Always handy to know.
(Source: givesmethewiggins, via imgfave)
Celebrate All-Ireland Poetry Day
Thurs 1st Oct 2009 in Derry
Café Del Mondo, Guildhall Square will be celebrating National Poetry Day from 2pm - 5pm with an informal afternoon of readings from a wide range of local poets and actors that include the 2009 Derry Poetry Slam winner, Michael Duddy; award-winning playwright Dave Duggan; Guildhall Press author Jenni Doherty plus Spoken Word artist James King among many others. Local youth and community groups, primary and secondary schools, creative writing groups and individuals are invited to come along and read their favourite poem, or their own work, on the day. For more details contact Jenni: irishpenjen@yahoo.co.uk or Café Del Mondo: Tel: 02871370989
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Libraries NI Derry’s Central Library, Foyle Street, is delighted to welcome international best-selling author Jennifer Johnston to at 7:30pm. Jennifer will be reading from her books and talking about her life as an author. All are welcome to what promises to be a interesting and enjoyable evening. Free admission. Light refreshments will be available. For more details contact Maura Craig, Central Library: Tel: 02871272300
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Upstairs in Sandino’s Bar, Water Street, will be hosting a Charity Gig in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support featuring musicians David Oliver, Johanna Fegan, Tom Brennan, Neil Burns and DJ Kev. Poets include the Quirky Quartet of Wordsmiths: Brian Bailey (Belfast), Jenni Doherty, James King & Mary-Lorraine McHugh (Runner-Up in the recent Derry Poetry Slam). Door 10pm. Tickets £4. For more details contact Carol Devlin: devlin@hotmail.co.uk or Tel: 07845353888
The Tweeting Shebeen
via davysims.com
The Tweeting Shebeen
“There was a time a few months ago I dismissed Twitter as being a total waste of time, a place where sad geeks tweeted about anything and everything they did. Now I realise that people from all walks of life are connecting via Twitter in meaningful ways. I thought why not see if writers and poets and those with an interest in writing can connect on Twitter too?”
Poet and blogger David Todd < www.google.com/profiles/davetodd7> puts his finger on it. Social Media is useful if you have a reason to use it. Some who first look at Twitter see a long list of often short, unconnected and inconsequential messages amounting to no more than:
- The cat just sneezed
- The cat just sneezed again
- The cat hasn’t sneezed for 10 minutes, now.
Others see an apparent lack of structure which puts them off, particularly when on their first few visits they don’t know any or many of the people who are posting. David started a group for writers through Tweetworks < www.tweetworks.com > a system which can help put a structure in place by arranging the posts.
“With the creation of the group Writers’ Shebeen
< www.tweetworks.com/groups/view/WritersShebeen > it means there’s a place where writers on Twitter can connect and they don’t waste valuable writing time.” He told me. “Also, there are so many talented writers and poets in Northern Ireland that don’t have the time or desire to join established creative writing groups and could join or just read tweets at Writers’ Shebeen group and hopefully read a tweet that might encourage or inspire them to write.”Northern Irish authors and publishers have realised that the Internet is a very important marketing tool; this group can be one of the tools used to help sell books. “I’ve seen tweets by authors read by thousands of people re-tweeted and the message they’ve sent reaches millions of people in a few minutes.”
Writers’ Shebeen started with a few people but is growing. David is hoping real life connections will be made between writers. “Maybe these connections could result in workshops, poetry slams, readings and book launches being arranged or people just meeting [a tweet up] over a coffee or a pint for a chat about writing.”
ENNISKILLEN LITERATURE WEEKEND
POETRY LUNCH featuring poets Kevin Quinn and Mary Montague
Acclaimed native Fermanagh poets read from their work
At the Clinton Centre, Enniskillen
Saturday, 17th October, 1-2pm
ADMISSION FREE
READINGS BY WRITERS featuring Fermanagh Creative Writing Group
Local writers share their stories and poetry
At Russell & Donnelly Café, 28 Darling Street, Enniskillen
Sunday, 18th October, 3-5pm
ADMISSION FREE
Kevin Quinn is a native of Enniskillen now living in Belfast. His poems have appeared in a number of outlets including Fortnight and Poetry Ireland Review. He has been a speaker on poets and poetry for a number of years, giving talks in a variety of venues including art centres, schools and at literary festivals. A librarian by profession, he is a Reader Development librarian with libraries NI, based at Lisburn City Library.
Mary Montague is a native of Ederney, Co. Fermanagh, and worked for many years as a teacher in Derry. Her latest collection Tribe (Dedalus Press) was released in 2008. She has published widely in Ireland, the UK and North America. Her first collection Black Wolf on a White Plain (Summer Palace Press) was released in 2001. She currently works freelance as a writer and tutor and lives in County Derry, in the foothills of the Sperrins.
WRITING FOR CHILDREN
Ballyemaon Barn workshop
WRITING FOR CHILDREN
A workshop with Maddie Stewart
Saturday 26th September 10.00 a.m.- 4.30 p.m.
Ballyeamon Barn, Cushendall, Co Antrim BT44 0QP
Cost: £30 (conc.£25 ) including lunch/tea/coffee
Maddie is a children’s author who lives near Downpatrick, Co Down. Her many titles including Peg (Mammoth, Heineman, 1999), which has also been translated into Italian (Mondadori) and is available in the USA and Canada (Crabtree). She has also published Clever Daddy (Walker Books, 2003) and Bertie Rooster (O’Brien Press, 2003). Cinders (O’Brien Press, 2007). Her most recent publication is Hal’s Sleepover (O’Brien Press, 2008) which was shortlisted for RAI biennial award.
What people said after the last similar workshop here at the Barn:
Maddie was a wonderful tutor to spend a Saturday with. I feel energised, excited and empowered!
Very good information, presented with charm and humour.
Excellent, informative and really worthwhile - I feel really encouraged!
Brilliant writing workshop!
Numbers limited - to book please contact Liz Weir liz@lizweir.net or tel: 028 2175 8451 (from Republic of Ireland tel: +44 2821758451)
A quarter past noon
by Stray Taoist
# first draft # first time #all comments welcomed!
You can now leave comments/critique on this here
Watching the Swifts
There is a boy who is not me.
Who is not me the way a seed is
not the flower, the way a spring is
not the river the way the sky-blue
eggs in the hedgerow are
not the bird.
He sits in the reeds beside
the turn of a river.
I cannot tell what he is thinking
I can no more fathom him than he,
try as he might, could see me far off
in a whole different countryside
sitting again to watch the swifts
and the swallows fly.
a place for great creative writers & poets and would-be creative writers & poets from Northern Ireland to tweet about writing, share links etc.
