Wednesday 28 August 2019

Press Release: Book Launch – Two Books by Michael Whelton | The Manuscript Publisher

Crawford Art Gallery, in the heart of Cork City, provides a fitting venue for the formal launch of two recently published books by local author, Michael Whelton. The event takes place on Friday, 6 September from 12.30pm and is open to the public.

Portraits of the Past by Michael Whelton - front cover
Michael Whelton, a retired medical doctor who has also dedicated himself to art and literary pursuits, is a native of Cork, having lived and worked there for most of his life. He has also travelled extensively and all of this is very much to the fore in his writings (as well as in the background), providing as it does, the setting for many of the short stories contained in his collection, Portraits of the Past, which was published just last year.

Through the Pages of History: an art, music and medical miscellany is his more recently published collection of essays, which looks at the lives of historical figures and addresses landmarks in human history, scientific achievement, artistic excellence and so on. Subjects covered include events like the Black Death, medieval witch hunts, capital punishment while Mozart, Renoir, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Kings John and Richard III of England, Herod the Great of Biblical fame are just a few of the names that crop up in this engrossing read.
Through the Pages of History by Michael Whelton - front cover

Both books are published by The Manuscript Publisher and available to buy online as well as certain bookshops and, are also available in e-book editions.

Signed copies will be on sale at the launch, which is hosted by Friends of Crawford Art Gallery. Entry is free and refreshments will be served. Make a note in your diary:
Venue: Crawford Art Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork – for directions, see Google Maps
Date: Friday, 6 September 2019
Time: 12.30pm


Book launch invitation - Michael Whelton

Saturday 3 August 2019

SiarScéal Festival 2019 – Friday & Saturday, 11th - 12th October

SiarScéal Festival 2019

- Includes Beneath Western Skies Exhibition and the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards -


SiarScéal Festival 2019 will take place over two days, commencing on Friday, 11 October and continuing through Saturday, 12 October at Roscommon County Library HQ in Roscommon Town. Further information is available from the SiarScéal website.

SiarScéal Festival 2019 brochure
SiarScéal Festival 2019
Friday & Saturday
11th - 12th October
Meanwhile, the closing date for the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards is Tuesday, 10 September and there is every incentive to get your entries in – the Overall Winner will take home a cash prize of €500, with two runners-up each receiving €100. There will also be trophy prizes for Highly Commended entries in the categories of local, national, international. The Ger Hanily Memorial Cup will be awarded to a local writer or school with the best sense of place or identity. Full details of how to enter the competition (including theme, rules of entry and so on) are also available from the SiarScéal website.

Also showcasing at this year's festival is a Beneath Western Skies exhibition, which will be formally launched on Day One of the festival. It will subsequently go on tour and be on display regionally at libraries in Leitrim and Sligo during October and November. The exhibition features photography and poetry by Anni Wilton Jones, who will also host this year's SiarScéal festivities.

Day Two of the festival will include presentation of the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards. Guest poet at this year's festival is Faye Boland, author of Peripheral, who will also adjudicate the Awards. Faye was overall winner in 2017.

Festival-goers will then be treated to a choral recital from the Galway-based Write-On Group.

An open mike session, from 1.30pm to 4.50pm, will close off the festival. People interested in performing their work are asked to send a short text message or SMS to Int+353+(0)86+1649756. This will help the organisers to ensure that everyone is accommodated.

Full details of the festival – including programme of events, how to get there, etc – is available from SiarScéal website. There is also a festival brochure that is available to download and share.

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