17 December, 2024

Looking back on 2024…

As 2024 draws to a close, the Irish Writers Centre would like to say a huge thank you to all our writers, members, facilitators, literary partners and funders. In particular, we would like to thank our core funder The Arts Council of Ireland, who make all our initiatives possible. 

It has been such a joy for us to be threaded into the lives of writers at all stages of their writing journey. Here are some of the highlights from 2024:  

  • 116 writers were awarded a place on our residencies and development programmes
  • 113 writers received bursaries for courses, mentoring and membership
  • 546 people entered Novel Fair 2025 representing our biggest year to date!
  • 1,777 writers participated in a creative writing course  
  • 2,603 people attended our events 
  • 9,346 subscribers continue to engage with our newsletter while 131,539 unique users visited our site. 

 

Flick through a photo diary of this year below! From Nollaig na mBan and Novel Fair to writers’ residences and our events at literary festivals.

January

Nollaig na mBan

We kicked off 2024 with our annual showcase of women writers in Ireland! Hosted by award-winning poet Jessica Traynor, the night featured Christine Dwyer Hickey, Jan Carson, Nessa O’Mahony and Ola Majekodunmi. We also had a special section dedicated to Ireland’s thriving literary journal scene. Musical entertainment was provided by the wonderful musician Ellie O’Neill.

 

Ellie O’Neil performing at this year’s Nollaig na mBan, January 2024

Audience listen to readings at Nollaig na mBan, January 2024

Jessica Traynor, Nollaig na mBan. January, 2024

Ola Ola Majekodunmi, Nessa O’Mahony, Jan Carson and Christine Dwyer Hickey. Nollaig na mBan, January 2024

February

 Novel Fair

Launching straight into our 2024 programme, February saw our yearly Novel Fair event. Each year, we launch Novel Fair, our annual competition where 12 aspiring novelists are selected from approximately 500 manuscript submissions. The winners are awarded the opportunity to bypass the slush pile and pitch their novels to internationally-recognised publishers and agents in Feburary. The speed-dating style event takes place in our building in Dublin and online.

Novel Fair winners speed-date with publishers and agents at the Irish Writers Centre. February 2024 (Photo credit: Ger Holland)

 

Novel Fair 2024 winners: Mia Döring, Juliet Faithfull, Edie May Hand, Sinéad Ingoldsby, Jennifer Lynn, Ali McGuire, Mags McLoughlin, Caitriona Mullan, JM O’Brien, John O’Donnell, Maria Saba and Dominic Stevens. February 2024
(Photo credit: Ger Holland)

Those of you with a keen eye will see a familiar face among the winners… that’s right! Novel Fair 2024 winner Mags Mcloughlin was appointed the CEO of the Irish Writers Centre in August.

March

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Ola Majekodunmi reads at our Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration and first bilingual Takin’ the Mic of the year. March 2024

 

Bilingual Takin’ the Mic, March 2024

 

Bilingual Takin’ the Mic, March 2024

 

Northern Soul Roadshow 

After a 6-week online programme where the 20 selected writers met and learnt from a panel of writers from the North of Ireland, the programme concluded with an in-person showcase at the Linen Hall, Belfast. Curated by writer-facilitator Fiona O’Rourke, this event featured special guest author Anna Burns and showcased the new work from writers who took part in Northern Soul Roadshow 2024.

Northern Soul Roadshow participants 2024 at The Linen Hall, Belfast. March 2024

Northern Soul Roadshow 2024 recipient, Damien Donnelly performs at the finale showcase. March 2024

Special guest writer, Anna Burns at the Northern Soul Roadshow finale showcase. March 2024

 

Spring Open Day

At the herald of spring, we opened our doors to the public for Spring Open Day – creative writing workshop tasters, panel discussions and powerpoints! Hurray!

 

Betty Stenson, Dermot Bolger, Mia Gallagher and Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, discuss what it means to be – or to become – a member of Ireland’s writing community. March 2024

April

 

Cúirt International Festival of Literature

Writer and mentor Alan McMonagle with 2024 Cúirt Young Writer Delgates Queen Madunwe, Emma Quinn, S.J. Delaney, Ciara Broderick and Mars Duignan (L-R). April 2024

 

To support their fellow alumni, previous Cúirt Young Writer Delegates attended the 2024 showcase: (L-R) Luca Melis, our Projects Assistant Emily O’Brien, Deirdre Bolger, Gráinne Condron, Matthew O’Rourke, Arianne Clarke and Lucy Bleeker

 

Cúirt Young Writer Delegates 2024 showcase. April 2024

 

Writer and mentor, Alan McMonagle. April 2024

 

Also at Cúirt was our first National Mentoring Programme alumni lecture. This year’s featured writer was Alice Kinsella, a talk on ‘The Fragmentary Self: On Form and Identity.’

 

Our Communications & Marketing Officer Jo Morton and our Deputy CEO Teerth Chungh with writer Alice Kinsella and National Mentoring Programme Coordinator, Brendan Mac Evilly. April, 2024

 

Alice Kinsella’s book Milk: On Madness and Motherhood. April 2024

 

Alice Kinsella delivering a talk. April 2024

 

This year’s recipients of the Notre Dame Kylemore Residency: (L-R) Henrietta McKervey, Kieran Fitzgerald and Rose Ugoalah. April, 2024

 

 

May 

 

A reader performs at our bilingual Takin’ the Mic at International Literature Festival Dublin. May 2024

June 

In the first month of summer, we were delighted to bring our Young Writer Delegates programme to Belfast Book Festival for the second time.

Delegate Mary Dunne reads at the Belfast Book Festival Young Writer Delegates showcase. June 2024

 

Delegate Jasmin Awoodun reads at the Belfast Book Festival Young Writer Delegates showcase. June 2024

July

Bilingual Takin’ the Mic at Pearse Street Library. July 2024

 

Bilingual Takin’ the Mic at Pearse Street Library. July 2024

 

M.C Ciara Ní É hosts Bilingual Takin’ the Mic at Pearse Street Library. July 2024

 

August

 

Autumn Open Day. August 2024

 

Autumn Open Day panel discussion: Aingeala Flannery, Rafael Mendes, Sonya Gildea, Damien Donnelly. August 2024

 

Autumn Open Day. August 2024

 

September 

 

Special guest poet Gustav Parker Hibbett and comedian, Bláithín de Burca hosted Culture Night Bilingual Takin’ the Mic. September 2024

 

 Culture Night. September 2024

 

Gráinne Condron. Culture Night 2024

October

 

Cill Rialaig residency awardees’ Joseph Jones (Seosamh Mac Seoin), Seána Talbot and Eoghan Smith. October 2024

 

Writing desk at Cill Rialaig residency. October 2024

November

This year’s Evolution writers meet at the Irish Writers Centre for a day of workshops and talks. November 2024

 

 

Zine workshop hosted by Kate Escolin. November 2024

 

 

Zine workshop hosted by Kate Escolin. November 2024

 

 

Paul Lynch at the Irish Writers Centre ‘s annual Christmas party. December, 2024
(Photo credit: Ger Holland)

 

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 Tyrone Guthrie Centre. (L-R) Jack, Shauna, Liam and Anna. December 2024
(Photo credit: Ger Holland)

 

Paul Murray walks to the podium to read from his novel Bee Sting at the Christmas Party. December 2024
(Photo credit: Ger Holland)

 

Christmas Party. December 2024
(Photo credit: Ger Holland)

 

The team celebrates the end of the year with a festive lunch (L-R) Jo, Katie, Cassia, Orla, Rafael, Betty, Emily, Damien, Jack, Teerth, Mags and Harry. December 2024

We wish you all a lovely holiday break and a merry Christmas wherever you are! 

The Irish Writers Centre team