Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2014
Now in its 17th year, Waterford County Council’s Arts Office is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting entries for the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award.
The late writer lived, until her death in 1996, in Ardmore, Co. Waterford. Her first ten novels and four plays were published under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell. In 1981 ‘Good Behaviour’ became a publishing sensation for which she was short listed for the prestigious Booker Prize. To celebrate this rich literary life, the County Waterford Arts Office, by kind permission of the Keane family, is inviting entries for a previously unpublished short story to a maximum of 2000 words. There is no entry fee, no age limit and no restriction on the subject matter. A prize of €500 will be awarded to the winner at a special ceremony during the IMMRAMA Literary Festival in Lismore, Co. Waterford in June 2014.
The closing date for receipt of entries is 12 noon on Friday 14th March 2014
Full details and an entry form can be downloaded from www.waterfordcoco.ie or by contacting the Arts Office on 058-41416.
- Published in Literature
Celebrate All Ireland Poetry Day at DkIT Library
To celebrate All Ireland Poetry Day on October 4th, the Library in Dundalk Institute of Technology hosts a lunchtime reading by two of Dundalkís finest contemporary poets.
Barbara Smith is a Dundalk-based poet and teacher. Her second collection of poems, The Angels Share, was recently published by Doghouse Books. She has also published in Riposte, VirtualWriter and Electric Acorn in Ireland, as well as in The Coffee House (UK), Garm Lu (Canada), Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review and Portrait (US) and TMR (India). Barbara has a Masters degree in Creative Writing and has generously encouraged many Dundalk-based writers over the past years.
Longford native John Noonan is a 2012 winner of the Goldsmith Prize for his poem Glass Maker. John is deeply involved in the Dundalk WritersGroup.
The reading will begin at 12:30pm on October 4th. All welcome.
- Published in Dundalk Town Council, News, Poetry
Merriman Short Story Competition
The Merriman Short Story Competition
The Merriman Short Story Competition is dedicated to the memory of the late Maeve Binchy, who was a life-long supporter of Cumann Merriman and a regular visitor to the Merriman Summer School. In 2005 Maeve wrote a special short story for the Brian Merriman bicentenary celebrations. The story, entitled A Week in Summer, was read by the author at that year’s Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare and was recorded live. A limited edition of the story was subsequently published in CD and booklet form. Maeve generously donated the royalties from the US edition to Cumann Merriman, and she agreed that her donation be used to award a short story prize. A prize of €1000 will be awarded to the winning short story, which must be original, unpublished and unbroadcast. Entries should be not more than 2,500 words in length and set in Ireland. Stories may be written in Irish or English. The competition is confined to writers born or living on the island of Ireland. The closing date for entries is October 31st 2012. The Merriman Short Story Competition is being run in association with Cumann Merriman, the Ennis Book Club Festival, Clare County Library and the Irish Times. The winning story will be read at the 2013 Ennis Book Club Festival and will be published in the Irish Times.
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The Merriman Short Story Competition Guidelines
Prize for winning story €1,000/Duais do churadhscéal €1,000
- Entries, in English or Irish, must be the original work of the author and must not have been previously published or broadcast.
- The story must not exceed 2,500 words
- The story must be set in Ireland and can be on any subject, by any writer of fiction born in or living on the island of Ireland. Translated work is not within the scope of this competition.
- Manuscripts must be typed, and only one story per entrant will be accepted. Manuscripts will not be returned.
- The entrants’ names should not be written on the manuscripts but should be written on a separate sheet, along with the title of the story and full contact details (address, telephone numbers, email address). Writers’ names will not be revealed to the judging panel.
- All entries must be received by 5 pm on October 31st 2012. Entries may be submitted by email or in hard copy. Entries received after this deadline will not be considered.
- There is an entry fee of €10 to cover administration costs.
- Hard copies, accompanied by cheque or postal order for €10 (made out to Cumann Merriman Teoranta) should be addressed to Merriman Short Story Competition, Clare County Library, Mill Rd., Ennis, Co. Clare.
- Email copies in pdf format should be sent to merrimanshortstory@gmail.com. Accompanying entry fees (cheque or postal order) must be posted to the address above. Entries for which fees have not been received will not be considered.
10. The winner will be notified in February 2013, and will be invited to attend the Ennis Book Club Festival in March to read their story (or have it read, if that is their preference)
11. The winning story will be published in the Irish Times after the festival.
12. The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into concerning the judging or merits of any entry.
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Comórtas Gearrscéalta Merriman: Treoirlínte
13. Caithfidh gur bunsaothair leis an údar féin, i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla, iad na hiontrálacha, nár foilsíodh nó nár craoladh cheana.
14. Níor cheart dul thar 2,500 focal sa scéal.
15. Is ceart an scéal a shuíomh in Éirinn; is féidir aon ábhar a bheith i gceist, ag scríbhneoir ficsin a rugadh, nó a bhfuil cónaí uirthi/air, ar oileán na hÉireann. Ní thagann aistriúcháin laistigh de raon an chomórtais seo.
16. Ní mór scríbhinní a bheith clóite, agus ní ghlacfar ach le scéal amháin ó aon iontrálaí. Ní sheolfar scríbhinní ar ais.
17. Níor chóir ainmneacha na n-iontrálaithe a bheith scríofa ar na scríbhinní; is cóir iad a bheith scríofa ar bhileog faoi leith, maille le teideal an scéil, agus sonraí iomlána teagmhála (seoladh, uimhreacha fóin, seoladh ríomhphoist). Ní scaoilfear ainmneacha na scríbhneoirí leis an bpainéal moltóirí.
18. Ní mór na hiontrálacha go léir a bheith faighte faoin 5.00 i.n. ar 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2012. Is féidir iontrálacha a chur isteach ar ríomhphost nó mar chóip chrua. Ní thabharfar iontrálacha san áireamh a fhaightear i ndiaidh an spriocdháta.
19. Táille iontrála: €10 (le costais riaracháin a ghlanadh).
20. Ba chóir Cóipeanna crua, maille le seic nó ordú poist do €10 (iníoctha le Cumann Merriman Teoranta), a sheoladh chuig ‘Comórtas Gearrscéalta Merriman, Leabharlann an Chláir, Bóthar An Mhuilinn, Inis, Co. an Chláir’.
21. Ba chóir Cóipeanna ríomhphoist i bhformáid pdf a sheoladh ag merrimanshortstory@gmail.com. I gcás na n-iontrálacha seo, ní mór na táillí iontrála (seic nó ordú poist) a chur sa phost chuig an seoladh thuas. Ní chuirfear iontrálacha san áireamh gan táillí iontrála a bheith faighte.
22. Cuirfear an buaiteoir ar an eolas mí Feabhra 2013, agus tabharfar cuireadh di/dó a bheith i láthair ag Féile Leabhar na hInse mí an Mhárta lena scéal a léamh (nó a chur á léamh ag duine eile, más é sin is fearr leo).
23. Foilseofar an duais-scéal san Irish Times i ndiaidh na Féile.
24. Ní bheidh dul thar bhreith na moltóirí, agus ní rachfar i mbun comhfhreagrais maidir leis an mholtóireacht ná le fiúntas aon iontrála faoi leith.
- Published in Literature, News
“Bookends” 11am Thursday 4 October 2012
“Bookends”
Thursday 4th October at 11.00am
A special radio broadcast on Dundalk FM I00 to celebrate All Ireland Poetry Day
The Arts Service of Louth Local Authorities, in association with Dundalk FM 100 and Poetry Ireland present –
“Bookends”, a celebration of poetry to mark All Ireland Poetry Day
As part of the activities to mark All-Ireland Poetry Day, the Arts Service of Louth Local Authorities is organising “Bookends”, a programme of poetry and opinion which is being broadcast by Dundalk FM 100. Building on previous radio programmes broadcast to mark All Ireland Poetry Day, the show will be hosted by Eileen Corcoran, and will feature a wide range of people from the area, reading their own poems, as well as poems which mean something to them, and discussing the relevance of poetry in Irish society today.
“Bookends” will be broadcast on Dundalk FM 100 on October 4th at 11am. This event is part of the celebrations for All Ireland Poetry Day, which is co-ordinated by Poetry Ireland. “Bookends” is an initiative of the Arts Service of Louth Local Authorities.
“Bookends” will focus on two books of poetry which were launched in Dundalk recently – “The Angels Share”, by Barbara Smith, and “Once Upon Reflection” by Petra Berntssen. Barbara holds an MA from Queens University Belfast, and has been awarded many poetry prizes and bursaries. She has read at literary gatherings in Ireland, Edinburgh and London, and she is also an enthustaic reader of her own work with The Poetry Divas and the Prufrocks. ”The Angel’s Share” is her second collection to be published by Doghouse Books, and it was launched in May in the Basement Gallery, Dundalk.
Petra Berntsson is a visual artist born in Sweden and now living in Dundalk. She has always had a love of the written word and poetry, so it was a natural decision for her to combine her paintings with writing. Once the thought of compiling a book had rooted, she set about contacting writers and poets, connections happened naturally and poems emerged from paintings, and paintings grew from words. The end result, “Once Upon Reflection” is a book of paintings and poetry, inspired by Petra’s years living in Ireland, and it too was launched in the Basement Gallery in June.
Joining Barbara and Petra for the programme will be four local people who will read poetry which has inspired, enthralled or otherwise impacted on them. They are –
Cllr. Jennifer Green, Cathaoirleach, Dundalk Town Council. Jennifer graduated from Dundalk Instuite of Technology with a degree in Cultural Studies, and was unanimously elected Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Town Council in June, making her the first female Sinn Féin Councillor to hold the position.
Pat Keating. Pat recently graduated from The Open University with a Degree in Humanities. She is an active participant in the cultural life of Dundalk, and was a founder member of “The Company of Six”, who devised and performed a performance based on the works of Patrick Kavanagh.
Tommy Kelly, is a visual artist, comic writer, and social commentator. Among his comic book publications are “Road Crew”, “Something Wonderful”, and “The Holy Numbers”. He is also a musician and music tutor.
Cathal Cassidy, Broadcaster, Dundalk FM 100. Cathal has presented a number of very popular programmes on Dundalk 100 FM.
“We’re delighted to be working with Dundalk 100 FM once again on a radio programme dedicated to poetry”, says County Arts Officer, Brian Harten. “Everybody has a favourite poem, and “Bookends” will encourage people to think about the poems which have made an impression on them in the past. As well as that, it’s good to be reminded that Ireland is still producing really good poets, and whether we’re in the middle of a boom or a recession, people still write poetry and people still read it. It’s part of what makes us human.”
- Published in Dundalk Town Council, Forthcoming Events, News, Poetry
The Moth Short Story Competition
- Published in Dundalk Town Council, Forthcoming Events, Literature, News
Writer in Residence Opportunity at DkIT
- Published in Dundalk Town Council, Literature, News
The Misadventures of a Good Citizen
An open call for “The Misadventures of a Good Citizen” produced by Eilish Tuite at Ormston House
“The Misadventures of a Good Citizen” is an art project that examines personal connections with the Irish Constitution using writing, theatre and performance. Following recent referenda in Ireland and discussion fora with members of the electorate, this project asks: “Is ‘Bunreacht na hEireann’ a work of fiction or merely an aspiration? What is its relevance to you?”
I am seeking members of the public of any age, background, profession or discipline to participate by responding to particular aspects or articles from the Constitution. The format of the participation is to write a 500-word play dealing with your ideas on the issues and challenges presented by this text as a cornerstone of Irish society. The style is entirely up to you!
The selected plays will be performed by a group of amateur and professional actors as a series of events at Ormston House Gallery on Patrick Street, Limerick city in October 2012. Each writer will be credited for their work as the solo author and owner of the play. The text will not be altered but I may request permission to use extracts of documentation for my own research practice (see biography below).
The works will be selected with the assistance of a panel of theatre and arts professionals and a director will be appointed in August.
The deadline for submissions is 17 August 2012 at 6pm to misadventurecitizen@gmail.com
The Irish Constitution is available to read here: http://www.constitution.ie/constitution-of-ireland/default.asp
For more information about the project, find me on Facebook at misadventurecitizen or you can email me at misadventurecitizen@gmail.com.
About me:
Eilish Tuite graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) in 2011 and was the recipient of the inaugural Graduate Exhibition Award at Ormston House Gallery for the 2012 visual arts programme. She is currently undertaking a MA in Social Practice and the Creative Environment also at LSAD. Her work often includes collaborative and co-operative processes, and she founded The Make and Do Society in 2008. She has worked with SpiritStore (2009-2010) and Art in the Making Collective (2009-2010), and participated in ev+a (2010). Recent works, exhibitions and interventions have questioned the ethics of temporary public art practice. In 2010, she co-ordinated the large-scale project Urban Knit Limerick, addressing the failing urban environment, with over 5000 contributing participants worldwide. In 2011, she exhibited the live installation work Generation for Export as part of the Selected Stories project at The Joinery Gallery in Dublin.
www.ormstonhouse.com
- Published in Literature, Louth County Arts, Music, News, Tenders, Visual Arts
The Angels’ Share Book Launch
Doghouse Books
Invite you to the launch of
The Angels’ Share By Barbara Smith
To be launched by Enda Coyle-Greene, poet
6.00. pm, Wednesday 23rd. May
Basement Gallery, Town Hall, Dundalk
All Welcome
- Published in Dundalk Town Council, News, Poetry