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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.


Three writers awarded Notre Dame Kylemore Residencies 2025

March 18, 2025 10:42 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre and Notre Dame Kylemore are delighted to announce that three writers have been awarded a five-day residency on the beautiful grounds of Kylemore Abbey (Co. Galway) this April. The writers are Sadhbh Moriarty, Róisín Ní Neachtain and Michelle Nic Pháidín. Headshots of awardees, 2025: Sadhbh Moriarty, Róisín Ní Neachtain and Michelle Nic Pháidín About the residency The Kylemore residency is an incredible opportunity for writers to set aside time to develop their projects from one of Galway’s most distinctive locations. Kylemore Residencies are fully catered and will take place over five days in April. The three writers will also have access to the Kylemore Estate, the Victorian Walled Gardens, Gothic Chapel and museum. One of the residency places is reserved for a disabled writer who may require wheelchair access and accessible toilets.   Kylemore Abbey and grounds... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Awardees of New Voices: North 2025

March 12, 2025 11:08 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the five writers selected to participate on New Voices: North 2025: Susanna Galbraith, Josh McCune, John Moriarty, Cameron Tharmaratnam, and Caitlin Young. The first installment in a new, all-island development series, New Voices: North is a new three-month development programme that will provide five emerging writers living in the North of Ireland with the sustained support of an experienced writer-mentor. The programme will culminate at a showcase, hosted by the Belfast Book Festival, which will take place later this spring. The three writers selected in the fiction strand are John Moriarty, Cameron Tharmaratnam, and Caitlin Young. They will be mentored by novelist and short story writer Jan Carson. The two writers selected in the poetry strand are Susanna Galbraith and Josh McCune. They will be mentored by poet Stephen Sexton. Read more about the awardees... Read Moreread more.


Book your ticket: Words in the Air on Parnell Square (Hosted by Paul Muldoon)

March 7, 2025 12:05 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for a special spoken word showcase taking place on Saturday 5 April 2025, in the Irish Writers Centre.  Words in the Air on Parnell Square  A showcase of poetry and performance  Hosted by Paul Muldoon  Ireland Professor of Poetry and Pulitzer Prize winner, Paul Muldoon will introduce us to some of the most exciting and stirring spoken word artists in Ireland today.    The line-up includes:  Former all-Ireland Poetry Slam Champion and one of Dublin’s newest voices, Anna D  Multi-award-winning bilingual spoken word poet and current All-Ireland Poetry Slam Champion, Cormac Mac Gearailt  Bilingual writer, broadcaster and founder of REIC spoken word event which is celebrating 10 years in 2025, Ciara NÍ É  Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist and an electrifying force in Ireland’s creative landscape, Samuel Yakura  And finally, 0ur host, Paul Muldoon, will perform alongside singer-songwriter, Fiach Moriarty  Over the course of 90 minutes, our artists will demonstrate how poetry... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: March 2025

March 4, 2025 10:42 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Check out the current opportunities available for writers. See a list below of March/April 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: 2nd April 2025 International Lamplight Fellowship 2025 The Irish Writers Centre and Varuna, National Writers’ House are excited to announce a third year of the Lamplight International Fellowship Programme. This online programme is a two-week opportunity for fiction writers to enjoy the combined mentorship and support of both organisations. Find inspiration for writing, benefit from professional development opportunities, and build international connections with other writers to sustain your creative practice. Consulting writers include: Conor Kostick, Mary Anne Butler, Mike McCormack and Pip Williams. Please note, this opportunity is exclusively for professional Irish Writers Centre members. More Information here:... Read Moreread more.


Join the Irish Writers Centre Board of Directors

February 13, 2025 5:01 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Would you like to contribute to the exciting growth of Irish Literature in Ireland? Join the Irish Writers Centre Board of Directors. Position: Board member Role type: Voluntary (unpaid) Time commitment: The board meets 6-7 times annually Closing date for applications: 28 February 2025, 5pm. About the Irish Writers Centre As the leading support and development organisation for writers in Ireland since 1991,  the Irish Writers Centre delivers a year-round programme of creative writing courses, a national mentoring programme, a vibrant calendar of literary events and competitions,  as well as administering a range of bursaries and residencies. We are proudly supported by our patron, President Michael D Higgins, and a host of ambassadors including John Banville, Anne Enright, Marian Keyes, Mick McCormack, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Ciara Ni E and Joseph O’Connor. We are midway through our 2022-2026 strategy and under the stewardship of a new CEO... Read Moreread more.


New Masterclass Series

February 12, 2025 11:07 am Published by Leave your thoughts

This exciting new masterclass series is delivered by a range of experienced and critically acclaimed writers. Taking place in-person in the Irish Writers Centre (Dublin) on Saturdays, these masterclasses are ideal for writers looking to acquire the tools and confidence to take their practice to the next level. In our first series, we will be investigating historical fiction with Martina Devlin, writing through the lens of experience as a nonfiction writer with Caelainn Hogan, what it means to write a bestseller with Sheila O’Flanagan and examining the role of failure in the writer’s process with Mia Gallagher. Find details about each masterclass below. History That’s Not Musty Or Fusty: Masterclass with Martina Devlin Saturday 8 March, 2025 Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Level: Intermediate Cost: €115 (€103 members) Location: Irish Writers Centre Book here Historical fiction delivers emotional rather than literal truth, and among... Read Moreread more.


The Fragmentary Self: on Form and Identity with Alice Kinsella

February 6, 2025 12:28 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

‘The Fragmentary Self: On Form and Identity’ sketches Alice Kinsella’s journey from writing poetry to her first book of prose, Milk: On Motherhood and Madness (2023). Alice’s essay draws from her interviews with writers Colm Keegan, William Keohane, and Rúairí Conneely to discuss other approaches to literary form, and how the writer’s experience intersects with class, gender identity and race. Follow Alice Kinsella on Substack here. This essay was commissioned by the Irish Writers Centre as the inaugural National Mentoring Programme Alumni Lecture and was delivered at Cúirt International Literature Festival in 2024. Listen to the essay on Soundcloud or read the essay below.   The Fragmentary Self: on Form and Identity I have been tweaking my bio, it begins Alice Kinsella is a poet from. Already I’m getting tripped up twice. From, where am I from? I live, now, in Mayo,... Read Moreread more.