Poetry Workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

In January Galway Arts Centre is offering aspiring poets a choice of two poetry workshops, both facilitated by poet Kevin Higgins, whose best-selling first collection, The Boy With No Face, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award for Best First Collection by an Irish poet.


Kevin’s second collection of poems, Time Gentlemen, Please, was published in March by Salmon Poetry and his work will also feature in the forthcoming anthology Identity Parade: new British and Irish Poets (Bloodaxe, 2010) Kevin is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success or win major prizes for their poetry.

Each workshop will run for ten weeks, commencing the week of January 26th.They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm.

The Tuesday evening workshop is open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. The cost to participants is €110, with an €100 concession rate.

Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Victoria at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Greek-Irish Literary Symposium

There is an article about, and photos of, the Greek Irish Literary Symposium, which took place in Athens in December, at http://www.diavasame.gr/news.cfm?itemID=104

The symposium was sponsored by the office of the Mayor of Ilion and by Culture Ireland and was supported by the Irish Embassy in Greece. Copies of the resulting translations of Greek and Irish poets work, Literary Ways 2 Greece Ireland, are available from bookshops in Galway and Dublin.

Creative Writing at Galway Arts Centre with Susan Millar DuMars

This coming January Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner and continuing creative writing students out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, American Girls, was published by Lapwing Press in 2007; her first collection of poetry, Big Pink Umbrella, was published in April by Salmon Poetry.

This class is suitable for both beginning and continuing creative writing students, working in either poetry or fiction. Students will spend their week responding to writing exercises designed to inspire, rather than inhibit. In class, they will receive gentle feedback on their work from their classmates and from the teacher. The class takes place on Monday afternoons, 2-3.30pm, commencing on Monday January 26th and runs for ten weeks.

The cost to participants is 110 Euro with a 100 Euro concession price. Booking is essential as places are limited. For booking please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Creative Writing - Beginners & Intermediate at Galway Technical Institute

Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins takes place one evening per week (Monday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Monday, 19th January, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. Kevin Higgins will provide writing exercises for, and give gentle critical feedback to, those interested in trying their hand at writing poems, stories or memoir.

Intermediate Creative Writing with Susan Millar DuMars takes place one evening per week (Tuesday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Tuesday, 20th January, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. This class is suitable for those who’ve participated in creative writing classes before or begun to have work published in magazines. Flexible exercises and work-shopping of assignments, together with the study of the works of published writers, will help each class member to find their own writing voice.

To book a place in either class contact GTI, Father Griffin Road, Galway Telephone 091-581342, e-mail adultedinfo@cgvec.ie or see http://www.gti.ie/

Creative Writing with Susan Millar DuMars at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

Susan Millar DuMars will give support, instruction and feedback to those who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The course takes place one evening per week (Wednesday) for 8 weeks from 7.30–9.30 p.m. It commences on Wednesday, February 11th at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Susan’s debut poetry collection, Big Pink Umbrella, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2008. A mini-collection of her short stories, American Girls was brought out by Lapwing Press in 2007. Susan has read from her work in Ireland, Britain, the US and Greece. She and her husband organise the Over the Edge readings series in Galway.

Advance booking is essential. Places cost €120.00. For further details or to book a place contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Telephone 091 742145 or see http://www.gmit.ie

CREATIVE WRITING NIGHT CLASSES AT GMIT CASTLEBAR WITH JOHN CORLESS

A new course of night classes in Creative Writing will commence in GMIT Castlebar for the spring. The course runs one night a week for twelve weeks and each class lasts two hours. The classes will suit beginners and improvers. This is a practical course with the emphasis on writing. Topics covered will include what to write about, point of view, setting, style, voice, flash fiction, short stories, poetry, dialogue, drama, critique and markets. At the end of the course, students should have an impressive body of work compiled. Many satisfied students have taken this course over the past couple of years. Some have gone on to win prizes and had their work published. The actual night that the classes will be held on has not been finalised yet but will most likely be on Thursdays.

The tutor is John Corless who is a vastly experienced tutor. He has an MA in Creative Writing who performed at the 2008 Electric Picnic. He writes poetry, drama and fiction. He work has been published in Ireland, the UK, Norway, Japan, Canada and the USA. He has won many prizes. His poetry is a mix of political and satirical; one critic described it as 'Paul Durcan meets The Sawdoctors.' His debut poetry collection is due out next year from Salmon. Anyone interested in taking part should book immediately to avoid disappointment. To book a place on the course telephone GMIT on 094 90 25 700. If you want further details on the course please telephone 087 9843900.

GMIT will host an open evening at the Castlebar campus on Mon 19th Jan from 6-8pm.

Creative Writing Classes & Poetry Workshops in The New Year

Galway Technical Institute presents creative writing classes

Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins takes place one evening per week (Monday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Monday, 19th January, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. Kevin Higgins will provide writing exercises for, and give gentle critical feedback to, those interested in trying their hand at writing poems, stories or memoir.

Intermediate Creative Writing with Susan Millar DuMars takes place one evening per week (Tuesday) from 7-9.30pm. (8 weeks) It commences on Tuesday, 20th January, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €115. This class is suitable for those who’ve participated in creative writing classes before or begun to have work published in magazines. Flexible exercises and work-shopping of assignments, together with the study of the works of published writers, will help each class member to find their own writing voice.

To book a place in either class contact GTI, Father Griffin Road, Galway Telephone 091-581342, e-mail adultedinfo@cgvec.ie or see http://www.gti.ie/
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Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Presents Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

The course takes place one evening per week (Wednesday) for 8 weeks from 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. It commences on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €120.00. During the eight weeks Susan Millar DuMars will give support, instruction and feedback to students who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. For further details or to book a place contact GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway. Telephone 091 742145 or see http://www.gmit.ie/
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Poetry workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

In January Galway Arts Centre is offering aspiring poets a choice of two poetry workshops, both facilitated by poet Kevin Higgins, whose best-selling first collection, The Boy With No Face, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award for Best First Collection by an Irish poet. Kevin’s second collection of poems, Time Gentlemen, Please, was published in March by Salmon Poetry and his work will also feature in the forthcoming anthology Identity Parade: new British and Irish Poets (Bloodaxe, 2010) Kevin is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success or win major prizes for their poetry.

Each workshop will run for ten week, commencing the week of January 26th. They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm.
The Tuesday evening workshop is open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. The cost to participants is €110, with an €100 concession rate.

Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Victoria at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie
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Creative Writing at Galway Arts Centre with Susan Millar DuMars

This January Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner and continuing creative writing students out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, American Girls, was published by Lapwing Press in 2007; her first collection of poetry, Big Pink Umbrella, was published in April by Salmon Poetry.

This class is suitable for both beginning and continuing creative writing students, working in either poetry or fiction. Students will spend their week responding to writing exercises designed to inspire, rather than inhibit. In class, they will receive gentle feedback on their work from their classmates and from the teacher. The class takes place on Monday afternoons, 2-3.30pm, commencing on Monday January 26th and runs for ten weeks.

The cost to participants is 110 Euro with a 100 Euro concession price. Booking is essential as places are limited. For booking please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Clare Muireann Murphy for final Over The Edge: Open Reading of 2008

Clare Muireann Murphy

The final Over The Edge: Open Reading of the year will take place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, December 18th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Paula Gilbert, Denise Heneghan & Clare Muireann Murphy.

Paula Gilbert is originally from Meath but moved to Claremorris, Co. Mayo when she was young. She has always loved writing and would love to write a book of short stories. She has attended John Corless’s Creative Writing Classes at G.M.I.T-Castlebar. She read her story ‘Mad Mooney’ at this year’s Force 12 Writers’ Weekend in Bellmullet. She is secretary of Mayo Writers Block, who won first prize at this year’s National Writers Group Festival in Longford.

Denise Heneghan is a social entrepreneur with a background in technical management and voluntary leadership. She started writing poetry four years ago, and has attended workshops facilitated by Geraldine Mills and Kevin Higgins. She is currently a member of the advanced poetry class at Galway Arts Centre. She has been a finalist at a number of Cúirt and Baffle Poetry Slams. She won third prize at Baffle 2005, and was shortlisted in the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition.

Clare Muireann Murphy is a professional storyteller. She has performed at festivals such as The Electric Picnic, Vienna Lit, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Baboró Children's Festival with Rab Swannock Fulton and Singapore Out of the Box Puppet Festival. Clare played Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in a solo show as part of the Tales for Winter series in November. Her repertoire includes the Irish myths and legends as well as many more tales from world folklore. She founded Story Night, the monthly story share gathering at the Spirit Centre on Nun’s Island. She is an Arts Foundation Fellowship nominee and a winner of the Social Entrepreneurs Award 2007 for her storytelling work.

As usual there will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

Call for Submissions: anthology of immigrant poetry in Ireland

As the editors of an anthology of immigrant poetry in Ireland we are asking poets from other countries who live here and who write in English to send us poems for possible inclusion in the anthology. The term "immigrant" includes people who were born outside Ireland and came to live here (first generation), and those who were born here but have parents, or one parent born elsewhere (second generation).

This anthology is intended to reflect the increasing diversity of cultural life in Ireland and to give first and second generation immigrants an opportunity to showcase their distinctive contribution to contemporary Irish literature, as well as to celebrate their difference at the same time.

We aim to have the anthology completed for publication by summer of next year and ask contributors to have their submissions sent in by the end of February 2009. All submissions of two copies of maximum 12-15 poems should be typed and be supplied with the poet's name, address, and email address printed at the bottom of each page. Also, please, enclose a short covering letter (max. 500 words) and a stamped, self-addressed envelope for editors' replies and the return of manuscripts.

Please submit two copies each of your poems and letter before the 30th of January to
Borbála Faragó and Eva Bourke
School of English, Drama and FilmUniversity College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin 4

2nd Annual North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam

North Beach Poetry Nights PROUDLY presents

on Monday December 15th at 9 pm

in The Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway

The 2nd Annual North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam

with 15 Poets/Performers!

Special Guest appearances from

Lucy English (Bristol)

Miceál Kearney (2007 Grand Slam Winner)

Little John Nee

The prize for the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam winner
is publication of a collection of her/his work.

The Judges for the 2008 Grand Slam are: Lucy English, Jarlath Fahy and Moya Roddy.

("Inheritance" debut collection by last year's winner Miceál Kearney available in
Charlie Byrne's bookshop and from www.doirepress.com)

We look forward to seeing you at The Crane Bar on
Monday December 15th for this great event!

Admission 5 Euro.

North Beach Poetry Nights gratefully acknowledges the support
of the Arts Council and Galway City Council Arts Office.

info: john walsh @ 091-593290