Mike McCormack for Sheridan's Wine Bar Feast of Fiction

Over The Edge presents a reading by fiction writers Colm Brady, Fiona Claire, Jim
Mullarkey & Mike McCormack

at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway, Friday, September 12th, 8pm.

Colm Brady is originally from Longford, but now lives in Galway City, where he has been a serial student in several creative writing classes. Colm says he has “now graduated from being an accountant who writes to a writer who works at anything.” He recently completed an MA in Writing at NUIG. Colm’s work has appeared on the Virtual Writer website and elsewhere. He was shortlisted for the 2008 Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading.

Fiona Claire is an actress and writer who lived for many years in Los Angeles, but now lives in County Galway. She has worked in numerous television shows, including Third Rock From The Sun, Star Trek Voyager, and King of Queens, and in films such as L.A. Confidential, and Contact. She has written a collection of fables for adults, one novel and is working on a second. She was a Featured Reader at the November 2006 Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library.

Jim Mullarkey lives in Galway. He was a member of Galway City Council for 1993 to 1999 before turning his hand to writing. He has been short-listed for the Raymond Carver Short Story Award and the Fish Short Story Competition. His story ‘Heaven’ was runner-up in the RTE Francis McManus Award. Jim read at the inaugural Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006.

Mike McCormack is a Mayo-man and was born in 1965. He studied English and philosophy at UCG, as it was then, and has published three books, Getting it in the Head, 1996 - a collection of short stories – and two novels Crowe's Requiem, 1998 and Notes from a Coma, 2005. He teaches fiction on the MA in Writing at NUIG and for three years was writer in residence at NUI Galway. He is currently finishing a book of short stories.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.


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

Short-list announced for Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year'

The short-list for the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition is as follows:

Megan Buckley, Galway

Fiona Clark Echlin, Tipperary

Denise Garvey, Galway

Eamonn Harrigan, Galway

Brian Kirk, Dublin

Tom Lavelle, Galway

Wes Lee, New Zealand

Mary Madec, Galway

Donny Mahoney, Dublin

Alan McMonagle, Galway

Brendan Murphy, Galway

Mairin O'Grady, Kildare

Aiden O'Reilly, Dublin

Hans-Joachim Quade, Galway

Evelyn Walsh, Dublin

The winners will be announced by competion judge, Celeste Augé, at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 25th, 6.30-8pm, when the Featured Readers will by Colette Bryce, Des Kavanagh & Orla Higgins. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.

Roddy Lumsden at first Over The Edge: Open Reading after Summer break

The August Over The Edge: Open Reading takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, August 28th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Vincent Flannery, Bernie Crawford & Roddy Lumsden (pictured).

Vincent Flannery was born in Warrington, England but grew up in Ballyglunin, Co. Galway. He works with Family Support Services with the HSE in Galway. He has participated in creative writing classes at Galway Technical Institute. In 2007 Vincent made the long list for the Over the Edge, New Writer of the Year competition with his short story, 'Choices'. He has written several other short stories and has recently completed his first novel, Blackbird, which he hopes to have published in the near future.

Bernie Crawford is originally from County Limerick, but moved to Galway in the early nineteen eighties and now lives in Maree, Oranmore. She has lived and worked extensively in southern Africa, including Lesotho, Zambia and Tanzania. Bernie has been writing poetry on and off for some time, but started writing more seriously two years ago. She was recently a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop at Galway Arts Centre.

Roddy Lumsden has published four books of poetry, most recently Mischief Night - New & Selected Poems (Bloodaxe). His fifth collection Third Wish Wasted is due in early 2009. Originally from St Andrews in Scotland, Roddy lives in London where he teaches for The Poetry School. He has done editing work on several prize-winning poetry collections and is organiser and host of the reading series BroadCast in London. He is currently compiling Identity Parade, a major anthology of recent British and Irish poets.

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. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

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

Creative Writing Classes with Dave Lordan at Bray Institute of Further Education

Award winning poet Dave Lordan is giving a new round of creative writing classes at Bray Institute of Further Education (www.bife.ie/nightclasses 012866233) beginning on Monday 22nd Sept (Beginners) and Tuesday 23rd Sept (Intermediate). The course will last ten weeks and the cost is 95 euro.





COURSE OUTLINE

* THE OVERALL AIM OF THE COURSE IS TO GIVE STUDENTS THE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN WRITING VISION ALONG WITH THE METHODS TO CARRY THAT VISION OUT.

* A WIDE VARIETY OF SHORT TEXTS FROM WRITERS AND CRITICS WILL BE USED IN PHOTOCOPY. HOWEVER, THE MAIN FOCUS WILL BE ON LOOKING AT AND IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ OWN WORK

* STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN REALISTICALLY ACHIEVABLE GOALS AND SHORT, BUT USEFUL, CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISES TO COMPLETE EACH WEEK..

* AT THE END STUDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SMALL AND WELL-WORKED CREATIVE WRITING PORTFOLIO.

* THE COURSE CAN BE TWEAKED TO SUIT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND ABILITIES.

WEEKS 1-4 BASICS OF WRITING

INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING- WHY WRITE.

Using quotations and short texts from experienced and successful Creative Writers we allow each individual student to come to establish and express their own particular motivations for writing.

WHAT TO WRITE- A LOOK AT GENRE AND SUB-GENRE.

The decision to begin writing creatively is the first step in a huge and sometimes bewildering journey. One of the first questions we will need to provide an answer for is what should we write? Films? Poetry? Horror? Aphorisms? Comic strips? Invent a completely new genre to suit ourselves? The answer depends on personal circumstances, as well as ON the individual talents, goals and insights of the students. This session will look at students bringing to bear their talents and insights on the particular genre/s of writing most suitable to them.

HOW TO WRITE-INSPIRATION AND ROUTINE.

The focus is on finding the space, time and method, in the light of each students individual personality, goals and circumstances to write. Keeping notebooks. Regular writing sessions. Personal deadlines. Short, medium and long term goals.

READING AND WRITING-LEARNING FROM THE MASTERS.

A look at the work and techniques of some of the great masters of past and present. The supreme importance of wide and constant reading to improving one's own writing. The focus here is on the infinite variety of writing masks and voices, with the aim of building up each student's belief in their own individual vision and powers of expression.

WEEKS 5-8 INTO ACTION


BUILDING A CREATIVE WRITING PORTFOLIO

In this central part of the course we will take turns to provide group feedback and constructive criticism on each other's work. The aim is to build up student's ability to be objective in analysing and bettering their material. Over the course of the four weeks the students will build up a small portfolio of work in at least two genres. The students will realise through this that consistent work and genuine criticism improves their writing. They will also have the basics of a portfolio needed to apply to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Creative Writing.


WEEKS 9-10 KEEPING GOING


STICKING AT IT 1- EDITING AND PERSEVERANCE.

How to be ruthless in applying the editor's pen to your own work. Drafting, redrafting and proofreading. How to bring work to a satisfactory completion. This session will also look at Writing as a life-long journey and at how to make a long term space for writing in your life.


STICKING AT IT 2- OUTLETS FOR YOUR WRITING.

This session looks at how to find an appreciative and responsive audience for your writing. Publishing and self-publishing. Magazines and online journals. Creative writing groups. Publishers and agents. Teaching students finally that the most important audience for their writing is themselves.

FOLLOW UPS TO CONSIDER

1) STUDENTS ORGANISE A READING TO WHICH STUDENTS TEACHERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE INVITED.

2) STUDENTS PREPARE AND PUBLISH A JOINT COLLECTION OF THEIR WORK.

Either or both of these suggestions usually generate press interest and are huge feel-good factors for the students, as well as generating positive feedback for the school. They are a record of the class's achievement and as such are something the school can point to when trying to attract further students.

Long-list for 2008 Over The Edge 'New Writer of the Year'

The long-list for the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition is as follows:

Megan Buckley, Galway
Marie Cadden, Galway
Aron Costello
Veronica Creavin-Newell, Galway
Alistair Daniel, Dublin
Madeleine D'Arcy, Cork
Terry Dineen, Galway
Fiona Clark Echlin, Tipperary
Kate Dempsey, Kildare
Michael Farry, Meath
Lisa Frank, Galway
Cristina Galvin, Galway
Denise Garvey, Galway
Paula Gilbert, Mayo
Patrick Gleeson, Kilkenny
Mary Hanlon, Mayo
Eamonn Harrigan, Galway
Sandra Jensen, Cork
Hugo Kelly, Galway
Brian Kirk, Dublin
Tom Lavelle, Galway
Wes Lee, New Zealand
Niamh Madden, Offaly
Mary Madec, Galway
Donny Mahoney, Dublin
Anna May Mangan, Middlesex
Gemma Marren, Mayo
Anne McCreanor, Somerset
Alan McMonagle, Galway
Brendan Murphy, Galway
Mary Noonan, Cork
Rita O'Donoghue, Galway
David O'Dwyer, Dublin
Mairin O'Grady, Kildare
Aiden O'Reilly, Dublin
John Picardo, Galway
Hans-Joachim Quade, Galway
Maire T. Robinson, Galway
Dave Rock, Galway
Gerard Sarnat, California
Valerie Sirr, Dublin
Evelyn Walsh, Dublin

The shortlist will be announced by competion judge, Celeste Augé, at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, August 28th, 6.30-8pm, when the Featured Readers will by Roddy Lumsden, Bernie Crawford & Vincent Flannery

Celeste Augé to judge 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition: €1,000 in prizes PLUS reading opportunity

LATEST NEWS: The competition deadline has now passed and we are no longer taking entries. This year's competition has been a major success, attracting 220 entries, a 90% increase on last year, some of them from as far afield as New Zealand and California. A long list of forty will be announced in Charlie Byrnes' Bookshop at 6pm on Wednesday, August 20th; the shortlist of eight will be announced at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, August 28th; and the winners will announced at the same venue on Thursday, September 25th. Celeste Augé was born in Canada, but moved to Galway when she was 12 years old. She writes both poetry and fiction. Her poems have appeared in a wide variety of literary journals. She has read her work as part of Poetry Ireland's Introductions and also at the Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in 2006. In 2006 also, she was awarded the Publication Assistance Grant by Galway County Council. Tornadoes For The Weathergirl, a chapbook of her poems, was published in 2007. Her first full collection, The Essential Guide to Flight, is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry.













Over The Edge New Writer of the Year sponsored by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Bank of Ireland, Kelly Office Supplies and Des & Mary Kavanagh

The Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2008 competition is open to both poets and fiction writers. The winner will receive a cash prize of €600, a spot as a Featured Reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading, and the title Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2008. The runner-up will receive a cash prize of €300, while the third-placed writer will receive €100.

Entries should be sent to Over The Edge, New Writer of the Year competition, 3 Carbry Road, Newcastle, Galway, Ireland with an accompanying SAE.

Entries will be judged anonymously, so do not put your name on your poem(s) or story. Put your contact details on a separate sheet.

Criteria: fiction of up to three thousand words, three poems of up to forty lines, or one poem of up to one hundred lines. Entries longer than these will be disqualified. Multiple entries are acceptable but each entry must be accompanied by a €15 fee and an SAE. Fee payable by cheque or money order to Over The Edge. All entries must be typed.

To take part you must be at least sixteen years old by August 1st 2008 and not have a book published or accepted for publication. Chapbooks excepted. Poems and stories entered in the competition must not have been previously published.

THE CLOSING DATE IS AUGUST 1ST 2008. A shortlist of eight will be announced in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008. The Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2008 will be announced at the Over The Edge reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 25th, 2008. The winner will be a Featured Reader at a reading to be scheduled in Galway City Library in Winter 07/08.

For further details contact Over The Edge on 087-6431748 or e-mail over-the-edge-openreadings@hotmail.com

September Poetry Workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

This September Galway Arts Centre is offering aspiring poets a choice of three poetry workshops, all 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 also by Salmon Poetry and his poetry is discussed in the recently published Cambridge Introduction to Modern Irish Poetry.

Kevin is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success. One of his workshop participants at Galway Arts Centre recently won the prestigious Hennessy Award for New Irish Poetry, while another had her first full collection of poems published by one of Ireland’s major poetry publishers.

Each workshop will run for ten weeks, commencing the week of September 15th. They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm (first class September 16th); Wednesday afternoons, 2-3.30pm (first class September 17th); and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm (first class September 18th).

The Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon workshops are 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

Range of Autumn Creative Writing Classes at G.T.I

Creative Writing for Beginners with Kevin Higgins takes place one evening per week (Monday) from 7.00-9pm for ten weeks. It commences on Monday, 22nd September, 2008. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €120. 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 (pictured) takes place one evening per week (Tuesday) from 7.00-9pm for ten weeks. It commences on Tuesday, 23rd September, 2008. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €120. 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 or go to http://www.gti.ie/

Creative Writing at Galway Arts Centre with Susan Millar DuMars

This September 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 recently by Salmon Poetry. Susan is a renowned creative writing teacher, and with her husband Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library.

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. They will then be expected to edit their pieces in time for the final class. Thus, students will gain experience in giving and responding to constructive criticism; and will, by the end of the course, have perhaps half a dozen polished pieces of writing finished. An ideal course for anyone who wants help moving from inspiration to finished product.

The class takes place on Monday afternoons, 2-3.30pm, commencing on Monday September 15th 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

GMIT: Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

Susan Millar DuMars will give support, instruction and feedback to students 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, September 24th. Advance booking is essential. Places cost €120.00. For further details or to book a place contact GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway. Telephone 091 753161 or see http://www.gmit.ie/

New issue of West 47 now online

You can read the lastest issue of Galway Arts Centre's online literary quarterly at http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/

This issue includes new work by Deirdre Kearney, Mags Treanor and Aoife Casby, as well as work by the four participants in this year's Cúirt Festival Over The Edge showcase reading, Mary Mullen, Megan Buckley, Fergal McNally & Hennessy Award Winner, Mary Madec. There is also a review of this year's Cúirt Festival by poet Brian Turner.

From Madrid, Los Angeles, St Louis, Dublin, Galway & Tuam: Writers gather at Sheridan’s Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Philip Casey, Eamonn Wall, Aideen Henry, John Liddy, Jarlath Fahy & John Menaghan at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, July 18th, 8pm.

Philip Casey was born to Irish parents in London in 1950 and grew up in Co Wexford. His publications include three collections of verse: Those Distant Summers (Dublin, Raven Arts Press, 1980); After Thunder (Raven Arts Press, 1985); and The Year of the Knife Poems 1980-1990, (Raven Arts Press Dublin, 1991). A fourth collection of poetry, Dialogue in Fading Light, was published by New Island Books in 2005. He has also published three novels, The Fabulists (Dublin, The Lilliput Press, 1994/ London,Serif Books, 1995); The Water Star (London, Picador, 1999); and The Fisher Child (Picador, 2001). A member of Aosdána, Philip initiated and maintains the website Irish Writers Online. He lives in Dublin.

Eamonn Wall was born and raised in Co. Wexford, has lived in the US since 1982 and is now settled in Missouri. His poetry collections to date are Dyckman--200th Street (1994), Iron Mountain Road (1997), The Crosses (2000), and Refuge at Desoto Bend (2004) all published by Salmon. From the Sin-é Café to the Black Hills (2000), a volume of essays on the Irish Diaspora, received the Michael J. Durkan Prize from the American Conference for Irish Studies for excellence in scholarship. Eamonn Wall teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. This reading will be the Galway launch of Eamonn’s fifth collection of poems, A Tour of Your Country (Salmon Poetry).

Aideen Henry lives and works in Galway. Her poems have been published in The Shop, Soutword, West 47, Crannóg, Revival, The Cúirt Annual & The Stony Thursday Book. She is currently a student on the MA in Writing at NUI Galway. Aideen has also taken part in poetry workshops at Galway Arts Centre. She has read her poems many times at the Over The Edge open-mic; was a Featured Reader at the March 2007 Over The Edge: Open Reading and was shortlisted for this year’s Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading.

Jarlath Fahy is a native of Tuam Co Galway. He is a dramatic reader of his work. He has read at the Voices from The Tower lunchtime readings in Galway’s Fisheries Tower, been a featured reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library and also featured at North Beach Poetry Nights. He has been compared to both Paul Durcan and Pat McCabe for his darkly comic content and to ee cummings for his typographical style. The Man Who Was Haunted By Beautiful Smells (Wordsonthestreet, 2008) is Jarlath’s first published collection.

John Liddy was born in Youghal, Co. Cork, grew up in Limerick and now lives in Spain. His poetry collections include Boundaries (1974), The Angling Cot (1991), Song of the Empty Cage (1997), Wine and Hope (1999), Cast-A-Net (2003) & The Well: New and Selected Poems (2007). 'La Barca de la Arena' (a translation by Francisco Rivero in Spanish of The Angling Cot), 'Poisionous Pleasure' (a tanslation by John Liddy from 'Tosigo Ardento' by José Maria Álvarez) will both be published soon. His work has been widely praised by critics such as Desmond O’Grady and Patrick Galvin. He lives in Madrid.

John Menaghan was born in New Jersey to Irish-American parents. He teaches literature and creative writing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he also serves as Director of both the Irish Studies and Summer in Ireland programs and runs the annual Irish Cultural Festival. His most recent collection of poems, She Alone - a book-length poetic sequence, which traces the life of an imaginary woman from birth to death and beyond – was published in 2006 by Salmon Poetry. It has been described by the Hudson Review as “one of the best books” of the year.

There is no entrance fee. All are welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.


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

North Beach Poetry Summer Break

North Beach Poetry returns on Tuesday September 9th, 7pm with a new series of readings in Galway City Museum

The line-up is:
Sep. 09: Lorna Shaughnessy, Kevin Higgins, Robyn Rowland(Australia)

Oct. 07 Susan Millar Du Mars, Pete Mullineaux, Caroline Lynch

Nov. 04: Miceál Kearney, Moya Roddy, Jarlath Fahy

Dec. 09: John Walsh, Alan McMonagle, Moya Cannon (in association with Poetry Ireland)


AND North Beach Poetry Nights returns!

on Monday 15th September at 9pm

in its new venue: The Crane, Sea Road.

Guests for September Elaine Feeney and Neil McCarthy (Galway)

October: Raven (Dublin)

November: Tim Wells (London)

December: Lucy English (Bristol)


In the meantime, if you missed the launch of Miceál Kearney's debut collection

'Inheritance' from Doire Press,

you can pick it up for 10 Euro in Charlie Byrne's or direct at http://www.doirepress.com/

John Walsh (091-593290)

Counterparts Stories from Contemporary Ireland

Mephisto Theatre Company
Presents:
Counterparts: Stories from Contemporary Ireland
July's Theme: 'Men and Boys'

Mephisto Theatre Company is sorting out the boys from the men this month at the King's Head Ruby Room. Our aim is to provide a platform for local talent to showcase their stuff. Join us for the first instalment of our short fiction readings featuring work by local and Galway-based writers, headlined this month by Alan McMonagle. For more information contact us at mephisto.theatre@gmail.com


Where: The King's Head Ruby room
When: Wednesday 9th July, 8pm
Cost: €5 / €3--

Mephisto Theatre Company

50 Grattan Pk

The Claddagh

Galway

Ireland

http://www.mephistotheatre.org/

American & Irish Poets at Sheridan's Wine Bar Summer Reading

Over The Edge presents a reading by poets Caroline Lynch, Drucilla Wall, Neil McCarthy, Terry McDonagh & Charlene Speeren at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, June 27th, 8pm.

Caroline Lynch was born in 1976 and grew up in Cork. She now lives in Galway. While in college, she was the inaugural winner of the Sean Dunne poetry competition. In 2001 she was short listed for the Seacat/Poetry Ireland award. Her poems have appeared in Poetry Ireland, in an anthology of new writing, The Incredible Hides in Every House, edited by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and in Writers Seeking Lovers. She won the Listowel Writers' Week poetry collection competition in 2007. Her debut collection, Lost in the Gaeltacht, is just published by Salmon Poetry.

Drucilla Wall has published poems and essays in Cream City Review, Kalliope, The People Who Stayed: South Eastern Indian Writing After Removal; Eating Fire, Tasting Blood: Breaking the Great Silence of the American Indian Holocaust; Times of Sorrow/Times of Grace: Writing by Women of the Great Plains/High Plains; and True West: Authenticity and the American West. She serves on the executive board for the Western Literature Association and holds membership in the Wordcraft Circle of Native American Writers. She teaches writing at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

Neil McCarthy is originally from Cork but currently lives in Galway. His poems have appeared in a wide variety of prestigous journals internationally. In 2007 Neil was chosen to take part in both the Poetry Ireland Introductions readings and the Cúirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading. He has just returned from a European reading tour with fellow Galway poet, Stephen Murray, which included a highly successful performance at the Prague Fringe Festival.

Terry McDonagh is a poet and dramatist. He recently returned to live in his native Mayo after over twenty years living in Hamburg. He has published several collections of poetry, a book of letters, a play, and a short novel for young people. He has worked in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. His work has been translated into many different languages, including German and Indonesian. His most recent publication, Cill Aodáin & Nowhere Else, is a collection of poems illustrated by artist Sally McKenna – with a preface by Seamus Cashman.

Charlene Spearen is Poet in Residence at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina. She is the Program Coordinator for the University of South Carolina's Arts Institute and Assistant Director of the South Carolina’s Poetry Initiative. Charlene teaches Composition and Poetry classes at the University of South Carolina. Her work has appeared in The Southern Poetry Anthology: South Carolina (Texas Review Press, 2007), Yemmessee, Writers at Carolina, Aspects, and Promise Magazine. She was the 2001 winner of the James Dickey Award for Poetry. Her chapbook Without Possessions won the 2006 Stepping Stone Press Editors Series Award.

There is no entrance fee. All are welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

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

Galway launch of 'Poems from Guantánamo-The Detainees Speak'

Over The Edge
in association with
Amnesty International
presents the Galway launch of
Poems from Guantánamo–
The Detainees Speak
readings of poems by
Guantánamo detainees
by Rita Ann Higgins, Mary O Malley,
Elaine Feeney, Sheikh Khaled (Imam of Galway Mosque), Stephen Murray, Charlene Spearen & Gary King on International Day against Torture Thursday 26th June 2008, 7pm @ The Amnesty International Shop, Middle Street, Galway

http://www.amnesty.ie/live/irish/default.asp

Roundstone Arts Week poetry workshop with Geraldine Mills

Adult Poetry Day workshop by Geraldine Mills
Tues. 1st July 10.00am - 12.00pm & 2.00-4.00pm
to suit beginners and more advanced writers

for further info contact Geraldine, germills@eircom.net, 087-2685250, 091-550430 or see website http://www.roundstoneartsweek.net/

Pete Mullineaux launches debut poetry collection

Gerard Hanberry will launch the debut poetry collection by Pete Mullineaux, entitled A Father's Day, and published by Salmon Publishing. http://www.salmonpoetry.com/

Venue: Galway Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway Time: 1 pm T: 091-532 460 E: Maeve.Williams@galwaycity.ie
http://petemullineaux@gmail.com



"Keen-eyed and lyrical, this superbly crafted exploration of the male identity is both rich and touching in its honesty and vulnerability. We see the poet reflect on what it means to be a partner, a father and a man who has lost a father. Emotional and tender but also humorous, witty and philosophical, this is a brave collection from a wonderful poetic mind. No hat, no horse, no Marlboro and yet -- behold the man." Gerard Hanberry

North Beach Poetry presents Michael O'Loughlin at Galway City Museum

North Beach Poetry presents Michael O'Loughlin
reading at Galway City Museum, 3pm Saturday, June 7th.

Michael O'Loughlin was born in Dublin in 1958 and educated at TCD. After co-founding Raven Arts Press in the 1970s he lived for many years in Spain and the Netherlands before returning to Ireland in recent years. His most recent book of poetry called Another Nation: New and Selected Poems was published by New Island Books./Arc. About this book Colm Toibin wrote in the Guardian: 'Michael O'Loughlin has been a hidden voice in Irish writing: his exile in Europe has given him dark insights into our own exile in Ireland. His poetic tone is sure and clear, and certain poems in this book are real masterpieces.' In addition he has written many screenplays, the most recent of which is Snapshots (2003) starring Burt Reynolds and Julie Christie. He is curretly Galway City Writer in Residence and has just edited Galway: City of Strangers, a collection of writing by immigrants in Galway.

Michael O'Loughlin will be introduced by James Harrold, Galway City Arts Officer

Admission free

info: John Walsh 091-593290

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

Dennis O'Driscoll reads at final Over The Edge: Open Reading before Summer break

The May Over The Edge: Open Reading takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street on Thursday, May 29th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Michael S. Begnal, Deirdre Kearney & Dennis O’Driscoll.








Michael S. Begnal is a dual Irish/American citizen, born in the United States in 1966. He spent many years living in Ireland, and was editor of the Galway-based literary magazine, The Burning Bush. He returned to live in the US in 2004. His first collection of poems, The Lakes of Coma (Six Gallery Press), was published in 2003. His work has appeared in numerous journals and in the anthology Breaking the Skin: New Irish Poetry (Black Mountain Press). His Irish-language writing has been published in Comhar, Lá, and the Go nuige seo anthologies (Coiscéim). His second collection of poems, Ancestor Worship, was published by Salmon Poetry last year.

Deirdre Kearney is originally from Omagh, County Tyrone, but has lived in Galway since 1983. She is a participant in the Advanced Poetry Workshop at Galway Arts Centre. Her poems have been published in West 47, Cúirt New Writing 2007, The Ulster Herald, Crannóg, Words on the Web, Tinteán, Australian-Irish Magazine- Treóir, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann magazine, the Over the Edge website & Galway Exposed. She has previously read her work at the Over the Edge Open-Mic, Westside Library, The Galway Arts Centre Nuns’ Island Studio, the Poets for Oxfam launch in Galway in 2006 and North Beach Poetry Nights.

Dennis O’Driscoll was born in Thurles in 1954. His eight poetry collections include Weather Permitting (Anvil Press, 1999), which was a Poetry Books Society Recommendation and was shortlisted for the Irish Times Poetry Prize, Exemplary Damages (2002) and New and Selected Poems (2004). His most recent collection, Reality Check (2007) was also shortlisted for the Irish Times/Poetry Now Prize. A selection of his essays and reviews, Troubled Thoughts, Majestic Dreams was published by Gallery Press in 2001. He is editor of the Bloodaxe Book of Poetry Quotations (2006). His next book, Stepping Stones: Interviews with Seamus Heaney will be published by Faber and Faber in November. He is a member of Aosdána. He has worked as a civil servant since the age of sixteen.

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. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-63431748.

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