LATE APRIL EVENTS

Busy doesn't even nibble at the edges of where I am just now, so here's a round-up of where to find me this week:

ONE CITY ONE BOOK, DUBLIN

Monday 23rd, Cabra Library, 6.30pm: The Long Gaze Back One City One Book event with Eimear Ryan, Susan Stairs and Sinéad Gleeson.

CÚIRT FESTIVAL, GALWAY

Tuesday 24th, Town Hall Theatre, Galway. Reading my flash 'Pearl' at the launch of ROPES.

Wednesday 25th, Charlie Byrne's Bookshop. Launching three new Salmon poetry collections by the fabulous trio that are Moya Roddy, Paul Kingsnorth and Anne Casey.

Thursday 26th, Bite Club, Galway. Reading from my story 'The Boy from Petropólis' at the launch of the brand new Stinging Fly anthology.

CÚIRT 2016

Belinda McKeon signing books at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway

I haven't time to dwell on the usual post-Cúirt deflation as I am on a deadline (Friday!) with novel #4. This is my first round of re-writes for my editor in NY and, oh, it went so well today. I am exhausted after Cúirt but a good night's sleep had me right on track this morning. There is nothing quite like the high when the writing goes well, when the questions posed can be answered (and Tara, my ed, asks good questions). I even forgot about lunch which anyone who knows me will realise is UNBELIEVABLE.

Jennifer Johnston signing books at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway

Cúirt was fantastic, as ever. I had the privilege of interviewing writers Jennifer Johnston and Belinda McKeon together. I hope that at 86 I am still writing, still publishing, as Jennifer is. Her 18th novel, Naming the Stars, appears in June. She read from it, and Belinda read from Tender (that hilarious scene where the young Catherine interviews An Older Irish Male Writer), and both were brilliant.

We talked about yearning, discomfort and language in fiction, as well as autobiography, parents and POV characters (male vs female main protagonists). We spoke about growing up as regards character development and parental hobbling in Jennifer's novel. We talked about the Irish writer's obligation when it comes to The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Both writers had plenty of interesting things to say and, really, an hour was far too short a spell to spend with them. We could've yammered on and on. If I loved both women before, I love them even more now.

Long Gaze panel - pic by Majella O'Dea

I also took part in a panel discussion based around The Long Gaze Back anthology with its editor Sinéad Gleeson, Belinda McKeon and Cúirt director Dani Gill. We covered lots of topics: #ReadWomen, the importance of networking, mentors and champions, the need to keep the gender conversation in literature wide and ongoing, the importance of mutual support for women writers (giving back), the Baileys Prize and more.

Juno with Prospect Hill graffiti - Irish for 'Take courage'

A pretty poor pic of Sinéad Gleeson & Leslie Jamison

In terms of attending events for pleasure, I managed to hear several fantastic writers, including Leslie Jamison, Kirsty Logan, Miriam Toews and Joanna Walsh. There was a wonderful chiming of themes discussed, all things I am super-interested in: grief, memory, mental illness, and 'truth' in fiction. My mind was racing with thoughts and ideas (and admiration) after each reading/discussion. And I bought books, lots of lovely books, from Charlie Byrne's wide selection.

Me, signing and chatting - The Long Gaze Back

On the social side, I had lunch, tea, wine, din-dins and fun with plenty of wondrous people including Sinéad Gleeson, Belinda McKeon, Joanna Walsh, Lisa McInerney (she of the Baileys Prize shortlisting - woot!), super-successful YA writer Louise O'Neill, Tom Morris of the Stinging Fly, Declan Meade of the same parish, New York-based writer Joshua Ferris, my Smokelong pal Chris Allen and his partner. It was all very jolly and exhausting. We even managed a spin out to Salthill and Barna to eat ginormous fruit salads and bagels, and be mesmerised by the sea. As we drove back in by the Claddagh, I was reminded of why I moved to Galway twenty years go - it really is a magical place.

CÚIRT NEW WRITING PRIZE 2016

The Cúirt New Writing Prize, in memory of Lena Maguire, is now open for submissions. Entries should be sent via email to: info@cuirt.ie

There is a €500 cash prize for the winner in each category and an opportunity to read at the Cúirt/Over the Edge Showcase event at Cúirt 2016. This years judges are Elaine Feeney (poetry) and Declan Meade (Fiction).

Young Cúirt (Ages 12-17)

The winner will receive €100 cash prize and they will have the opportunity to read at the 2016 Cúirt Labs in April.

The guidelines for both adult and youth submissions are as follows: Poetry entries must consist of 3 poems under 50 lines each, and fiction pieces may be up to 2000 words. Entries in both English and Irish are welcome. Writers submitting work should not have had a collection published in the category in which they enter.

The entry fee for each submission is €10, this can be paid via the Paypal button at: www.cuirt.ie. When emailing submissions, please include the unique transaction ID and the account owners name. Entries should be sent via email to: info@cuirt.ie

The closing date for submissions is Thursday 28 January 2016 at 5pm. For further information see: www.cuirt.ie

RETREAT NEEDED IN JUNE & ULLAPOOL APPEARANCE

I had a whole post written about Cúirt - quite a personal one - but my computer acted the maggot and needed restarting, and I lost the post despite saving it in a document - wtf? I haven't the heart, energy, head-space or patience to re-write it. Let it suffice to say, I enjoyed the few events I attended. Highlight: Evie Wyld and Jenny Offill in conversation with the always-wonderful Sinéad Gleeson.

Sinéad, Evie, Jenny

I am coming to the end of writing novel #4. Nine months for a first draft on this one. (But I will NOT refer to it as a gestation or the book as a baby - that kind of talk is a pet hate. Giving birth and raising kids is WAY harder than writing books, in my experience.)

It feels good to be at this point - the part where I feel I can breathe again. I will now walk away from the novel for a few weeks then come back and try to make sense of it and knock it into a shape good enough to show my agent. I tried to get a spot in Annaghmakerrig to go over it but they are full. Sigh. Does anyone know of a place I could retreat to for a few days in June (not too expensive and in Ireland, north or south) to work on this?

The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool

Next week I go to Ullapool to read at their book festival - it's the setting, in the Scottish Highlands, for my last novel The Closet of Savage Mementos. I worked there in a gorgeous hotel called The Ceilidh Place twenty-three years ago and my novel is loosely based on that time. Another ex-Placer, Linda Cracknell, is also on the festival bill. The Stornoway Gazette has done a wee feature on the pair of us. The article is here.

Zoë Strachan will be chairing my event at the festival and I am reading her latest novel Ever Fallen in Love in advance - it is set north of Ullapool, coincidentally, and I am very much enjoying it. In another coincidence, it is published by Sandstone Press who will publish the UK version of Miss Emily in August. It's all good.

Poetry Ireland and Cúirt announce bursary

Poetry Ireland, in association with Cúirt International Festival of Literature, is offering an emerging poet aged 35 or under the opportunity to attend all poetry readings, launches and workshops at the festival, which takes place in Galway this year from 21-27 April. The bursary also covers travel and accommodation costs and the deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 27th March. More here.

CRANNÓG EVENT - READING THIS EVENING!

I'll be reading one poem and a short extract from The Closet of Savage Mementos at this Crannóg lit mag event at the Cúirt Festival this evening. All welcome!

Cúirt New Writing Prize 2014

The Cúirt New Writing Prize is now open for submissions of poetry (3 poems of under 50 lines each) and fiction (up to 2,000 words). There is a €500 cash prize for the winner in each category, an opportunity to read at Cúirt 2014, plus publication.  

The judges for this year are Martin Dyar for poetry and Mary Costello for fiction. The closing date for submissions is 30 January 2014; a €10 entry fee applies. Entries should be sent via email to tara@cuirt.ie For full rules and guidelines, go to www.cuirt.ie 

CÚIRT 2013 - AFTERS

So, for me, Cúirt is over for another year. I'm partly sad, partly glad - recovery can begin. Cúirt is a very social festival and I'm not used to the late nights, but they are great fun, of course.

Actor reading Julian Gough's story in St Nicholas's

I started my Cúirt at Vincent Woods interview with Edna O'Brien. It was too dark in the Town Hall theatre to take notes but the interview will actually be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Arts Tonight tomorrow the 29th April, at 10pm. Vincent is a good, warm interviewer and Edna is a very fluent speaker; she spoke about her life and particularly the influence of her homeplace and family in Co. Clare on her writing. She was charming, regal, witty.

I am writing an essay on her at the moment for a plenary I am giving at the AEDEI conference in Spain next month, so I have been immersed in Edna interviews lately online etc. I didn't learn anything new on Thursday night but it is always a pleasure to listen to her. Did somebody once say that if we didn't have Edna O'Brien we would have to invent her? She is our grand dame of letters, for sure.

Crowd at Galway Stories literary walk/reading, St Nicholas's

The next event I attended was the Arena live recording at the Nun's Island Theatre; it was broadcast Friday evening and you can listen to it here for a week or so. There was no way of knowing who was going to feature and I was thrilled when I got there to find that two of the guests were Paula Meehan and Sharon Olds, two of my favourite poets/women. Seán Rocks asked about the American-Irish poetic relationship. Paula said that 'from Emily Dickinson to Bob Dylan' American poetry has always provided 'huge nourishment' to Irish poets. She said she particularly likes Alicia Ostriker.

Sharon said that for her Irish poetry is both 'an ancestor from the past and a sister-brother from the present'. She also said 'Poetry is about going below while singing above.' I love that. Seán asked her about the tag 'confessional'; Sharon said she feels her poems are more 'accusational'. She said, 'No one would choose to be in the family of a family poet' and that when she writes she is 'resting' from herself. She also said that when she edits what she has written she 'tries to take out half of the adjectives and a third of the self pity.'

A local, sweet-voiced singer, Stacey Nolan, sang two songs at the Arena event. She may be Galway's answer to Gillian Welch. Writer and film-maker Conor Montague read from his story 'Eat the Swans' which features in the new Galway Stories anthology from Doire Press - a visceral, shocking story that will not suit the squeamish reader/listener.

Juno McLoughlin at Alan McMonagle's book launch, Town Hall Theatre

From there we went directly to the launch of the Galway Stories anthology which took the form of a literary walk with stop-offs for readings. It rained - of course - but Jim Mullarkey entertained a huge crowd outside McCambridge's; an actor read from Julian Gough's story in Saint Nicholas's Cathedral; Olaf Tyransen did the honours outside Neachtain's Pub, and finally we all piled into Monroe's Tavern where Kernan Andrews from the Galway Advertiser did the official launch. Congrats to Lisa Frank and John Walsh of Doire Press for a great idea, well executed.

Later I went to Paula Meehan and Sharon Olds's excellent reading at the Town Hall. They are a great poetry pairing and Paula was in fine, lively reading form. Sharon has a more subdued style in comparison but she is utterly convincing and sincere. It was a great evening. Down to the festival club after in the Meyrick Hotel where I enjoyed chatting to the very affable American writer Ben Marcus, as well as Mary Costello, Declan Meade, and many others.

Alan McMonagle signing Psychotic Episodes

Midday on Saturday saw my fellow member of The Peers, Alan McMonagle's, launch. Psychotic Episodes is his second short story collection and it comes from the inimitable Arlen House. Pat McMahon did the launch speech and also being launched was Aideen Henry's newest book, Hugging Thistles.

We went back to our hotel for a swim/rest and later for a walk on the prom in Salthill, where I used to bring my kids a lot when I lived in the city. My parents brought us on holidays there in the 70s and 80s. A special place. Then I went to Ron Rash and Claire Keegan at the Town Hall. Burning Bright, Ron's Frank O'Connor Award winning collection, is one of my all-time favourites. He read a harrowing drowning story from the new collection. In the Q&A he said that each story and novel of his is sparked by an image. He then follows that image, believing it will lead him to the story (he does not plan - yay!)

Salthill!

Claire Keegan read from Foster, that wonderful section where the child is brought home from a wake by an inquisitive neighbour. Claire is an original thinker which always comes across in her Q&A responses - she is unpredictable, sparky, interesting. There is never a rehearsed, sound-bytey quality to her answers. She is our Edna of the future but in her own particular maverick way.

I spent the evening in the Meyrick again enjoying the great conversation of Ron Rash (yes!), the lovely Richard Burns of Nantucket (a Cúirt stalwart), young London-based Irish writer Danny Denton, Mike McCormack, who is just back from a US book tour, Declan Meade, Mary Costello, and Martin Dyar who is now running the Strokestown Poetry Festival which is on next weekend. And I'll be there for the first time - whoop!

So, that was my Cúirt. I hate to think of all I missed due to fatigue/needing to eat/clashing events etc. I managed to meet the lovely Michael Harding and I got him to sign his memoir for my Ma. She will love it. I also met friends from near and far which, at the end of it all, is what good literary festivals are all about: the old friends and the new, the old books and the new, and all that great chat that makes going back to the desk alone both easier and important.

Next stop Strokestown :)

CÚIRT 2011 AFTERS - mostly short fiction

I haven't much time to blog properly and I should be writing now, not doing this but however...I just wanted to say a few words about Cúirt. I got to some events and one convivial evening in the Meyrick's Bar.

Writer Órfhlaith Foyle with Juno

Firstly, I read at the ROPES launch on Thursday, which was very nice. The current MA in Publishing students have done a lovely job on the design of this year's journal. Though I do wonder who made the decision to centre the poems on the page - that looks so wrong to me. They didn't do it with my poem, thankfully. But only, I reckon, because the poem is set out in a way that doesn't allow it. The launch itself was very friendly and relaxed and the editors were there, steering it all along. (They get younger and more impossibly beautiful and stylish each year. Seriously, these kids look like models. Who knew the world of publishing was where all the beautiful people flocked...)

Editorial beauties, ROPES

I read four poems and then Thomas Lux, from Georgia in the USA, read. Lux was a last minute bonus - one of the editors invited him when he met him at the festival; Lux read on Wednesday night at Cúirt. There was wine, there were poets. A lovely afternoon.

Finn, Nuala, Juno and poet/film-maker, Paul Casey

Poet Thomas Lux

I had to miss Friday altogether because I had no babysitter but I spent Saturday in and around the Town Hall with fellow writer Órfhlaith Foyle. We browsed for ages in Charlie Byrne's Book Shop in the foyer - an annual treat - and bought the requisite clutch of books.

We went to the Granta Panel on the Irish Short Story, chaired by Anne Enright and featuring Philip Ó Ceallaigh, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Kevin Barry.  Anne opened by quoting a fridge magnet: 'Do one thing that frightens you every day', by way of saying that it frightened her to edit the Granta anthology. She said she doesn't believe in the canon, preferring to disturb ideas of it. She also said that it is hard to talk about the Irish short story without 'getting lost in a bog of cliché' and that it is 'a living, organic tradition' and should be treated as such.

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne had very interesting things to say, as always. She said that the short story is 'harmonious, close to poetry. It is about loss, and imagery ties the story together, like in a poem.' I don't know if it was Éilís or Anne who made the salient point that one changes as one writes a novel, whereas the short story is often written quickly. 'Distress goes into a novel.' It sounds like Anne, now that I write the quote!

They talked a bit about the novel VS the short story and, selfishly, I wanted them to go on more as that is where my head is firmly at just now. Philip is the only one of the three who has not written a novel and he was a little tetchy about this feeling that the novel is 'The Thing'. Understandably so. It's a stance that irritates me intensely. It misunderstands that the short story is an incredible genre all of its own - not a test piece for writing novels. He stated that some stories can be told in a short space - they just don't need the excess of the novel. Valid point.

Kevin Barry posited that the novella will come into its own with the growing popularity of the Kindle. Wouldn't that be lovely? I adore novellas. He also said that for him the novel was a place of experiment and that stories feel more natural and organic to him.

There was quite a debate about Frank O'Connor's assertion that all short stories are about loneliness and 'submerged populations'. Anne doesn't buy this at all, but the others seemed to agree with it more or less. Philip said that short stories are about individuals, and therefore the loneliness. Anne had to agree! Anne just doesn't think the short story is about loneliness in any formal sense because its scope can be so wide, but concluded she has no good answer to her own disagreement with O'Connor.

This post is getting rather long (and I HATE long posts) so I will conclude briefly: all of them write most of their work straight onto the computer. Anne Enright never knows the ending of her stories before she begins as she likes to be surprised (yay! me too!). All of the writers like that language is valued for its own sake in the Irish short story tradition.

It was a good panel. Anne Enright is a very calm, agreeable, able moderator. She will admit if she is 'wrong' or values someone else's POV. I like that. She doesn't put herself over as God-like and infallible, eventhough she has huge knowledge. All in all, a very enjoyable event.

On Saturday night, we also went to hear Irish woman Valerie Hemingway talk about her life with Hem and her marriage to his son Gregory, with poet and broadcaster Vincent Woods. An enchanting, adventurous, clever woman of 70. I want to be like her when I grow up. She was a delight to listen to and to meet afterwards.

I met so many great people over the few days, I wish I'd had more time with all of them: writers Kathleen Murray, Stephen Murray, Adam Wyeth and Paula, Seán Mackel, Rita Ann Higgins, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Jack Harte, Ted and Annie Deppe etc. etc. etc. There's always next year!

YOU LAUNCH - SAT 24th APRIL

My book arrived yesterday; I got to hold it, sniff it, look at it, feel it. It's gorgeous. I'm so happy - it's been a long journey. Righto, I'm of to Cúirt: Colum McCann to meet; an anthology launch to speak at; my novel launch tomorrow - it's all go ;) Report next week, hopefully.

‘A wonderful piece of work. Economic, evocative, sharp and nail-bitingly tense. The little girl’s voice is pitch-perfect.’ Rachel Trezise

CÚIRT OPENING

Fun was had at the Cúirt opening at the City Museum last night. I himmed and hawed about going (I get fed up dragging my kids everywhere with me - car-crying, feeding them, keeping them entertained during lots of speeches, general longing to be free, if only for a few hours...also longing for a glass of vino which my 40 mile drive home prevents me having, grrr.)

Anyway, my good writer-pal Órfhlaith Foyle said she'd come with me, so I packed up the car and headed in to Galway. I'm glad I did; it was just good to see everyone all giddy and positive in that way that Cúirt affects people. As Dep Mayor Peter Keane said: 'Cúirt puts the writers and the readers at the heart of what it does.' And that makes it feel friendly and inclusive.

This is the 25th anniversary of Cúirt, which started as a poetry festival in 1986. Maureen Kennelly admitted they've had 'a challenging few days' because of the volcanic ash cloud which has prevented some writers from travelling. Damn Eyjafjallajökull. Anyway, some people's loss is other's gain - Órfhlaith Foyle is filling in for Tessa Hadley at 1pm in the Town Hall today.

Roddy Doyle, his man-bag slung across him, talked about feeling exotic as he'd come all the way from Dublin, which suddenly 'feels like abroad'. He said that 'being in Galway feels like walking around in a short story'. Anne Enright looked lovely in a pair of red shoes which are very like the ones I'm wearing for my launch on Saturday. Irish women writers rock the red patent shoe look!

Kevin Barry was there too and local scribes in abundance, including Joan McBreen and Gerardine Burke. Andrew Meehan won the Cúirt New Writing Prize for his story 'Her Way of Saying No'. Congrats, Andrew.

All in all it was a lovely evening, with the crowd spilling out of the museum to the banks of the Corrib, from which a huge heron flew over to survey the scene.

KENNY'S POETRY MS EVENT - CÚIRT & MY DESK (?!)

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I was at the launch of the Cúirt brochure in the lovely Meyrick Hotel last night in Galway. My novel launch is there in technicolour on page 54 - woo, the thrill! I was delighted to meet fellow writer and blogger Jessica Maybury there - it's always great to put a (friendly) face to a name. Anyway, wine was drunk, chats were had, and I made a special request of Cúirt Director Maureen K, more of which anon...

As always there are lots of fantastic events on the programme: Colum McCann and Amy Bloom are there, Joyce Carol Oates and James Lasdun, Paula Meehan is reading, there's the Ropes launch, a New Yorker event etc etc.

One event, for budding poets, caught my eye: Kennys Book Shop are hosting a trio of fantastic poets who will assess poetry MS's from unpublished writers. Unheard of opportunity!! Pat Boran, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and Caitríona O'Reilly will be in residence and you can pitch your MS to them.
It's on Saturday the 24th April at 11.30am in Kennys, Liosbán. Phone for more info: 091 709350

The full Cúirt 2010 programme is here.

And why the pic of my desk? Our woman in New York - writer Eimear Ryan - posted a pic of hers and wanted to see others. There you go.

PROOFS, READING PETINA, RE-ISSUES

"I think of my writing as a compulsive form of theft. Every story I have written is based on at least one true thing." Petina Gappah

I have proofs coming out my ears. Nude proofs. The re-issue of The Wind Across the Grass (my first collection) proofs. All done for now. It is amazingly daunting/rewarding work, reading proofs. Your stories look like a proper book all of a sudden and you start to get a bit excited at the prospect of the actual book.

I'm delighted that Arlen House are re-issuing The Wind Across the Grass (with four bonus stories!). It's been out-of-print for ages, so it will be great to have it available again.

Back to reading now and preparing for Cúirt. I'm reading Petina Gappah's début An Elegy for Easterly. Petina is a Swiss-resident, Zimbabwean native and her stories are set in Zimbabwe. The title story is masterful: dark and moving. I've only read four stories from the book to date and, so far, so impressive. Petina blogs here. She'll be reading at Cúirt next week, on Thursday the 23rd at 1pm, with Helen Simpson. Sadly I'll miss the reading as I'll be doing my visit at Castlerea Prison.

As for my preps for Cúirt, today I'll be selecting masterclass participants and preparing my Arts Centre and Prison classes. In between an ante-natal visit at the hospital and starting a collage based on a poem about Paul Durcan...but more of that anon!

EXTENDED SUBS DEADLINE - CÚIRT

This just in from Cúirt:

EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE for Master Classes & Poetry Grand Slam 2009 - Thursday 9 April!

Prose Workshop with Nuala Ní Chonchúir Wednesday 22 April 10.30am- 12.30pm at Galway Arts Centre

Cúirt Writer in Residence Nuala Ní Chonchúir will lead participants in an intensive workshop which will focus on short fiction.

Nuala Ní Chonchúir Lives in county Galway. Her third short fiction collection Nude will be published by Salt in the UK in September 2009. Nuala was chosen by The Irish Times as a writer to watch 2009.

Poetry Workshop with Jane Hirshfield Friday 24 April 10.30am-12.30pm at Galway Arts Centre

Renowned US poet Jane Hirshfield will lead participants in a discussion of their submissions.

Jane Hirshfield whose work has been called 'passionate and radiant' by The New York Times Book Review, is the author of six books of poems, most recently After, Bloodaxe Books (UK), Harper Collins (US) both 2006.

Poetry Grand Slam Saturday 25 April 3pm Roisin Dubh - Dominick St.

The year round activity of slamming culminates in the 7th Cúirt Poetry Grand Slam in which up to 20 performers have just three minutes to impress the judges under the gaze of MC Pete Mullineaux. The overall winner goes on to perform in Slovenia. Guest performer this year is Andrej Khadovich from Belarus, known for his lively performances.

Submission Details:

Prose workshop- Please send a sample of your work (max 750 words)

Poetry workshop-Please send two sample poems (max 75 lines)

Poetry Grand Slam-Please send one poem( up to 3 minutes in length) with contact details to:
email - siobhan@galwayartscentre.ie (email submissions preferred)
By post - Siobhán Singleton, Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick St. Galway. Please mark event on submission. Enquiries 091-565886

Successful participants will be notified by April 17. Fee for entry €15 - Master classes & €5 Poetry grand slam.

Full Cúirt programme available online at www.galwayartscentre.ie/cuirt

NO ARTS CO DOSH FOR ME - BOO HOO

Well, no Arts Council Bursary for me again in this new round-up. I'm really disappointed. I fit their criteria: full time artist, always working, being published, in need of financial assistance. And although I was shortlisted this time, I didn't make the cut. With my family expanding, I really hoped the pressure would be off me for a while to scramble about looking for ways to earn. There's only so many readings a girl gets to do (and at an average fee of €250, they're hardly the stuff of high earnings.) It's no wonder I don't write much new stuff anymore: I'm constantly looking for other forms of writing work: writing articles, translating, teaching workshops, judging lit comps, residencies etc. But soon (with a new addition to the family) I will have less time and freedom than ever for gadding about the country to give workshops, readings etc. It's hard to know what to try next. I did get a bursary in 2004 and it was a Godsend; I eked it out and made it last for over a year. I sometimes joke that I will be the only writer/vegetarian flipping burgers in Supermac's. Thank God there are four of them in the town I live in because, at this rate, I'll need to go and work there.

I wonder sometimes is it because I am not with a big publisher that the Arts Co don't give me a bursary? Both my publishers - Arlen House and Salt - are small operations, publishing books for the absolute love of literature, hopeful of a profit. But, generally, their writers don't earn advances or pots of money by being published by them. Both houses produce beautiful, literate, readable works but both fight very hard to survive in the commercial publishing world. Their writers are delighted to be published by such caring publishers, but they won't live off their earnings and neither will the publishers themselves. They rely a lot on funding and, without it, things get very hard.

Is it Arts Co policy, I wonder, to only support the already supported i.e. those with big publishers who can promote their work endlessly, or those already earning through uni jobs, long residencies etc.?

Last night, at the launch of the Cúirt brochure, Theo Dorgan lamented the loss of funding to the Arts Council. They, he said, have had to make cuts because they themselves have been cut. I understand this. But, for some reason, literature always seems to me like the poor relation in funding matters.

Theo said: 'The arts matter. Politicians need to understand this.' He also urged us - the artists - to take matters into our own hands. He called on us to contact Arts Minister Martin Cullen and ask him for a reversal of the €8.5 million budget cut to the Arts. I, for one, will be doing just that.

[p.s. The Cúirt line-up is fantastic this year: Joseph O'Neill, Carol Ann Duffy, Claire Keegan, Leontia Flynn, Aidan Higgins, Petina Gappah, Helen Simpson etc. etc. Go, enjoy!]

CÚIRT - SHORT FICTION WORKSHOP

As Cúirt Writer in Residence, I will lead participants in an intensive workshop focusing on short fiction, on Wednesday the 22nd of April from 10.30am to 12.30pm, at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street.

Those wanting to apply to take part should send a sample of work (maximum 750 words) together with contact details to:

siobhan@galwayartscentre.ie by Friday 27 March.