36th Listowel Writer's Week

Last month was the 36th Listowel writer's week, where Sebastian Barry won the 'k e r r y g r o u p i r i s h f i c t i o n a w a r d' worth 10,000 euro. for more information you can go to the official wensite here: www.writersweek.ie
Since it’s inception in 1970 Listowel Writers’ Week has been recognised as the primary event in Ireland’s literary calendar. North Kerry is the birthplace of many of Ireland’s most prominent writers past and present including Dr. John B Keane, Dr Bryan Mac Mahon, Professor Brendan Kennelly, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, George Fitzmaurice, Maurice Walsh and Robert Leslie Boland. Writers’ Week festival was established in 1970 to celebrate those writers and to provide an opportunity for Irish Writers in general to develop their talents and meet new audiences.

The concept of the Literary Workshop was first introduced at Writers’ Week in 1971 by Bryan MacMahon. Since then our Literary Workshops continue to be the most popular in the country. Prominent Irish writers have shared their skills in poetry, fiction, theatre, screen, writing for radio and children’s literature.

Competitions were introduced, together with a series of literary awards, which have given valuable recognition to new writers over the last number of years. In that time many eminent Irish and international literary figures have gathered in Listowel at the annual Maytime event to celebrate the work of new and established writers. Participants have included Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Booker Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro, Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, Laurence Block, Blake Morrison, Chris Whyte, award winning playwrights Tom Murphy, Brian Friel, Roddy Doyle, Frank McGuinness and Hugh Leonard, celebrated poets Michael Hartnett, Richard Murphy, John Montague, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Kate Cruise O’ Brien, Aidan Matthews, Rita Ann Higgins and acclaimed novelists Colm Tóibín, Jennifer Johnston, John McGahern, Joseph O’ Connor, Hugo Hamilton, William Trevor, Colum McCann and Edna O’ Brien.

Under the leadership of its president David Marcus, together with literary advisors Professor Brendan Kennelly, Seamus Hosey, Colm Tóibín, Lawrence Block and Michael Collins, Writers’ Week provides a wide ranging programme of literary and assorted cultural events including lectures, readings, workshops, book launchings, seminars, theatre, literary and historical tours, art exhibitions, music and dance.