OVER 55s WRITING WORKSHOP

I'm facilitating a writing workshop for the over 55s at the National Gallery in Dublin, this Wednesday the 11th at 3pm, as part of the Lines of Vision series of events. Spaces are limited. Contact 01 663 3505 or education@ngi.ie.

DUBLIN DAYS - A LITERARY WEEKEND

I'd a busy two days in Dublin: I went to the Plotting History event at the Dublin Book Festival on Friday, featuring Lia Mills, Patricia O'Reilly and Martina Devlin, all of whom were very interesting on their diverse and excellent novels. Tea and cake afterwards with the sublime Mia Gallagher in Queen of Tarts.

Karl Parkinson, MCing

On that evening to the launch of Dave Lordan's new poetry collection from Salmon, Lost Tribe of the Wicklow Mountains in Toner's. Karl Parkinson was a great MC, Philip Coleman of TCD  delivered a considered and moving launch speech (he and Dave are old friends) and Dave read brilliantly, as always.

Philip Coleman launching Dave Lordan's new book

I love hearing the context of poems and enjoyed Dave's explanations about the lost tribes and about learning to love the corner of Wicklow he calls home. It was great to see pals old and new, including Kerrie O'Brien, Dmita Xidous and Nicole Rourke, director of the Big Smoke Writing Factory. I do so love a night out in Dublin.

Dave reading (phone pic, so excuse quality)

Saturday then was my Lines of Vision event at the National Gallery with Moya Cannon, Dermot Bolger and Roddy Doyle, with Luke Gibbons as chairperson.

Roddy Doyle

We each read our piece from the Lines of Vision book (Roddy and me - stories, Moya and Dermot - poems) and then talked about our relationship to Jack B. Yeats and why we had chosen Yeats's particular paintings as jumping off points for the pieces we wrote. The place was jammers, Luke was a great moderator and I learnt even more about Jack B. Yeats which makes me fall even harder for him and his work.

Dermot, Moya, Janet McLean (curator and editor of the LoV book), Luke, me, Roddy)

It was a great weekend of literary chatter, food and drinks, but am happy to be back at my desk now ready to continue on into novel #4. It has slowed down a little so I may need to have a research/brainstorming week with it. As long as I stay in touch with it, anything will do.

Much as I love getting away, I love even more to come back and potter at my desk. So, while I thank the stars for outings, I thank them equally for retreats.

LINES OF VISION : JACK B. YEATS EVENT

I'm taking part in the Writers on Art: Jack B. Yeats study morning, at the National Gallery of Ireland. Me, Moya Cannon, Roddy Doyle & Dermot Bolger. 15th Nov. €15. All details here.

LINES OF VISION - LAUNCH AFTERS & PICS

The launch and opening of Lines of Vision at the National Gallery of Ireland went great last night - there were lots and lots of people there, and the prosecco and wine were flowing. It was all very civilised and glamorous. I love posh events, I must say. There was a private reception for the writers, before the opening, in 5 Leinster Street, a beautiful section of the gallery that overlooks the inner atrium. It was great to meet and chat with writers I know like Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Dónal Ryan and Eoin MacNamee. Also there were literary stars (and brilliant people) Jennifer Johnston, Evelyn Conlon, Enda Wyley, Peter Sirr, Paula Meehan and Theo Dorgan, among many others.

I was delighted to meet up again with some of my fellow Italo-Irish Literature Exchange crew, namely Seán Hardie, Bill Wall and his wife Liz. Seán's wife is the poet Kerry Hardie and she has a beautiful war poem in the book inspired by Pierre Bonnard's Le Déjeuner, in which Marthe de Méligny speaks. (Marthe was Bonnard's wife.) Many of the images are in copyright so I can't reproduce them here but you can look at the Bonnard here and, my choice, Jack B. Yeats's Men of Destiny here.

John Lavery - Return from Market 

It was also lovely to reconnect with writer Noëlle Harrison who now lives in Norway. Noëlle took John Lavery's Return from Market as her inspiration, to write a sensual story about regret and self realisation.

William (Bill) Wall used Seán Keating's famous An Allegory as a stepping off point for an intriguing political prose poem.

Curator/editor Janet McLean, President Higgins, Sabina Higgins and gallery Director, Seán Rainbird

President Michael D. Higgins opened the exhibition (with a suitably mellifluous speech about the importance of cruthaíocht/creativity in our lives). We were allowed into the exhibition before the President joined us with his wife Sabina. It was fantastic to see the paintings from the book all exhibited together - very moving somehow.

My painting (my painting!) is the first one you see as you come in the door, which is sort of nice. We weren't allowed photograph it, but here's the nameplate:

The exhibition of Lines of Vision runs until April 2015. There are dozens of events on around the exhibition and book: readings, talks, plays. I am taking part in a study morning on Jack B. Yeats on the 15th November and I will also be leading a writing workshop next March for over 55s. 

And, of course, the gorgeous book, produced by Thames and Hudson, is available nationwide and online. It costs €25 and would make a fab gift. If you can't afford the book, do go to the exhibition - it's beautiful and it's free!

LINES OF VISION - LAUNCH & OPENING

Lines of Vision: Irish Writers on Art will be launched by President Higgins tonight at 6pm at the National Art Gallery. The book contains stories, poems and articles inspired by artworks from the gallery and it celebrates the National Gallery of Ireland's 150th anniversary. I have a wee story in it based on a Jack B. Yeats painting. I'm looking forward to the private reception for the writers before the main event at 6pm. The book is accompanied by an exhibition which opens to the public on Wednesday.

There are lots of literary events taking place around the book/exhib, including a study morning on Jack B. Yeats that I am doing on the 15th November with Roddy Doyle, Moya Cannon and Dermot Bolger. The morning can be booked here.

The Sunday Times had a review of the book this past weekend by Cristín Leach Hughes. She said of my story: 'Nuala Ní Chonchúir spins a quick, gripping yarn about gunrunning from Jack B. Yeats's 'Men of Destiny'.' Here's a photo of the review, which will be readable if you click on it and zoom in: