our 2025 Young Writer Delegates at Cúirt

March 27, 2025 2:32 pm 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 9-13 April. The delegates will be mentored by local writer Alan McMonagle and perform readings at a festival showcase in Nun’s Island Theatre on Saturday 12 April 2025 at 1:00pm (free entry). The five awardees are Angelia D’Souza, Nina Devine, Summer Luyako, Surnaí Molloy and Czacarri Muli. Now in its seventh year, the 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 social media channels. The programme is in partnership with Cúirt International Festival of Literature. The Irish Writers Centre is... Read Moreread more.


Announcing a new season of Climate Writing Sessions

March 27, 2025 11:47 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is delighted to announce a new series of Climate Writing Sessions with Alice Kinsella as our 2025 series host. Alice is a prose writer and poet from Mayo. Her prose debut Milk: on motherhood and madness (Picador, 2023) was published to critical acclaim. Frist session will take place on Wednesday 30 April 2025, 7.00pm – 8.30pm (Book your place here).  “It always seems impossible until it is done”  – Mary Robinson, quoting Nelson Mandela, at the launch of Irish Writers Centre’s Climate Writing Group: Writing for a Change in 2021  Founded in 2021, the Irish Writers Centre climate writing sessions are free webinars which take the form of an in-depth conversation with a host writer, a guest writer and a guest NGO, politician, policy maker, publisher or scientist. The final 30 minutes includes writing exercises to further your practice.... Read Moreread more.


Writers in the Regions: New Masterclass Series 2025

March 27, 2025 12:13 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is excited to announce a new initiative, Writers in the Regions, an in-person masterclass series which is aimed at broadening our reach into the vibrant writing communities around the country and bringing expertise and experience to writers at different stages of their writing journey.  These one-off masterclasses will explore the craft of writing, developing plot and style and perspectives from which to tell a story. They will also cover the business of writing and publishing. These inspirational sessions, offered by some of Ireland’s most valued authors, will be open to all writers, aged 18 years and over.  We are delighted to kick off the series in North of Ireland with renowned Derry-born novelist and short-story writer, Sean O’Reilly in Derry Central Library on Saturday 3 May (book your place here). Following this, Kevin Barry, award-winning novelist and winner... Read Moreread more.


New Poetry Writing Group at the Irish Writers Centre

March 26, 2025 3:52 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Do you write poetry? Have you attended poetry workshops or courses and are unsure of the next steps to develop your work? Irish Writers Centre member and poet Peter Clarke is establishing a new poetry writing group for emerging / intermediate poets, who will meet regularly to read and discuss each other’s work in a supportive and friendly environment. Poetry Writing Group Level: Emerging / Intermediate When: The fourth Tuesday of every month, with a break during the summer, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm (Tues 22 April, Tues 27  May, Tues 24 June 2025–  and Tues 23 Sep, Tues 28 Oct, Tues 25 Nov and Tues 9 Dec) Where: Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnel Square, Dublin 1 This writing group is free to attend. How to apply: Google form Deadline: Thursday 3rd April  2025 Participants will read from their own work... Read Moreread more.


Observe, a flea: A Series of Artist Talks

March 25, 2025 10:55 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Frustrated Writers’ Group in collaboration with the Irish Writers Centre   So, naturalists observe, a flea Has smaller fleas that on him prey; And these have smaller still to bite ’em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Thus every poet, in his kind, Is bit by him that comes behind(…) – Jonathan Swift, ‘On Poetry: a Rapsody’   There’s a flea problem on Parnell Square. Across 2025, Frustrated Writers’ Group, in collaboration with Irish Writers Centre, will host a series of artist talks exploring the work and practice of some of Ireland’s best prose-writers, editors, and poets. Frustrated Writers’ Group (FWG) are a collective of mostly emerging writers, who hold monthly workshops, publish anthologies and hold literary events. Irish Writers Centre is Ireland’s flagship resource and development centre for writers at all stages of their journey. This series of five artist... Read Moreread more.


Irish Writers Centre Literary Festival Tour 2025

March 21, 2025 1:37 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

In 2025, the Irish Writers Centre will tour the island of Ireland, bringing an exciting programme of literary events and creative writing workshops to the four provinces. This is the year for the Irish Writers Centre to broaden its reach, serving an all-island literary community with tuition, peer support and networking opportunities for writers at every stage of their journey. You’ll find the Irish Writers Centre at some of Ireland’s top literary festivals including Cúirt International Festival of Literature (Galway), UL Creative Writing Festival (Limerick), Belfast Book Festival, West Cork Literary Festival (Bantry), Write by the Sea (Wexford) and Dublin Book Festival. Meet some of Ireland’s exciting writers at our festival showcases and explore topics that inspire and inform the contemporary literary landscape at our panel discussions. You might like to participate in a creative writing workshop, attend a seminar... Read Moreread more.