World Information Society Day 2017

Today marks World Information Society Day, an annual event celebrated on 17 May commemorating the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on this day in 1865.

The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies. It also aims to help reduce the Digital divide. – Cute Calendar

The theme for 2017 World Information Society Day is Big Data for Big Impact focussing on

the power of Big Data for development and aims to explore how to turn imperfect, complex, often unstructured data into actionable information in a development context. The insight brought on by advanced analysis can strongly complement the evidence-based nature of decision-making that can be leveraged at national, regional and international levels to drive success towards attaining all 17 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 – International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

SiarScéal Festival 2017 – including Hanna Greally International Literary Awards

SiarScéal Festival 2017 will take place over Friday and Saturday, 20-21 October. The annual Hanna Greally International Literary Awards form a core part of this festival – winners will be announced and prizes presented over the two days.

Roscommon County Library in Roscommon Town is the venue. Friday's programme will host presentations for winners in the student categories. Remaining presentations will take place on the Saturday, from 10am to 4.30pm with a break for lunch. The presentations will be followed by readings and an open mike session.

Entries are now being accepted for the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards. They may consist of poetry or prose (or both – there is a maximum of three entries per person and an entry fee of €10) but must somehow reflect the theme of this year's competition – Beneath Western Skies. The closing date is Friday, 1 September. Full details, including competition rules and how to enter, are available from the SiarScéal website.

A publishing package from The Manuscript Publisher, valued at €2000 will be awarded to the Overall Winner, who will see their book published professionally in print and e-book editions, publicised, promoted and given a special launch at the following year's SiarScéal Festival.

There is also a First Prize, which consists of a cash prize of €700. Trophy prizes will be awarded to Highly Commended entries in the various categories (poetry, prose/short stories – national, international, schools). A Beneath Western Skies anthology will be compiled and published from entries received in the schools category.

Further details about the festival, including programme of events and the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards, are available from the SiarScéal website.

Dates for your Diary – Literary Festivals in May

Literary festivals continue across Ireland, Britain and further afield during May. Follow the links below for details, including times, dates, venues, programme of events.

Swindon Festival of Literature: 1-13 May

Cheltenham Poetry Festival: 4-15 May

Ullapool Book Festival: 5-7 May

Poetry-next-the-Sea – annual poetry festival that takes place in Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk: 5-7 May

Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature: 6-13 May

Newcastle Poetry Festival: 9-13 May

Chipping Camden Literature Festival: 9-14 May

Guernsey Literary Festival: 10-14 May

Boswell Book Festival. Dumfries, Ayrshire – the world's only festival of biography and memoir: 12-14 May

Barnes Children's Literature Festival – London's largest dedicated children's literature festival: 13-14 May

Palestine Festival of Literature (PalFest) – annual travelling festival that tours around historic Palestine: 13-18 May

St Ives Literature Festival: 13-20 May

Crimefest. Bristol. International crime fiction festival – where the pen is bloodier than the sword!: 18-21 May

Litfest – a food and drinks literary festival at Ballymaloe, Co. Cork: 19-21 May

Charleston Festival – where books, ideas & creativity bloom: 19-29 May

International Literature Festival Dublin – Ireland's premier literary event, gathering the finest writers in the world to debate, provoke, delight and enthral: 20-29 May

Hay Festival – Wales: 25 May to 4 June

Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival – the poetry of dance, the dance of poetry: 26-28 May

Greenwich Book Festival, London: 26-27 May

May Festival (University of Aberdeen): 26-28 May

Salisbury International Arts Festival: 26 May to 10 June

Listowel Writers' Week: 31 May to 4 June

If we have omitted anyone, please except our sincere apologies. Obviously it was just that – an error of omission and not a deliberate slight! One way to avoid this happening in future, is to contact us – let us know about your organisation, activities, events. E-mail us with the details (time, date, venue, programme of events) or submit using the online form that we provide for this purpose.