06 March, 2024
PRESS RELEASE: Three writers awarded Kylemore Residency through exciting new partnership
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 and museum. One of the residency places was reserved for a disabled writer who may require wheelchair access and accessible toilets.
The residency provides precious time and space for writers, at different stages of their career, to progress a creative project while soaking up the atmosphere of Kylemore Abbey.
Kylemore Abbey and grounds
Kieran Fitzgerald mentions that receiving the email ‘gave me a jolt of excitement and a little thrill of fear. As well as the wonderful gift of spending a week in beautiful Kylemore Abbey, it also throws down a challenge. The challenge is to focus fully on developing an idea that I’ve been nurturing for some time.’
‘Time is one of the most precious things to a writer,’ says Henrietta McKervey, ‘and the opportunity of a dedicated week such as this to work on a new book is both exciting and appreciated.’
Rose Ugoalah says ‘I’m delighted to be awarded this unique opportunity at such a dream location. I already know this will be a special experience.’
Read more about the awardees:
Kieran FitzGerald lives in Dún Laoghaire and has worked for several years as a radio producer and television reporter. He served two terms as a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Arising from an accident, Kieran has been wheelchair-bound since 2016. He will be developing a story ‘inspired by real-life people who lived extraordinary lives in America and later in Victorian England.’
Henrietta McKervey has published four acclaimed novels. She has a Hennessy First Fiction Award and won the inaugural UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award. She is a mentor on the IWC National Mentoring Programme, curates the ECHOES festival, and contributes to the Irish Times, Irish Independent, and the Brendan O’Connor show. Henrietta will be spending the residency working on her new book.
Rose Ugoalah is a Nigerian Canadian writer living in Dublin, and graduate of Trinity College Dublin’s Creative Writing M.Phil. Awarded the inaugural Briena Staunton Westport Writer’s Residency, and a recipient of Irish Arts Council funding for literature. She will be spending the residency completing her debut novel, Rot, ‘about a solitary man who, following his brother’s suicide, becomes increasingly unhinged as he tries to conceal a life of private desire that may destroy him.’
For information requests and interview enquiries please contact Jo Morton, Communications and Marketing Officer, Irish Writers Centre e: communications@irishwriterscentre.ie t: (+353 1 872 1302)
In 2015, the University of Notre Dame and the Benedictine Community at Kylemore Abbey formed a partnership which would further their shared spiritual, cultural, and educational missions. Today, Notre Dame Kylemore is a Centre for Education and Growth where the Notre Dame family and the wider Irish community engage in meaningful and authentic ways. Together with our local partners, we strive to provide multi-disciplinary programming for leaders, thinkers, and creators with a focus on nourishing the mind, body, and spirit.
In December 2024, Notre Dame Kylemore will host a new programme for writers, the Winter Writing Session. Applications open on April 1st, 2024.
About the Irish Writers Centre
As the leading support and development organisation for writers since 1991, the Irish Writers Centre (IWC) carries out its work, online and in person, on an all-island basis. The IWC works with writers of all types and talents, and actively encourages writers from all communities to engage in creative writing. It provides many ways and means for them to develop their skill, advance their ambitions and join a vibrant and diverse community of people who share their passion and purpose. The IWC supports writers be providing development and mentoring programmes, resources, creative writing courses and events & information sessions.
The Irish Writers Centre is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Website: irishwriterscentre.ie Twitter: @IrishWritersCtr Instagram: @IrishWritersCentre
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