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We are delighted to announce the Jack Harte Bursary awarded by the Irish Writers Centre in association with the Tyrone Guthrie Centre.
The Irish Writers Centre and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig have come together to offer a two-week fully resourced Writer-in-Residence Bursary to take place in spring 2015. The award is named in honour of Jack Harte, founder of the Irish Writers Centre, in celebration and acknowledgement of his contribution to Irish literature.
Who Can Apply:
This is an open call to writers resident in Ireland with a proven track record and at least one book of fiction or short stories published by a recognised publisher.
How to Apply:
Applications are accepted by email only to director@writerscentre.ie . Please include:
- A cover letter including your personal details and statement of artistic intent, clearly and concisely outlining the project you would like to focus on during your time at Annaghmakerrig
- An updated Curriculum Vitae (max. two A4 pages) including publications with ISBNs.
- Clearly labelled samples of recent work (up to three short samples of up to 300 words).
- Any relevant information on your proposed project such as written excerpts, photos, research information, etc.
Application Deadline:
26 September, 2014 at 5pm. No late applications will be considered. Applications will be acknowledged by email on receipt.
Selection Process:
Applications go before a selection committee of the Board of the Irish Writers Centre and a nominee of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. The successful applicant will be notified by letter no later than November 7, 2014. The recipient of the bursary will be publicly announced by Jack Harte at a celebration event on Thursday 4 December at the Irish Writers’ Centre.
For all other queries, please contact events@writerscentre.ie |
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Sam McAughtry
It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Sam McAughtry. For many years he was heavily involved in the Writers' Centre, and as Chairman of the Irish Writers' Union. Sam was a wonderful writer, broadcaster, and journalist. But he was a persistent activist as well: throughout the Troubles he advocated passionately an Ireland that respected all its varied traditions, where people would live together in a fertile peace. He was Chairman of the Peace Train movement which continually protested against the IRA bombing of the Dublin/Belfast railway line.
From the Loyalist Tiger Bay area of Belfast, he came south of the Border and won the hearts of the public with his all-too-human stories of the lives and struggles of working class people in Belfast; at the same time he incurred the curiosity (to put it mildly) of his Belfast friends when he was elected to Seanad Eireann. In his first address in 1996, he explained his stance:
"I am a hybrid unionist in that I am happy to live in the United Kingdom but I am happier still to be Irish and to proclaim my Irishness."
His writings encapsulate a very special time in Ireland from the standpoint of a very special sensibility. His life was a model of committed dedication to decent values.
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Successful Fundit Campaign for the Italo-Irish Literature Exchange!
This June, over one week, seven contemporary Irish writers and poets—Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Mia Gallagher, Afric McGlinchey, Sean Hardie, Liz McManus, Noel Monahan and William Wall—will travel to Italy to promote contemporary Irish writing at festivals, readings, workshops, seminars and other cultural events in Faenza and Lugo and at a reception hosted by the Irish Embassy in Rome. This event would not have been possible without the support of a number of people who kindly donated money during our Fundit campaign. The Irish Writers' Centre and the writers travelling would like to take this opportunity to thank the following donors for their generosity:
Paul McMahon
Colin Quirke
Eleanor Hooker
Una O'Connor
Lia Mills
Michelle Read
Laura McKenna
Cammy Harley
Tona Wilson
Robert Dagge
Antonia Hart
Michael Farry
Sue Kinsella
Denise Blake
Daniela Ugga Campbell
Sarah Clancy
Simon Barraclough
Doireann Ni Ghriofa
Clodagh O'Connor
Lisa Burkitt
Adam Wyeth
John Foyle
Dave Lordan
Kirsten Stolle
Fiona O'Connor
Imelda Maguire
Una MacNulty
Finbar McLoughlin
Sue Morgan
Gypsy Ray
Pauline W Hall
Hugh Bradley
Miriam Devitt
Michael Ray
Brandi Schreiber
Novel Fair 2014 Competition Winners Announced!
The winners of the Novel Fair Competition 2014 have been announced! The twelve finalists, selected from more than 300 applicants, are as follows:
Colm by Evan Cody
Wolf by Simon Fay
Botox For Dancers by David O'Brien
Out of Nowhere by Alan Gorevan
Stolen Sister by Geraldine Hogan
The Edge of Heaven by Rachael Kelly
Eggshells by Caitriona Lally
The Shadow of Darcy Anne by Blathnaid Nolan
Letters to Lucy by Nathan O'Donnell
Dawn in Temper by Lisa Parker
North to Midnight by Grey Phelan
The Silver Girl by Aine Tierney
The judging panel, whose identity was kept under wraps while the shortlisting process was taking place, can also now be revealed as Rachel Pierce, owner/editor owner of Verba Editing House; Anthony Glavin, editor and writer; and Sarah Davis-Goff, publisher and founder of Tramp Press. Since the October 16th deadline, the judges have read through every page of the 306 synopses and opening chapters received and have had the unenviable task of whittling it down to a winning twelve.
Judge Anthony Glavin described their final selection as “A rich cornucopia of hugely promising premises, plots, characters, insights and outcomes for a dozen novels across all genres, all underpinned by original, engaging, well-executed writing. Not to be missed!” The work chosen includes literary fiction, children's fiction, historical fiction, SciFi, thriller and crime. One of the winners will travel home to Kilkenny all the way from New Zealand to take part. For another, it’s her first win after making the long list in two previous years, with a different novel submitted each time!
In addition to the twelve finalists, the following novels were all placed on the judges' longlist and have been Highly Commended:
Summer of Stan by Anthony Brophy
Railway Park by Erica Coughlan
Child of the Slums by Aisling Cronin
Rising by Brian Kirk
Essex Road by Guy Le Jeune
Jesus of the Lavatory by Donall Mac Lochlainn
Loyalties by Niall McCann
Happy-Cry with my Brilliant Life by Paul McCarrick
Tider by Sinead O'Hart
Statistical Anomalies in the Probability of Love by Tara Sparling
Novel Fair 2014 will take place on February 22nd in the Irish Writers’ Centre. Now in its third year, the event aims to introduce up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents, giving novelists the opportunity to bypass the slush pile, pitch their ideas and place their synopsis and sample chapters directly into the hands of publishers and agents. It presents a unique opportunity to gain face time with some of the most influential people in Irish publishing, and could truly kick-start a literary career for this year’s winners.
Last year’s Fair was attended by representatives from Penguin Ireland, Hachette Ireland, Transworld Ireland, Picador, New Island, O’Brien Press, Lilliput Press, Liberties Press, Curtis Brown, The Book Bureau, Marianne Gunne O’Connor Literary Agency, Jonathan Williams Literary Agency and Lisa Richards Agency.
The event was launched in 2011 and has seen the publication of an ever-growing number of novels as a direct result. Last year alone saw the publication of previous Novel Fair winners Niamh Boyce (The Herbalist), Janet E. Cameron (Cinnamon Toast and the End of the World), Ian Flitcroft (The Reluctant Cannibals) and Kevin Curran (Beatsploitation). Daniel Seery’s A Model Partner is due to hit bookshelves in March.
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