Author Archives for IWC_admin

Announcing the Jack Harte and Guthrie Bursary Awardees 2025

December 7, 2024 9:00 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce that Shauna Gilligan and Liam Maguire are the winners of the Jack Harte Bursary 2025 (Gilligan) and Guthrie Bursary 2025 (Maguire). These awards were presented by Jack Harte, Founder of the Irish Writers Centre and Anna Walsh, Director of The Tyrone Guthrie Centre last night at our annual Christmas Party on Friday 6 December. Created in partnership with the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, the bursaries will provide the awardees each with a one-week stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre (County Monaghan) in order to develop their writing practice. Read more about the winning writers below. Jack Harte Bursary 2025 Shauna Gilligan is the winner of the Jack Harte Bursary 2025! Shauna Gilligan Shauna Gilligan is a professional member of the Irish Writers Centre who facilitates creative writing in community and prison settings. Her prose has been... Read Moreread more.


PRESS RELEASE: Irish Writers Centre Announces their Nollaig na mBan Line-up

December 5, 2024 11:27 am Published by Leave your thoughts

  Nollaig na mBan 2025: WOMEN OF MAGIC AND SCIENCE Monday 6 January 2025 | 7.00pm–9.00pm Pearse Street Library, Dublin Tickets are now on sale via the Irish Writers Centre website. The Irish Writers Centre will be kicking off the new year with their legendary annual celebration of Nollaig na mBan. Originally a day off for Ireland’s hard-working women immediately after Christmas, the Irish Writers Centre reimagines this tradition by showcasing extraordinary women writers in Ireland. For this year’s theme, WOMEN OF MAGIC AND SCIENCE, expect explorations of witchcraft, tarot talk and scientific endeavour: from Ireland’s first female botanist, Ellen Hutchins to women working in the field of quantum physics. Award-winning poet Jessica Traynor will host the evening’s celebration which takes place for the first time at Pearse Street Library in Dublin. Look forward to an evening of phenomenal readings, spirited discussion and live music. This... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions December 2024

December 4, 2024 2:48 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Photo description: Frank O’Mahony standing in his store in Limerick (Photograph supplied by O’Mahony’s) In 2024 we are spotlighting all the amazing independent bookshops and booksellers on the island of Ireland simply because we love them and we think you should too. O’Mahony’s Booksellers has been a steadfast fixture in Limerick City since 1902, founded by J.P. O’Mahony at 120 O’Connell Street. Originally a modest 550 square foot shop with a small team of three employees, the store has grown and evolved over the decades, becoming a cornerstone of the local community. Each month we update our Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities webpage, along with our Bursaries & Funding webpage, to ensure we are connecting our writers with the best upcoming opportunities. Here are some of the highlights coming this month and some January submissions to consider during the holidays. Fellowships... Read Moreread more.


Writing Romantasy: Three Tips for the Overarching Plot

November 14, 2024 12:40 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

On Saturday (23 November), we are hosting a new workshop on Writing Romantasy with publisher and editor Tara Loder. Tara has worked on Sunday Times bestsellers, as well as chart topping digital bestsellers, and is experienced in taking a novel from an idea to a published masterpiece. In this 3-hour Saturday workshop, participants will discover what ‘makes a romantasy?’ by exploring key elements of this popular genre and learning how to incorporate these elements into their own writing. Can’t wait until Saturday? See below a small taster of the types of tips shared in next week’s workshop. Tara offers three tips for building an overarching plot for each of your Romantasy books. Romantasy is almost never a one and done. These books can have complex plots that run over several books. Each book has its own plot, leaving the reader satisfied... Read Moreread more.


Looking for an inspiring gift this Christmas?

November 11, 2024 3:14 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Are you looking to buy a gift for a writer this Christmas? Your gift could help them complete a new piece of writing or even tackle that novel or memoir they’ve always talked about. Our flexible e-gift vouchers can be put towards courses, workshops, membership and professional mentoring. How does an Irish Writers Centre e-gift voucher work? Go to the e-gift voucher webpage and select the amount you would like to give Email the gift voucher certificate to yourself, or directly to who you are buying it for You can choose to send it immediately or on a specific date Enter your name so they know who it’s from (and there’s space for a message) Add to basket and checkout, and you’re all set! Doing your shopping last minute? Our e-gift vouchers can be bought right up until Christmas crunch... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities and Competitions November 2024

November 7, 2024 2:21 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

From cinema to bookstore and so much more, the entrance to The Book Centre, Waterford (October 2024) Photo description: In 2024 we are spotlighting all the amazing independent bookshops and booksellers on the island of Ireland simply because we love them and we think you should too! The Book Centre is located in Waterford City, housed in the old Art Deco styled Savoy Cinema built in 1937. The screen, stage, ceiling and many other cinema features can still be seen today. The Book Centre / Barker & Jones have shops in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Naas. Each month we update our Competitions, Submissions & Opportunities webpage, along with our Bursaries & Funding webpage, to ensure we are connecting our writers with the best upcoming opportunities. Here are some of the highlights coming this month. Bursaries/Residencies Way Beyond – residency program... Read Moreread more.