SLIGO & MAYO TRIP

The cottage by the sea below Knocknarea

I spent an enjoyable day last Saturday in the company of the Sandy Field Writers in Sligo, talking to them about short fiction. They are a dynamic group of nine and I got a warm welcome from them - and homemade coffee cake to boot. We yapped, discussed and laughed all day.

View from the dune at the cottage

One of the group has a tiny cottage below Knocknarea, right in the dunes, and she let us stay there for the night. It was magical - my mister and the baby were with me and we lit a fire, listened to music and generally enjoyed a night away from it all.

In the morning, after a soaked-through beachcomb, we had a Father's Day brunch in Shells Café in Strandhill (one of my favourite cafés in Ireland) and went to a market in the hangar at the airport.

Morning view from the kitchen

Beachcombing with Junior

Shells, Strandhill - a fab shop and café

Dippy eggs for brunch at Shells

'Quiet people have the loudest minds' plaque bought from Sarah J Jewellery at the airport market

The short story I am currently writing features Knock in Co. Mayo, so we veered there on the way home to soak up the rosary-and-BVM delights.

A festive mini Jesus - I bought him for my dashboard.

Mass underway in the apparition chapel

Knock excels at classy souvenirs

Juno - aged 6 - did not know what rock was. Score! (Or is she deprived...?)

Strandhill Summerfest 2015 - writing workshop

Knocknarea, Strandhill

Strandhill Summerfest, tutored by Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill, Ted & Annie Deppe and Joe Kearney, is a weekend writing retreat that celebrates writers and writing. It nurtures new work in a gentle, safe and supportive environment. The weekend is suitable for writers of all ages, beginners or established, writing in any genre. This year's workshop runs 3rd to 5th July.

I have taken part in this weekend twice and really enjoyed it – brilliant value, great atmosphere, lovely healthy food, fab location and sweet people. If you go to Strandhill, make sure to eat at the lovely Shells Café - not to be missed!

From the workshop's site:

Time for you and your writing

Discover the genius within you

Write with inspirational facilitators

Safe, supportive environment

Find your unique writing voice

Share and celebrate your writing with others

Write in any genre, poetry, fiction, memoir

Beautiful seaside location

Affordable

Feedback on your writing

Small workshops in a private house

Lovely garden with patio, pond and labyrinth

Forum on online publishing

Overcome writers’ blocks

Use your own voice with confidence

More on booking, cost etc. here.

SUMMERFEST - a reminder from Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill

Beautiful Strandhill

Dear Writers,

Just a reminder to you all that Strandhill Summerfest is happening this weekend. Poets, Ted and Annie Deppie, and writer and broadcaster, Joe Kearney, will be joining me to facilitate an inspirational weekend of writing.

For further details see here. There are still places available and the cost is €125.  I would love to see you there if you can join us.

Best wishes,                                                        Órfhlaith

I am so excited to be going back to Strandhill Summerfest after a four year hiatus. I can't wait to wander by the sea, scoff cake in Shells Seaside Café, meet new folk, and be inspired by the Summerfest tutors. Roll on Friday!

STRANDHILL SUMMERFEST 2012

Surfer in Strandhill, Co. Sligo

Strandhill Summerfest is on the 27th to 29th July this year. Writers Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill, Ted Deppie, Annie Deppe and Joe Kearney are the facilitators. It's a great weekend - warm and fun and intense (in a good way!). I was there four years ago - clearly I am due a return visit.

From their site:

Strandhill Summerfest is a weekend of writing and celebration for writers of all ages: beginners, advanced or established. It offers a gentle, supportive environment where it is safe to create new work.  Again, we bring together our team of four inspirational facilitators whose aim is to nurture new writing.

Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill’s workshops use the AWA method devised by Pat Schneider. These are multi-genre workshops which evoke and enable writing and encourage writers to find and use their own voices with confidence.

Ted and Annie Deppe share their expertise as poets and teachers, their love of their craft and their joyful appreciation of all poetry. Joe Kearney is a writer and broadcaster whose voice is familiar to Lyric FM and RTE Radio One listeners. Joe offers an insider view of writing for radio.

The Summerfest will be held in the home of Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill in Strandhill, Co. Sligo. It costs €125, which includes snacks, light lunch on Saturday and dinner on Saturday evening. You pay your own accommodation.

Any enquiries re bookings to: 087 2799108 or email: writersinksligo@gmail.com. More here.

STRANDHILL WRITING SUMMERFEST

 Lone surfer at Strandhill

Strandhill Summerfest takes place on the weekend of the 1st to the 3rd July 2011 in coastal Sligo. I was hoping to take part in it again this year but alas and alack I am otherwise occupied. I had a brilliant time at this festival a few years ago: lovely company, excellent tutors, a gorgeous setting and lots and lots of writing.

It costs €125, not including accommodation, but including lunch, snacks and a big BBQ, as well as all tuition.

Well worth it if you fancy a writing mini holiday with lots of fantastic writer-teachers like Ted and Annie Deppe, and the wonderful Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill all under the impressive shadow of Knocknarea. If you are going, I envy you :(

More here.

iYEATS POETRY COMP 2010

The iYeats Poetry Competition enters it second year. This is an online national and international competition open to all and with a special award for poetry from poets under 25. Prize-giving and a public reading of the shortlisted poets will take place in the Hawk’s Well Theatre during the annual Yeats International Summer School 2010.


The theme of the iYeats Poetry Competition 2010 is A SENSE OF PLACE. The closing date for receipt of entries is Friday June 11th 2010.

Vincent Woods & Rita Ann Higgins will judge.

Online entry only.

More here.

YEATS SUMMER SCHOOL - WATCHFUL HEART LAUNCH

I'm reading tomorrow night at the swish Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo at the Yeats Summer School launch of The Watchful Heart. (How many links can I fit in one sentence?!)

The anthology, edited by Joan McBreen, is a useful snapshot of contemporary Irish poetry. Not all the poets are Salmon poets (I'm not!), so it is not as restrictive as some anthologies which are press-specific. All the poets are under fifty and there are essays and poems from each contributor, so it gives a particular look at Irish poetry and poetics.

Also reading are: Mary Montague, Kate Newmann, Paul Perry and Joseph Woods.

My essay is entitled 'The Art of the Body: poem as female self-portrait'.

Venue: The Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo

Time: 6.30pm, Thursday 30th July