Author Archives for IWC_admin

Announcing our 2025 Young Writer Delegates at Cúirt

March 7, 2024 12:06 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We’re delighted to announce our IWC/Cúirt 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 public showcase at the festival. The five awardees are Angelia D’Souza, Nina Devine, Summer Luyako, Surnaí Molloy and Czacarri Muli. Meet the delegates at their festival showcase in Nun’s Island Theatre on Saturday 12April 2025 at 1:00pm (free entry). Now in its seventh year, the Irish Writers Centre Young Writer Delegates Programme gives young writers an opportunity to immerse themselves in a literature 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 full Cúirt International Festival of... Read Moreread more.


PRESS RELEASE: Three writers awarded Kylemore Residency through exciting new partnership

March 6, 2024 11:59 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is delighted to announce, in partnership with the Kylemore Global Centre, that three writers have been awarded a residency opportunity to pursue their work on the beautiful grounds of Kylemore Abbey (Co. Galway) this April. The writers are Kieran Fitzgerald, Henrietta McKervey and Rose Ugoalah. Headshots of awardees, 2024: Kieran FitzGerald, Henrietta McKervey and Rose Ugoalah   The partnership between the Irish Writers Centre and the Kylemore Global Centre, under the auspices of Notre Dame University, marks an exciting new collaboration. This 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 between 15th and 19th of April 2024. Writers also have access to the Kylemore Estate, the Victorian Walled Gardens, Gothic Chapel... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions March 2024

March 8, 2024 11:02 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Photo credit: In 2024 we are spotlighting all the amazing independent bookshops and booksellers in Ireland simply because we love them and we think you should too! Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl anois so this month we are celebrating Dublin’s very own Irish language bookshop, An Siopa Leabhair! Scroll down to look around this delightful city centre bookshop and find out a little bit more about them. And, of course, be sure to drop in for a cúpla focail or even just a look around the next time you’re in Baile Átha Cliath! Each month we update our Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities webpage, along with our Bursaries & Funding, to ensure that we are connecting our writers with the best upcoming opportunities. Here are a few deadlines we want to highlight this March. Submissions: Faerie Press Anthology Deadline: 30th March... Read Moreread more.


We are Hiring: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

March 1, 2024 3:25 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Board of the Irish Writers Centre is now seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to take a fresh perspective on its future development. Closing date for applications:  Monday, 25thMarch 2024 at 12 noon. As the national support and development organisation for writers on the island of Ireland, the Irish Writers Centre supports a vibrant and diverse community of writers of all types and talents to develop their craft, using its voice to advocate to advance the status and conditions of professional writers. The Board of the Irish Writers Centre is now seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who has the creativity, energy and acumen to lead it to the next phase of its development.  This is both an exciting and challenging opportunity, to harness the strengths and expertise in the Irish Writers Centre while taking... Read Moreread more.


Looking Back on Novel Fair 2024

February 21, 2024 11:36 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Every year, the Irish Writers Centre introduces twelve aspiring novelists to top publishers and literary agents. Over two days, Novel Fair gives writers the opportunity to pitch their novels, bypass the slush pile, and place their manuscripts directly into the hands of industry professionals. Last week, we opened our doors to the Novel Fair cohort of 2024. It did not disappoint! Taking place over two days, the Fair occurred inside our beautiful Parnell Square location (Dublin) on Friday, while the Saturday happened online to give writers the opportunity to meet industry professionals from further afield. On Friday, the atmosphere inside the Irish Writers Centre was electric. The room was full of the sound of 12 aspiring novelists pitching their exciting projects. Novel Fair winner, Ali McGuire told us “this was my first time at IWC, and I take with me... Read Moreread more.


Join information session on Arts Council of Ireland’s awards and schemes (Tuesday 20 February)

February 15, 2024 2:01 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Find out more about the Arts Council of Ireland’s awards and schemes by joining this information session on Arts Participation Awards and Schemes in collaboration with Arts Council Ireland, Arts & Disability Ireland and Create Ireland. Joint information session on Arts Participation Awards and Schemes in collaboration with Arts Council Ireland, and Create Ireland. The event will take place on Tuesday 20 February from 11am to 1pm, online on Microsoft Teams. This information session will focus on Arts Council awards and schemes such as the Agility Award, Bursary Award, Project Award, the Artist in the Community scheme managed by Create, and the Arts and Disability Connect scheme managed by Arts & Disability Ireland. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end. Access information: Captioning will be provided  and ISL interpretation will be provided by Bridge Interpreting. Book... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions February 2024

February 7, 2024 4:57 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Photo credit: In 2024 we are spotlighting all the amazing independent bookshops and booksellers in Ireland simply because we love them and we think you should too! In honour of St. Valentine, this month we are celebrating the most romantic bookstore in Ireland (ooooh) and after a long and arduous selection process 😉 (we did an Instagram poll) we decided that title belongs to Little Acorns Bookstore in Derry. Scroll down to see their lovely Valentine’s Day store display and find out a little bit more about them. Oh, and be sure to drop in the next time you’re in Derry! Each month we update our Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities webpage, 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 February.... Read Moreread more.


Applications are now open: National Mentoring Programme 2024

February 1, 2024 9:00 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Applications are now open for the Irish Writers Centre National Mentoring Programme 2024.  About National Mentoring Programme 2024 Each year, the Irish Writers Centre sets up over 30 mentorships across the island of Ireland. Writers receive sustained creative and professional mentoring from an acclaimed Irish writer of their choosing. Accepted genres/forms: literary fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s / young adult fiction and poetry. Writers living in all thirty-two counties can apply. This initiative is supported by the Arts Council and 20 arts offices/organisations in Ireland. For more details on eligibility and how to apply, view the National Mentoring Programme webpage. Application deadline: Saturday 2 March, 2024 Running since 2017, the programme now has numerous published authors among its alumni, including Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Fiona Scarlett, and Victoria Kennefick to name just a few. “The National Mentoring Programme made... Read Moreread more.


Northern Soul Roadshow Awardees 2024

January 24, 2024 3:50 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is delighted to announce the awardees for Northern Soul Roadshow (NSR) 2024. The 20 writers will take part in a series of creative writing events and workshops featuring a wide range of writers from the North of Ireland. About Northern Soul Roadshow 2024 Northern Soul Roadshow is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts of Council of Northern Ireland and is specifically developed to showcase the work and craft of writers whose work illuminates the varied and diverse experiences of people from the North of Ireland and those who call it home. Participants will attend six workshops where guest writers will share their work and writing process. Writer-Facilitator, Fiona O’Rourke, has put together a stellar line up of guest writers to share their process with the 20 awardees, including Toby Buckley, Deirdre Cartmill, Emily Cooper, Kerri... Read Moreread more.


Teerth Chungh has been appointed as our Interim Director 

January 23, 2024 2:49 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce that Teerth Chungh, our current Deputy Director, took over as Interim Director of the Irish Writers Centre from Tuesday 16 January, 2024. With over thirty years professional experience in the arts sector Teerth has a track record of successfully leading arts organisations on both sides of the Irish Sea, serving both as CEO of major arts organisations and on senior management teams. Headshot of Teerth Chungh, Irish Writers Centre   Contact Teerth Chungh, IWC Interim Director: management@irishwriterscentre.ie  read more.


Valerie Bistany’s Farewell Party

January 17, 2024 11:41 am Published by Leave your thoughts

After ten years, Valerie Bistany steps down as Director of the Irish Writers Centre. On Monday, we raised a glass in recognition and gratitude to Valerie for her commitment, passion and stewardship of the Irish Writers Centre and her advocacy for writers across the island of Ireland. Flick through a series of joyful moments from the night.  Valerie Bistany, January 2024   Valerie Bistany, Mike McCormack and Betty Stenson, January 2024   Jack Gilligan, Brendan Mac Evilly, Valerie Bistany, Pádraig Burke, January 2024   Former IWC directors, Peter Sirr, Valerie Bistany and Hilary Copeland, January 2024   Audience listen to tributes. January 2024   Liz McManus, January 2024   IWC Chairperson, Breda Brown, January 2024   Valerie Bistany at the IWC readers podium, January 2024   While everyone will miss working with Valerie, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate... Read Moreread more.


Nollaig na mBan 2024

January 8, 2024 4:38 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The first event on the Irish literary calendar of 2024, Nollaig na mBan: Bodies of Work joyfully celebrated our incredible Irish women writers working in different literary forms and women writers who have created literary journals. In this blog, flick through a series of joyful moments from the night. With award-winning poet Jessica Traynor as the MC, the audience enjoyed a stellar line-up of writers who read new pieces of work (some commissioned especially for the occasion). In keeping with the theme, each writer represented a different body of work, including the novel by Christine Dwyer Hickey, the short story by Jan Carson, poetry by Nessa O’Mahony and spoken word by Ola Majekodumni. We also had a special section dedicated to Ireland’s thriving literary journal scene, by spotlighting literary journals created and curated by women writers. In this part of... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions January 2024

January 5, 2024 11:46 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Photo credit: A Dublin City Seagull taken by our Communications Officer Jo Morton Each month we update our Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities webpage, 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 January. Submissions: Abridged Deadline: 16th January 2024 Abridged aims to publish and exhibit contemporary/ experimental poetry plus contemporary art. They are funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and each of their issues are beautifully curated and presented. For their next issue they are looking for submissions that explore the concept of ‘Home’ in contemporary society – what’s hiding in the dark of its foundations, and what it might mean to be broken. You can submit up to 3 poems. Tower Magazine Deadline: 31st January 2024 Submissions to... Read Moreread more.


Novel Fair 2024: Runners-Up & Highly Commended

January 3, 2024 12:29 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

In December 2023, we announced the twelve emerging writers selected for Novel Fair 2024, as selected by the judging panel Sharmilla Beezmohun, Eoin McHugh, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Susan Tomaselli. The panel additionally selected twelve runners-up and twelve highly commended as follows. These writers will receive a short critique of their work from one of the judges. Judge Eoin McHugh observed: “Reading through so many well written, diverse and engaging pieces of fiction was a pleasure. Judging between the many submissions, however, was no easy task, especially given the fine quality of the work. The winning selection offers clear evidence of the strength and range of talent coming through and to the fact that we can all look forward to some great reading in the near future.”    Novel Fair 2024: Runners-Up & Highly Commended   Runners-up Roof Knocking by Raymond... Read Moreread more.