Showing posts with label Irish festivals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish festivals. Show all posts

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

SiarScéal Festival 2017: Exciting News for Authors in October

A last call for entries for the Hanna Greally International Literary Awards 2017 has just gone out. The awards, which form part of the annual SiarScéal Festival, will be presented at this year's event, which takes place over Friday and Saturday, 20-21 October. Roscommon County Library in Roscommon Town is the venue.

All entries must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, 10 October. Entries may consist of poetry or prose and can be posted or submitted online. The theme for this year's competition is Beneath Western Skies. Full details of how to enter, rules of entry, etc. are available from the website of SiarScéal – see Competitions page.

Authors and writers have every incentive to get their entries in. The Overall Prize winner will take away a publishing package valued at €2000, sponsored by The Manuscript Publisher. What this will mean is that the winner will have his or her book published professionally, in print and e-book editions, marketed, promoted and formally launched at a future SiarScéal Festival.

There is also a cash prize of €700 for winner of First Prize. The Ger Hanily Memorial Cup will be awarded to a local entry that best conveys 'sense of place' while trophy prizes will be awarded for Highly Commended entries in poetry and prose categories (local, national, international).

Mary Melvin Geoghegan will adjudicate at this years Awards. She will also be reading from her own work. Mary is the author of no less than four anthologies of poetry and has also edited several volumes of children's poetry and verse. Her most recent collection, Say it like a Paragraph, was published in 2012 by Bradshaw Books.

Also headlining at this year’s festival is Eileen Battersby, journalist, art critic, literary correspondent. She will be reading from her debut novel, Teethmarks on My Tongue, published just last year to a great reception, both in Ireland and internationally.

An open mike session will wind down the evening's entertainment. The formal part of the festival concludes at 5pm. Full details, including programme of events, are available from SiarScéal website – see Festival page.

Rose Morris, author
Rose Morris reads from her winning entry at the 2014 SiarScéal Hanna Greally International Literary Awards. As Overall Winner, her prize was to see her book published professionally, resulting in The Splendiferous Tale of Ferdinand Fox (see below), a whimsical adventure story with a cautionary ecological message, told in the form of children's illustrated verse.

The Splendiferous Tale of Ferdinand Fox by Rose Morris
The Splendiferous Tale of Ferdinand Fox by Rose Morris

Friday, 1 September 2017

Cork International Short Story Festival: 13 – 16 September

Indulge in your love for fiction – particularly the short story form – in Cork this September.

Cork International Short Story Festival 2017 is a four-day festival (13 – 16 September) during which authors and readers share their passion for words through readings and workshops. The complete program is available from the festival website.

"It's shaping up to be another dynamic year," according to the organisers, with readers including June Caldwell, David Means, Nuala O’Connor, Billy O’Callaghan and many more. "It is a great opportunity to hear established favourites and discover new voices in fiction."

Tickets are now available for purchase online. Two workshops are also planned: a fiction masterclass with Claire Keegan as well as a writing workshop with this year's Frank O’Connor Fellow, Marie-Helene Bertino. For more information, please contact Jennifer at The Munster Literature Centre – info@munsterlit.ie

Cork International Short Story Festival 2017

Monday, 7 August 2017

Hanna Greally International Literary Awards 2017 – part of SiarScéal Festival

Hanna Greally International Literary Awards 2017
- Entries now being accepted. Closing Date: 10th October -


SiarScéal Festival 2017 – invitation
The Hanna Greally International Literary Awards happen in conjunction with SiarScéal Festival, held in Roscommon every year since its inception in 2007. This year's 10th anniversary festival takes place over two days: Friday and Saturday, 20-21 October at Roscommon County Library in Roscommon Town, from 10am to 4.30pm on each day. The full programme of events has been announced and is posted online (also available to download in handy brochure format).

Winners in this year's Hanna Greally International Literary Awards will be announced and prizes presented as part of the formal proceedings that follow the Official Launch. There will be much anticipation and excitement surrounding the announcement of the Overall Winner, who will take away the prize of seeing his or her book published professionally and formally launched at the following year's SiarScéal Festival (dates to be announced). The estimated value of this prize, which is sponsored by The Manuscript Publisher, is put at €2000. Full details of what the winning author will receive are outlined here.

In addition to the Overall Prize, there is also a First Prize – a cash prize of €700 – with trophy prizes for Highly Commended entries in the various categories of poetry, prose/short stories. The Ger Hanily Memorial Cup will be awarded to the best local entry received.

Day One of the festival, is entirely devoted to the Student Awards presentation, including a Student of the Year Trophy. This event is sponsored by Allied Irish Bank. The following day, Saturday 21 October, will see the presentation of awards in the other categories, including Overall and First Prize winners.

Previous festivals have been lively gatherings, with readings, prize ceremonies, open mike sessions that are open to everyone – an opportunity to showcase one's literary talents to a public audience! This year's festival promises to continue in much the same vein. Mary Melvin Geoghegan, who is the adjudicator of this year's awards, will be the guest speaker. She herself is an award-winning poet. To date, four volumes of her poetry have been published, the most recent being, Say It Like a Paragraph (2012).

Entries are now being accepted for the 2017 Hanna Greally International Literary Awards. They may consist of poetry and/or prose compositions, previously unpublished, on the theme of Beneath Western Skies. The closing date for entries is 5pm on Tuesday, 10 October. Full details of how to enter (including how the facility to enter online), terms and conditions, rules of entry are available from SiarScéal.

Monday, 5 June 2017

Summerfest – Literary Festivals in June 2017

The list goes on! Literary festivals taking place in June, for which dates are available at the time of posting, including some that are already in progress, are listed below. Follow links for festival details, programme of events, etc.

Kibworth Book Festival, Leicestershire: a rolling festival with events throughout June
Ilminister Literary Festival, Somerset: 31 May – 8 June.
Flamstead Book Festival – Books in the Belfry: 1 June
Charles Causley Festival, Launceston, Cornwall: 1-5 June
Stoke Newington Literary Festival: 2-4 June
Belfast Book Festival: 7-17 June
Stoke-on-Trent Literary Festival: 8-10 June
Balham Literary Festival: 8-11 June
RS Thomas Literary Festival, Aberderon, North Wales: 9-11 June
Festival of Writing & Ideas, Borris House and Village, Carlow: 9-11 June
Crossing the Tees – Book Festival for the Tees Valley: 9-24 June
Howth Literary Arts Festival, North County Dublin: 9-11 June
Derby Book Festival: 9-17 June
Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe: 9-18 June
Manchester Children's Book Festival: 13 June – 15 July
Immrama – Festival of Travel Writing. Lismore, Co. Waterford: 14-18 June
Borders Book Festival, Harmony Garden, Melrose in Scottish Borders: 15-18 June
Dalkey Book Festival, South County Dublin: 15-18 June
Winchester Writers' Festival: 16-18 June
Broadstairs Dickens Festival – 80th year celebration: 17-23 June
Festival of Chichester: 17 June – 16 July
Hinterland – Festival of Literature and Art. Kells, Co. Meath: 22-25 June
Tiverton Literary Festival: 22-25 June
Sidmouth Literary Festival – sun, sea and books. East Devon: 23-25 June
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival – all the town's a stage: 23 June – 2 July
Proms at St Jude's Music and Literary Festival, Hampstead, London: 24 June – 2 July
Chalke Valley History Festival: 26 June to 2 July
Bradford Literature Festival: 30 June – 9 July

Follow LiteraryFestivals.co.uk and Culture Fox for news and most up-to-date information about festivals and events in the arts and literary field.

Apologies to anyone whom we may have missed on this occasion. Please be assured that it was not intentional – quite the contrary, in fact. If you are organising a literary festival or any arts/literary-related event, please get in touch with us – we want to hear from you!

Contact the Editor with your press releases, public announcements, etc or use the Event Notification Form that we provide for this purpose.

Saturday, 13 May 2017

SiarScéal Festival 2017 – including Hanna Greally International Literary Awards

SiarScéal logo
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.

Saturday, 6 May 2017

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 FestivalLondon'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 Festivalwhere books, ideas & creativity bloom: 19-29 May
International Literature Festival DublinIreland'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 Festivalthe 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.

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

Literary Festivals in April (Dates for your Diary)

Cambridge Literary Festival starts today and runs until 23 April.

Other literary festivals across Ireland and Britain in the coming weeks, for which details are available include:
Cúirt International Festival of Literature (Galway, Ireland): 23-30 April 2017
Stratford Upon Avon Literary Festival (Spring Festival): 23-30 April 2017
Scarborough Literature Festival: 26 April to 1 May 2017
Strokestown International Poetry Festival: 27th to 30th April 2017
Hexham Book Festival: 2017 Festival dates are 28 April to 7 May
Wrexham Carnival of Words: Saturday 29th April to Saturday 6th May 2017
Colonsay Book Festival: 29-30 April, 2017
Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival (West Kent): 30 April to 2 May 2017

For full details, follow the links to the festival websites. For information about other festivals running throughout the year – including events happening near you – visit the websites of Literary Festivals (covers Great Britain and Ireland) and Culture Fox (Irish events).

If you would like to see your festival, event or anything literary related featured here, send us an e-mail with all the relevant details (times, dates, venues, programme of events, etc). You can also notify us using the online form that we provide for this purpose.

Thursday, 2 March 2017

World Book Day 2017 (Ireland and UK)

World Book Day 2017 logo
Today is World Book Day, or at least it is in some parts of the world – the Irish and UK parts of it to be precise! This year marks its 20th anniversary as an annual celebration.

Although UNESCO has designated 23 April as World Book and Copyright Day since 1995, Ireland and Great Britain celebrates it on a different day (2nd March), apparently. According to the organisers:
This date came about after serious thought and lengthy discussion to ensure that we were making the best decision for all participants and our supporters. We take into consideration religious holidays, school terms and potential conflict with other charitable activities.World Book Day official website
In any case, who needs an excuse for an celebration, especially when it is a celebration of something that excites the passions?
"The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own."
And if that were not enough, the event organisers tell us that
Thanks to the generosity of National Book Tokens Ltd, publishers and booksellers, we can send millions of book vouchers to children and young people (some 15 million, in fact: that’s one for nearly every child aged under eighteen in the country).
Of course, they don't specify which country but it sounds like a good initiative, in any case. In that spirit, we say, Happy World Book Day to book lovers and literary aficionados in Great Britain and Ireland - the rest of you will just have to wait until April!

For more information about activities and events planned around World Book Day, see the official website.

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Forward March! Literary Festivals 2017. Dates for Your Diary

The month of March sees the literary festival circuit across Ireland, Great Britain and further afield, well and truly awake from its winter slumber. Events taking place that have been listed and confirmed include:
Headingley Lit Fest. A "rolling festival" which takes place annually in March but also some supplementary events "Between the Lines" throughout the year. Visit website for further information ...
Essex Book Festival. Runs throughout March. 31 Days, 90 Events, 45 Venues, 200+ Writers & Artists. Visit website for further information ...
StAnza, St. Andrews, 1 - 5 March. Scotland's International Poetry Festival's mission is to celebrate poetry, to bring poetry to audiences and to enable encounters with poetry. Visit website for further information ...
Aldeburgh Literary Festival, 2-5 March. Featuring "an extraordinary variety of talks, from the local to the global, the serious to the hilarious, the scientific to the philosophical." Visit website for further information ...
Ennis Book Club Festival, 3-5 March. The country's only book club festival offers a "unique mix of readings, discussion, comedy and chat in one of Ireland's friendliest towns." Visit website for further information ...
Huddersfield Literature Festival, 4-19 March. Innovative and high-profile events to support and showcase both established and new, emerging writers and performers, as well as the opportunity to attend workshops and masterclasses. Visit website for further information ...
Aye Write! Glasgow's Book Festival, 9-19 March. 200 authors and three venues all packed into one festival with two family days either side of a packed week of events, designed especially for schools. Visit website for further information ...
Kings Lynn Fiction Festival, 10-12 March. Presenting "some of the best contemporary writers of chapter and verse in a friendly and informal setting." A poetry festival is also held in September under the same auspices. Visit website for further information ...
F. Festival, Dublin, 11 March. Celebrating women in the arts at venues across Dublin through a variety of artistic and creative media. Visit website for further information ...
London Book Fair, 14-16 March. A global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Takes place at Olympia, West London. Covering all aspects of the publishing industry. Visit website for further information ...
York Literature Festival, 16 - 30 March. Promoting the arts in York, with an emphasis on literature, spoken word and poetry, also featuring music, comedy, cinema and theatre. This year's festival promises to deliver its largest programme ever, with more than 60 events in two weeks. Visit website for further information ...
Chagword – Dartmoor's Literary Festival in Chagford, 17-19 March. A festival now in its third year, it aims "to establish Chagford as a focus of literary excellence, by attracting high quality speakers and providing new opportunities for local people to experience literature in direct, accessible and dynamic ways." Visit website for further information ...
Alderney Literary Festival, 24-26 March. The Channel Island of Alderney, in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, hosts this "boutique history festival where people who enjoy reading and writing about the past come together to talk books and have a great weekend." Visit website for further information ...
Cardiff Children's Literature Festival, 25 March - April 2. Spread over two weekends, with events in both English and Welsh, the festival celebrates the very best in contemporary children's books. Visit website for further information ...

For further information about these and other festivals running throughout the year – including events happening near you – visit the websites of Literary Festivals (covers Great Britain and Ireland) and Culture Fox (mainly Irish focus).

If you are a festival organiser and would like to promote your event on Writing & Literary, please Contact Us by e-mail or, you can submit the relevant information using our online form. We cannot guarantee inclusion but we will do our best to promote it for you, free of charge. We recommend that you give us sufficient advance notice of the event. A telephone number is also always handy, in case we need to verify any of the information given.

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Limerick Literary Festival 2017 (in honour of Kate O'Brien)

Limerick Literary Festival 2017 kicks off its schedule tomorrow (23 February) when UL Professor and author, Eoin Devereux delivers "an illustrated talk on Oscar Wilde and Morrissey".

The official opening takes place on Friday, at 6pm, in Limerick City Gallery of Art in Pery Square. Journalist, Olivia O'Leary will officiate. The festival runs throughout the weekend concluding on Sunday.

This year's festival marks the 33rd edition of what was formerly known as the Kate O’Brien Weekend:
The event continues to honour the life and works of the Limerick author, while attracting prominent participants from all over the world. Building on this significant history, the Limerick Literary Festival seeks to promote Limerick nationally as a place of literary excellence and to provide a platform where readers can meet their favourite authors and other readers. This year, we have gathered up to 20 participants from Ireland, England, Italy and the US in six different venues in Limerick city.

Full details, including bookings, venues, programme of events, are available from the festival website.

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Cork International Poetry Festival 2017, 14-18 February

Cork International Poetry Festival runs from today (Tuesday, 14 February) until Saturday. A line up of Irish and international authors will provide readings and workshops on various subjects and themes.

The full programme of events (available to download from the festival website) will also include the presentation of the Gregory O'Donoghue Poetry Prize and the launch of The Well Review, a new, international poetry journal, named after the neighbourhood of Sunday's Well in Cork City.

John Montague (1929-2016), the first occupant of the Ireland Chair of Poetry, was originally scheduled to give a reading on the publication of his latest book. Instead, an evening of homage to the late poet, who passed away in December, will take place on the Saturday at the Cork Arts Theatre.

Many of the events advertised are free but pre-booking may be required in some cases. Tickets are no longer available to pre-book online but can be bought on the door at at the Cork Arts Theatre's ticket office. For further information about times, venues and events, see Cork International Poetry Festival website.

Friday, 3 February 2017

Doolin Writers' Weekend 2017

Doolin Writers Weekend logo
Doolin Writers' Weekend, which starts today (Friday, 3 February) and runs until Sunday, is now in its fifth year. It claims to offer "an eclectic mix of workshops, readings, music and food and has something for every level of writer, from beginners to expert wordsmiths and lovers of literature alike."

Hotel Doolin is the venue once again. Doolin is a coastal village in north County Clare. It has long been a popular tourist destination, situated as it is close to natural wonders such as the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren. It also claims a long association with the arts, "providing inspiration for musicians, painters and writers. Many of the greats spent time in Doolin, including JM Synge, George Bernard Shaw, Dylan Thomas, Augustus John and Oliver St. Gogarty."

Writers who will be making their way to this years festival include Mike McCormack, Sara Baume, Rita-Ann Higgins, Alan McMonagle, Karl Parkinson.
"It's a great opportunity for aspiring writers as well as literary fans and established authors to get together and mix. As Anne Enright, Irelands Laureate of fiction says, 'there is no VIP room in Irish Literature,' and this is true also for the Doolin Writers’ Weekend. One of the key aspects of the festival for us is that it has the feel of a community, with people joining us here every year and just picking up where things left off; audiences and artists feeling at one and enjoying the communal spirit of the weekend." - Donal Minihane, Event Organiser, Hotel Doolin

A total prize fund of €2500 will be disbursed when winners of the Doolin Writers' Competition are announced.

Further information, including details of how to get there, are available from Hotel Doolin's website.


Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Wesport Arts Festival - 5 days of music, theatre, literature, visual art

Westport Arts Festival begins today (Wednesday, 28th September) and runs for five days, to Sunday, 2nd October, offering a strong and diverse selection of events to appeal to all ages and tastes.

As well as talks and literary readings, the festival programme of events is promising "top class music, theatre, visual art, comedy, film and craft from local, national and international artists". Full details are available from the festival website and can also be downloaded, in brochure form.

The festival also hosts an annual poetry competition. This year's competition offers its largest prize fund ever, with a first prize of €1000.

Monday, 26 September 2016

SiarScéal Festival 2016 to Take Place in October

SiarScéal Festival 2016 is to take place over two days (7-8 October) in Roscommon Town. The late Hanna Greally, author of Bird's Nest Soup, will be honoured at this year's festival, which will also see the launch of a new anthology, Centenary in Reflection, produced by SiarScéal writers from Ireland and abroad.

The official launch of the two-day event will be presided over by Cllr Tony Ward, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council. This will take place in the Fortfield Suite of the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon Town and will include readings from winners and participating schools in the Hanna Greally Literary Awards, which were adjudicated by Ann Joyce.

In the afternoon, Lunatic There I Go, a Floating World Theatre Company presentation, will offer a dramatic and spoken word interpretation of the world of Hanna Greally - a story that is guaranteed to spark an response in every audience.

The following day, Saturday 8 October, Roscommon County Library HQ provides the venue for the launch of Centenary in Reflection, an anthology of poetry, prose, short stories, charting and celebrating the events that have made up the last 100 years, following the journey of a nation re-birthed through rebellion.

Roscommon County Council Arts Officer, Mary Mullins and acting County Librarian, Mary Butler will formally launch the anthology. The evening will also see the presentation of the Ger Hanily Memorial Cup, an annual award for literary achievement that forms part of the festival. Recitals from guest authors - including Ann Joyce, Mary Branley, Mary Melvin Geoghegan, Mary Guckian, Kieran Furey - will round off the evening that will also feature an Open Mike session, for anyone else who would like to take part. Refereshments will also be provided.

Further information about SiarScéal, including the festival programme of events, is available from their website, where copies of Centenary in Reflection, along with other SiarScéal publications, are available to buy online, in print and e-book editions.

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival

The annual Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival takes place this weekend. It runs from Friday through Sunday (2-4 September). Ireland's southernmost inhabited island provides the location and the backdrop, consisting of stunning scenery, folklore and uniqueness of the island's flora and fauna.

The festival is now in its 22nd year, having run continuously since 1994. Accomplished storytellers from around the world are invited to participate. A programme of events is available to download from the festival website, along with other information, including how to get there.

Search This Site

Popular Posts

Calendar – Dates for Your Diary