waterford writers weekend programme 2015

1

DEIREADH SEACHTAINE SCRÍBHNEOIRÍ PHORT LÁIRGE 2015

Tá Féile Scríbhneoirí Seán Dunne, a thosnaigh amach sna 1990daí, tar éis teacht chun cinn agus forbairt isteach sa bhféile bhliantúil seo, Deireadh Seachtaine Scríbhneoirí Phort Láirge.

Cuireann an fhéile ceird na scríbhneoireachta chun cinn agus déanann sí cruthaitheacht na nglúinte a cheiliúradh. Agus sinn ag comóradh 20 Bliain ó chailleadh Seán, cuimhnímid ar a oidhreacht scríbhneoireachta agus ar an méid a chuir an scríbhneoir Déiseach seo le litríocht na hÉireann. Tá a chuid saothair agus a chuid físe le filí óga uaillmhianacha a bhí ag teacht chun cinn á cur os comhair an phobail go fóill trí Ghradam Seán Dunne d’Fhilí Óga.

Ba mhaith le Seirbhís Leabharlainne agus Ealaíon de chuid Chomhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge tacaíocht mhuintir Dunne a admháil, maraon leis an tacaíocht a bhfuaireamar ó go leor de lucht a chomhaimsire agus a chairde, a chabhraigh le heilimintí speisialta Seán Dunne de chuid na féile i mbliana.

Táimid cinnte to mbeidh deireadh seachtaine Bealtaine gnóthach ag scríbhneoirí, ag an lucht éisteachta agus féachana agus ag cuairteoirí agus iad ag freastal ar imeachtaí inghnéitheacha d’ardchaighdeán.

WATERFORD WRITERS WEEKEND 2015

What began as the Seán Dunne Writers’ Festival in the 1990’s has now evolved to the annual Waterford Writers’ Weekend.

This festival promotes the art and the craft of writing and celebrates creativity in all generations. In this, the 20th anniversary year of Seán’s death, we remember his writing legacy and the contribution which this Waterford Writer made to Irish literature. The Seán Dunne Young Poets’ Award continues to promote his work and vision with emerging and aspiring young poets.

Waterford City & County Council’s Library and Arts Service would like to acknowledge the support of the Dunne family and many of his contemporaries and friends in assisting with the special Seán Dunne elements of this years’ festival.

We are sure that the variety and quality of all events on offer will make it a busy May weekend for writers, audiences and visitors.

BAIN TAITNEAMH AS.

32

FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE GUIDE

THUR

SDAY

7th

MAY

SATU

RDAY

9th

MAY

FRID

AY 8t

h M

AY

Time Event Venue Cost10:00am - 1:00pm Getting Published Workshop with Vanessa

O’Loughlin. Get the inside track on the publishing industry and find out what you need to do to land that deal. WORKSHOP

Greyfriars Gallery

€25/€20 Concession

10:30am - 12:30pm Get Flashy with Fiction with K S Moore. Master the art of micropoetry and create the shortest of short stories with this fun and challenging session. WORKSHOP

Central Library - Local Studies

Free

10:45am - 12:45pm Designing a Life: Create Memorable Characters for your Stories. A Workshop for Teenagers with Sheena Wilkinson. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT

Central Library - Reference Room

Free

11:30am - 1:00pm Art Attack: Childrens Arts and Crafts - Recommended Age 5 - 8 years. All are welcome. KIDS EVENT

The Book Centre Free

SATURDAY 9th MAY (Cont)

SUNDAY 10th MAY

Time Event Venue Cost10:00am - 12:00pm Becoming a Wordsmith. Patricia Forde explains

how she became an author, how she wrote The Wordsmith (out this month) and how to create fantasy worlds. KIDS EVENT

Large Room, City Hall

Invited schools

audience only

7:00pm Film Event ‘Words into Silence’ Seán Dunne Documentary introduced by Liam Murphy.

Greyfriars Gallery

Free

Time Event Venue Cost10:00am - 11:30am Everybody Wants to be a Hero with Eimear Cheasty.

WORKSHOP KIDS EVENTCentral Library - Childrens’ Library

Invited schools

audience

1:00pm - 2:00pm How Butterfly Barn Took Flight - Getting into Print with Karen Power. Find out how Karen Power brought her book to market, self publishing with huge success. Q&A and reading.


6:00pm - 7:00pm Compass Writers Waterford presents an hour of poetry, prose and live music in a Sunday Miscellany style event.

St Patrick’s Gateway Centre

Free

7:00pm - 8:00pm Inside The Daughterhood. Natasha Fennell and Róisín Ingle chat to Orla Shanaghy about how their book came together and the impact it has had on those it has touched.

Central Library - Ground Floor

Free

7:30pm Presentation of the National Seán Dunne Young Poets’ Award 2015 & readings from the works of Seán Dunne by family members and poets.

Greyfriars Gallery Free

8:30pm - 9:30pm Go Get Him! Solve Your Dating Dilemmas with Avril Mulcahy. A fun evening of dating dos and dating don’ts from renowned matchmaker Avril Mulcahy.

Sabai Restaurant €10/€8 Concession

Time Event Venue Cost10:00am - 1:00pm Telling the Story: Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop with

Niall Williams. WORKSHOPCoastguard Station, Tramore

€25/€20 concession

11:30am - 12:30pm A Prescription for Happiness: and reaching more of your potential in life with Dr Mark Rowe.

Greyfriars Gallery


2:00pm - 3:30pm A Winning Combination: Mary Costello and Donal Ryan in conversation with Paul Perry. Multi award winning authors Mary Costello and Donal Ryan discuss story with Paul Perry, revealing what is at the heart of their work. Followed by a Q&A and an opportunity to hear the authors read from their work.

Greyfriars Gallery


4:30pm - 6:00pm Two for the Price of One: Karen Gillece and Paul Perry (Karen Perry) discuss co-writing and how it works with Sue Leonard.

Greyfriars Gallery


7:30pm Violette (15A) Film. FRINGE EVENT Garter Lane Arts Centre


Time Event Venue Cost1:00pm - 2:00pm David McNiven reading from his new children’s book

Me Nan Found a Leprechaun. Recommended Age 5 - 8 years. All are welcome. KIDS EVENT


2:15pm - 3:15pm Create an Island Paradise Workshop with Bestselling Writer, Sarah Webb. For Children 7+. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT


Free

2:30pm - 4:00pm Filling the Blank Page: Getting Writing Workshop. Always wanted to write a book but don’t know where to start? In this information packed workshop, Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin will guide your writing ambitions onto the page. WORKSHOP

Granville Hotel - Parnell Room


2:30pm - 3:30pm Seán Dunne – A conversation with his contemporaries and friends. Peter Fallon, Thomas McCarthy, Jim Nolan & Harry Flynn.

St Patricks Gateway Centre

Free

3:00pm - 4:00pm Waterford Youth Arts presents WORDS. The creative writers of WYA explore their impact in a piece they have written and will perform themselves.

Garter Lane Arts Centre

Free

3:45pm - 4:45pm Crazy Character Workshop with Bestselling Writer, Sarah Webb. For Children 9+. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT


Free

5:00pm to 6:00pm Wisps of Words to Weave New Ways. An eclectic programme of contemporary dance inspired by a selection of Seán Dunne’s poetry.

Garter Lane Arts Centre

Tickets €6 / Family of four €20

7:00pm - 8:30pm An Act of Love: The Marie Fleming Story. Dave Kenny talks to ghost writer Sue Leonard and Marie’s daughter Corrinna about writing the book and Marie’s remarkable life.

St Patrick’s Gateway Centre


8.30pm - 10:30pm Open Mic facilitated by poet Lani O’Hanlon with musical interludes by Fergal O’Connor.

Downes Bar Free

10:30pm till late Derek Flynn CD Launch. Downes Bar Free

54

THURSDAY 7th MAY

THURSDAY 7th MAY

BECOMING A WORDSMITH. KIDS EVENT

Invited schools audience only.

Thursday 7th May | 10:00 am - 12:00 noonLarge Room City Hall | Free

Patricia Forde’s latest book The Wordsmith tells the story of Letta, who on the death of her master is suddenly promoted from apprentice to wordsmith, charged with collecting and archiving words in post-apocalyptic, neo-medieval Ark. When she uncovers a sinister plan to suppress language and rob the people of Ark of the power of speech, she realises that she has to save not only words, but the culture itself.

Explaining how to create fantasy worlds, Patricia will reveal how she became a wordsmith and the importance of story.

Patricia FordePatricia Forde lives in Galway, in the west of Ireland. She has published five books for children, and written two plays, as well as several television drama series for children and teenagers. She has worked as a writer on both English and Irish language soap operas. In another life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of Galway Arts Festival.

‘WORDS INTO SILENCE’ SEÁN DUNNE DOCUMENTARY

Introduced by Liam Murphy.

Thursday 7th May | 7:00 pmGreyfriars Gallery | Free

Words Into SilenceAward winning documentary by Rossa Mullin, Pooleen Productions, about the late poet and journalist Seán Dunne, telling the story of his move from Waterford to Cork and his search through poetry and language for silence and spiritual fulfilment. The film was broadcast by RTE in 2010.

Liam MurphyLiam Murphy is a writer, critic and Arts Theatre & Entertainment critic of The Munster Express. He is a member of the International Association of Theatre Critics.

76

FRIDAY8th MAY

FRIDAY8th MAY

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A HERO WITH EIMEAR CHEASTY. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT

Invited schools audience only.

Friday 8th May | 10:00 am - 11:30 amCentral Library - Children’s Library | Free

We all want to be the hero of our own stories. Do you think you’ve got what it takes? Would you have superpowers or any special skills? Where would you come from? What would you look like? This workshop for primary school students will help you find out. Write your own hero story and watch it come to life!

Eimear Cheasty Eimear Cheasty is a writer from Waterford. She runs the creative writing programme for Waterford Youth Arts and is a youth theatre leader for County Carlow Youth Theatre. A graduate of UCC, she is passionate about engaging young people in the arts and giving them the skills and confidence to express themselves and tell their own stories.

HOW BUTTERFLY BARN TOOK FLIGHT - GETTING INTO PRINT WITH KAREN POWER.

Friday 8th May | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmThe Book Centre | Free

Karen Power admits she didn’t try very hard to find a publisher or agent. It seemed an impossible task. So when she heard about self publishing, she saw her opportunity. Butterfly Barn, produced by Kazoo Independent Publishing Services, has now outsold many traditionally published books in its genre, and when it was launched on the 14th of November in The Book Centre in Waterford saw the largest attended launch event in their long history.Set between Ireland and New York, Butterfly Barn follows the lives of three women, who discover they share the same dream. The book is about love, loss, friendship and the ability of the human spirit to endure.Karen will explain her publishing journey, take questions and give you a taste of Butterfly Barn, the book that stayed at No.1 in Original fiction for six weeks in The Book Centre, Waterford

Karen PowerKaren Power lives on a farm in County Waterford with her husband, two children and their nutty Springer Spaniel, Sam. She spent many years working in the travel industry and is currently tutor in adult education delivering a range of modules such as communications, tourism, and personal effectiveness. Her big passion is her work as a voluntary literacy tutor. Now she has embarked on a new adventure into the world of writing by releasing the first novel in the Butterfly Barn Series.

98

FRIDAY8th MAY

FRIDAY8th MAY

INSIDE THE DAUGHTERHOOD.

Natasha Fennell and Róisín Ingle chat to Orla Shanaghy about how their book came together and the impact it has had on those it has touched.

Friday 8th May | 7:00 pm - 8:00 pmCentral Library - Ground Floor | Free

When Natasha Fennell’s mother was diagnosed with a progressive illness, her life came to a standstill. She wondered how she would cope when her mother was gone and whether she had been a good enough daughter. After a call out to daughters in Róisín Ingle’s weekly Irish Times column, The Daughterhood co-writer, Natasha and Róisín quickly learned that other daughters had similar fears and had never spoken about them before.

An impromptu, informal self-help club, The Daughterhood, was formed – albeit one that involved good food and wine – as once a month a group of women would come together to help each other navigate one of the most complex, frustrating and joyous relationships of their lives.The Daughterhood is the funny, poignant, and occasionally heart-breaking story that will strike a chord with daughters (and their mothers) everywhere. Natasha and Róisín discuss with Orla Shanaghy their path to publication and how this book has impacted on both them and those around them.

COMPASS WRITERS WATERFORD PRESENTS AN HOUR OF POETRY, PROSE AND LIVE MUSIC IN A SUNDAY MISCELLANY STYLE EVENT.

Friday 8th May | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pmSt Patricks Gateway Centre | Free

Compass Writers Waterford was set up in 2007. It meets on a fortnightly basis in Waterford City. The group is open to writers of all disciplines over the age of 18; poets, novelists, short story writers, screenwriters etc., and welcomes non-writers who are interested in the art of writing. It nourishes the talent of its members and gives them the chance to meet others working in the same field.

Natasha Fennell Natasha Fennell grew up on Maoinis Island in the Connemara Gaeltacht and is a native Irish speaker. Her family then moved to Galway City where she spent her teenage years. On leaving school she moved to Dublin to study Public Relations and her career includes working in Carr Communications and Fianna Fáil. Natasha then spent three years working and travelling between Australia and South-East Asia before returning to Dublin to work as a researcher and reporter in RTÉ. She is a co-founder of Stillwater Communications and is now one of Ireland’s leading confidence

experts. Natasha is a regular contributor to radio, television and print media on communications and on developing the art of confidence. The Daughterhood is her first book.

Róisín IngleRóisín Ingle is Daily Features Editor and broadcaster with The Irish Times contributing a weekly column in the Saturday magazine and Roisin Meets ... podcast on irishtimes.com. Her first book, Pieces of Me, was a collection of witty, honest and often affecting autobiographical columns many of which feature her mother Ann Ingle. She lives in Dublin with her partner and their six-year-old twin daughters.

Orla ShanaghyOrla Shanaghy is an Irish writer and blogger. Her blog Wait Til I Tell You was short-listed in the Blog Awards Ireland 2013. She is also a contributor to the award-winning Irish group blog The Anti Room.Orla’s short stories have been shortlisted for the Fish Short Story Prize 2012 and the William Trevor Prize 2007. Her work is broadcast regularly on RTÉ Radio One’s Sunday Miscellany. Her work has also been published in The Stinging Fly magazine and The Sunday Miscellany Anthology 2008 – 2011.Orla is also a copywriter for the technology industry and a regular panellist on WLR FM radio.

1110

FRIDAY8th MAY

FRIDAY8th MAY

PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL SEÁN DUNNE YOUNG POETS’ AWARD 2015

With readings from the works of Sean Dunne by family members and poets.

Friday 8th May | 7:30 pmGreyfriars Gallery | Free

The Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council is pleased to present the 2015 winner with their award. This long term commemorative tribute to the memory of Waterford writer Seán Dunne continues to promote the work and the vision of the poet with emerging and aspiring young authors by recognizing their talents in the area of poetry.

The evening will include readings from the work of Seán Dunne by members of his family and other poets and artists.

The award will be presented to the 2015 winner by poet Thomas McCarthy.Judges for 2015 are Grace Wells & Jim Nolan.The Arts Office would like to acknowledge the assistance and support of the Dunne Family with this award.

Thomas McCarthyBorn in Cappoquin and educated locally and at University College Cork. Honorary Fellow, International Writing Programme, University of Iowa 1978-79. Worked for many years at Cork City Libraries. Humphrey Professor of English at Macalester College, Minnesota, 1994-95. Former Assistant Director of European Capital of Culture 2005. Member of Aosdána and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Author of nine collections of poetry, two novels and a memoir. Patrick Kavanagh Award, 1977, Alice Hunt Bartlett Prize, 1981 Annual Literary Award, American-Irish Foundation 1984, O’Shaughnessy Prize, 1991.

Grace WellsGrace Wells debut children’s novel, Gyrfalcon (2002), won the Eilis Dillon Best Newcomer Bisto Award, and was an International White Ravens’ Choice. Other publications for children include Ice-Dreams (2008) and One World, Our World (2009). Her debut poetry collection, When God Has Been Called Away to Greater Things (Dedalus Press, 2010) won the 2011 Rupert and Eithne Strong Best First Collection Award, was short-listed for the London Fringe Festival New Poetry Award and has recently been translated into

Italian. She regularly mentors local writers across the South East. Her second poetry collection is forthcoming from Dedalus Press in 2015.

Jim NolanJim Nolan was the founding Artistic Director of Red Kettle Theatre Company. He is a former Writer in Association at the Abbey Theatre, was Theatre Artist in Residence at Garter Lane Theatre from 2012 -2014 and is a member of Aosdána. His plays, published by Gallery Press, include Moonshine, The Salvage Shop, Blackwater Angel, Sky Road, Brighton and Dreamland which opened at Garter Lane Theatre, Waterford in February and also played at the Everyman Theatre, Cork and at Project Arts Centre, Dublin. Dreamland was

nominated in the category of Best New Play for the 2014 Irish Times Theatre Awards. Jim is currently working on a new play, which will open at Garter Lane at Easter, 2016.

13

SATURDAY9th MAY

12

FRIDAY8th MAY

GO GET HIM! SOLVE YOUR DATING DILEMMAS WITH AVRIL MULCAHY.

Friday 8th May | 8:30 pm - 9:30 pmSabai Restaurant | €10 / €8 Concession

Using a no-nonsense approach, in her new book, dating expert Avril Mulcahy shows you how to break the bad habits and negative attitudes holding you back from finding Mr Right. Frank, funny, and a little bit bold, Avril will give you the push you need to take control of your life, get off the couch and start dating using a three-stage strategy: * Get Ready - Get to know your needs and what you’re looking for in a man * Get Set - Learn the practical details of perfect dating * Go!This event could change your life!

Make an evening of it at Sabai, with a preshow tasting menu. Please call Catherine at 051 858002 to book your meal.

Avril MulcahyAvril Mulcahy started her matchmaking journey nearly 10 years ago, organising singles events in Ireland and Australia. She is probably best known for her 40 dates in 40 days expedition, which was the first dating journey of its kind in the world. Her blog detailing my journey through the Irish dating scene received phenomenal international coverage.

Today, she is regarded as a leading authority on all things dating, has a BComm & MA in Public Relations and is also a licensed NLP

coach. For many years she used her skills to package businesses and make them commercially more attractive. Now she applies the same skills to help singles take control of their dating lives, and put the best ‘you’ out there.

A freelance journalist for several newspapers on dating, Avril has appeared on RTE The Saturday Night Show, ITV This Morning, TV3 Ireland AM, TV3 The Morning Show and RTE Grainne Seoige’s Modern Ireland.

GETTING PUBLISHED WORKSHOP WITH VANESSA O’LOUGHLIN. WORKSHOP

Get the inside track on the publishing industry and find out what you need to do to land that deal.

Saturday 9th May | 10:00 am - 1:00 pmGreyfriars Gallery | €25/€20 concession

Thinking of submitting your book? What do you need to do to give your work the best possible chance of getting published? Vanessa will explain the blueprint from keyboard to bookshelf. Vanessa is the founder of www.writing.ie and runs Inkwell Writers’ Workshops. She is a literary scout for several Irish and UK agents and publishers. Vanessa will discuss exactly what the industry is looking for - what’s hot and what’s not - and how best to submit your work. She will show you what you need to do to attract a publisher and build your author platform - and explain exactly what that is.This workshop will give you concrete ways to improve your pitch, ideas on where to submit and give you a thorough understanding of how the business works in a relaxed and informal atmosphere where you can ask all those tricky questions.

Vanessa O’LoughlinSee biography on page 18

1514

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

GET FLASHY WITH FICTION WITH K S MOORE. WORKSHOP

Saturday 9th May | 10:30 am - 12:30 pmCentral Library - Local Studies | Free

Master the art of micropoetry and create the shortest of short stories with this fun and challenging session. Participants will be given writing prompts and take part in a lively flash-storming session with plenty of guidance and support. Afterwards, there will be the opportunity to take part in reading to the group. Participants can choose from reading a piece of work created on the day, or something preprepared, in front of a friendly audience of their fellow workshop participants. The session will be led by local writer, K. S. Moore, who was shortlisted for International Flash Fiction Competition: FlashMob 2013 and has been published in National Flash Fiction Day’s FlashFlood Journal, two years running.

K.S. MooreK. S. Moore’s poetry has recently appeared in Nutshells and Nuggets, And Other Poems, Ink Sweat and Tears and The Seventh Quarry. Flash Fiction and short stories have featured in FlashFlood, Metazen, Number Eleven and The Bohemyth.She has been shortlisted for International Flash Fiction Competition, Flash Mob 2013, for Blog Awards Ireland and for 99 Fiction. Readings have included Waterford Writers’ Weekend, Winterval and Swansea’s Dylan Thomas Festival.

DESIGNING A LIFE: CREATE MEMORABLE CHARACTERS FOR YOUR STORIES. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT

A Workshop for Teenagers with Sheena Wilkinson.

Saturday 9th May | 10:45am - 12:45pmCentral Library - Reference Room | Free

What do you need to know about your characters to make them truly three dimensional and jump off the page? Great characters are essential to great fiction and will drive your story. Sheena Wilkinson will give you essential tips and techniques to make your characters live.

Sheena WilkinsonSince the publication of the international multi-award-winning YA novel,Taking Flight (Dublin, Little Island) in 2010, Sheena Wilkinson has established herself as one of the most acclaimed Irish writers for young people.Taking Flight won two CBI awards (The Honour Award for Fiction and the Children’s Choice Award); a White Raven Award from the International Youth Library; an IBBY Honour Listing, and it was shortlisted for the Reading Association of Ireland Awards 2011.The follow-up Grounded also won two CBI awards, including the

overall Book of the Year, and like its predecessor, the Children’s Choice award. Sheena is the only author to have won the Children’s Choice Award twice. It was also shortlisted for the Reading Association of Ireland Awards 2013.2013’s Too Many Ponies, for readers of 9-12, was also shortlisted for the CBI Awards, making that three out of three.Sheena is a professional mentor on the Creative Writing Degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and tutors for the Arvon Foundation. She set up and runs the Belfast Inter-Schools Creative Writing Network, for sixth form writers.

1716

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

ART ATTACK: CHILDRENS ARTS AND CRAFTS. KIDS EVENT

Recommended Age 5 - 8 years. All are welcome.

Saturday 9th May | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm The Book Centre | Free

Pop in to The Book Centre for an Arts & Crafts Workshop containing some outrageously fun & unique craft activities.

Art Attack is for 5 - 8 year olds from 11 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday (all materials will be supplied).

DAVID MCNIVEN READING FROM HIS NEW CHILDRENS BOOK - ME NAN FOUND A LEPRECHAUN. KIDS EVENT

Recommended Age 5 - 8 years.

Saturday 9th May | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm The Book Centre | Free

Me Nan Found a Leprechaun by David McNiven. When Nan finds Mick The Leprechaun, he says that he’ll make all her wishes come true. But everytime he wishes it seems to go spectacularly wrong, with hilarious results.

David McNivenDavid McNiven was born and raised in Scotland but has been dairy farming in Ireland for the last twenty five years. He creates rhymes and characters while milking his cows or driving his tractor. He has spent many years reading stories to his children and grandchildren, and he enjoys the power of the written word on the imagination of a young child.

CREATE AN ISLAND PARADISE WORKSHOP WITH BESTSELLING WRITER, SARAH WEBB. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT

For Children 7+.

Saturday 9th May | 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Central Library - Reference Room | Free

This workshop is perfect for creative youngsters who love making up stories and who also like drawing and collage. Sarah will share her research and writing secrets and help children create their own island paradise. During the workshop the children will learn about how a story is created, from initial idea to final book. Sarah’s new series for children (age 8+), The Songbird Cafe Girls, is set on a fictional West Cork island, inspired by Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands.

Sarah WebbSarah Webb writes for both children and adults. Her new book for children of 8+, The Songbird Cafe Girls: Mollie Cinnamon is Not a Cupcake has recently been published. Her previous series, Ask Amy Green was shortlisted for the Queen of Teen and the Irish Book Awards.

Her websites are www.sarahwebb.ie and www.askamygreen.com and you can find her on Facebook www.facebook.com/sarahwebbwriter or Twitter @sarahwebbishere

1918

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

FILLING THE BLANK PAGE: GETTING WRITING WORKSHOP. WORKSHOP

Saturday 9th May | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pmGranville Hotel - Parnell Room | €10/€8 Concession

In an information packed workshop Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin will explain tips and techniques to bring your writing ambitions to the page. Find out if you are a plotter and a planner or need to write more organically, discover essential writing technique and how important characters are to every story. Having coached writers from award winners to international bestsellers, whatever you hope to write, Vanessa will have advice for you.

Vanessa O’LoughlinVanessa Fox O’Loughlin is Ireland’s leading literary scout, founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy and of the national online writing magazine www.writing.ie. Vanessa has assisted many authors to publication including Jax Miller whose deal for Freedom’s Child was the hot news at the 2014 London Book Fair. Vanessa has been writing fiction since 1999 when her husband set sail across the Atlantic for eight weeks and she had an idea for a book. Vanessa’s novel True Colours was launched on World Book Day 2011. Her non fiction eBook Writing to Get Published: Bringing the Dream Alive (Collca 2011) is available for

all eReader devices and as an app. In 2010 Vanessa worked with The Hope Foundation to compile and edit The Big Book of Hope (Poolbeg) a collection of over 40 fiction and non-fiction stories from Ireland’s leading writers, business, politicians and media personalities; in 2014 she curated and edited Taking the Plunge, a short story collection celebrating the launch of the dlr LexIcon Library.Vanessa conceived and developed the National Emerging Writer Programme for Dublin City of Literature, and was the lead consultant and presenter for WritersWebTV. Vanessa is the Chair of Irish PEN and the Irish and Eurozone Adviser to the international organisation The Alliance of Independent Authors. Vanessa programmes literary events all over Ireland including Waterford Writers Weekend.

SEÁN DUNNE – A CONVERSATION WITH HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND FRIENDS.

With Peter Fallon, Thomas McCarthy, Jim Nolan & Harry Flynn.

Saturday 9th May | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm St Patricks Gateway Centre | Free

Reflecting on the contribution which Seán Dunne made to literature and his importance as a writer. His Waterford life, his influences and his legacy for the future with some of the people who knew him best, in this the 20th anniversary year of his death.

Peter FallonA prize-winning poet, Peter Fallon’s most recent collection, Strong, My Love, was published last year. In 1970, aged eighteen, the founded The Gallery Press and he continues to edit and publish Ireland’s pre-eminent literary enterprise.

Photo: Suella Holland/The Gallery Press

Harry FlynnHarry Flynn was reared in St. John’s Park, Waterford. He attended Scoil Lorcáin B.N.S. where he was in the same class with Seán Dunne throughout primary school. He trained in St. Patrick’s College, Dublin to be a primary teacher. He graduated in 1975 and returned to Waterford to teach in Scoil Lorcáin. He became principal of the school in 1986 following the departure of the Christian Brothers.

Thomas McCarthySee biography on page 10

Jim NolanSee biography on page 11

2120

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

WISPS OF WORDS TO WEAVE NEW WAYS.

Saturday 9th May | 5:00 pm - 6:00 pmGarter Lane Arts Centre | Tickets €6 / Family of four €20pre-book on 051-855038 or www.garterlane.ie

Choreography and Direction: Libby Seward and Jess Rowell, created and performed by TY students from Ard Scoil na Mara, Tramore in association with the Arts Office, TRACES Dance Ensemble, Best Foot Forward and the Adult and Teens contemporary dance class.Wisps of words to weave new ways (from The Healing Island) is an eclectic programme of contemporary dance inspired by a selection of Seán Dunne’s poetry. These new choreographies capture the vitality and immediacy of the arts in a moving tribute to Dunne’s enduring legacy. Words and movement are woven in an intriguing dialogue that is both edgy and ephemeral. Running time 50 mins.Photo Credit: Keith Currams

Libby SewardLibby Seward is the artistic director and choreographer of Animated State Dance Theatre Co, creating engaging and accessible work. She holds a Masters in Dance and is a graduate of Laban. Libby is Waterford City and County’s Dance Artist in Residence funded by the Arts Council and Waterford City & County Council and based in Garter Lane Arts Centre. Libby delivers a vibrant community dance

programme that embraces all ages and ability. She has established TRACES Dance Ensemble, a unique and celebrated company of dancers with Down syndrome.

Jessica RowellJessica Rowell is a graduate of London Contemporary Dance School and has worked as a dancer in Berlin, London UK and Ireland and USA. An experienced choreographer, director and facilitator she has co produced professional work with Animated State and community dance projects including TRACES Dance Ensemble.

WATERFORD YOUTH ARTS PRESENTS WORDS.

Saturday 9th May | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pmGarter Lane Arts Centre | Free

Words are powerful things. We use them all day, everyday to communicate to ourselves and to others. The creative writers of WYA explore their impact in a piece they have written and will perform themselves. This group of 15 to 19 year olds are the new guard of exciting new local writers. Join us for what will be a memorable event in the Writers Weekend programme.

CRAZY CHARACTER WORKSHOP WITH BESTSELLING WRITER, SARAH WEBB. WORKSHOP KIDS EVENT

For Children 9+.

Saturday 9th May | 3:45 pm - 4:45 pmCentral Library - Reference Room | Free

Learn how to create characters that are so real they leap off the page in this fun, interactive workshop. Do you love making up stories? Then this is the workshop for you! Warning: may involve giant chocolate buttons, dressing up as spies and wig wearing!Sarah’s new series for children (age 8+), The Songbird Cafe Girls features lots of unusual and larger than life characters. Sarah will show young writers her character

notebooks and will share her writing secrets.

Sarah Webb See biography on page 17

2322

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

AN ACT OF LOVE: THE MARIE FLEMING STORY.

Saturday 9th May | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pmSt Patrick’s Gateway Centre | €10/€8 Concession.

The unforgettable story of how one woman fought to live – and die – on her own terms. Marie Fleming became a household name in Ireland with her trail-blazing campaign for the right to die with dignity, when she took a landmark case against the Irish State to lift the ban on assisted suicide. But behind the Multiple Sclerosis sufferer’s brave fight lay a remarkable life story known to few.From her young years growing up in Donegal, as she struggled to keep her family together after her mother left, to her battle to keep her own baby – born when Marie was still a teenager – to her later quest for education and self-betterment against the odds, An Act of Love is an unforgettable story of ambition, of sorrow, and of life lived to the full. In it, she also describes coming to terms with MS and the ordeal of her later court case. Completed just before Marie’s death in late 2013, most of all, this is a story of the power of abiding love.Dave Kenny talks to ghost writer Sue Leonard and Marie’s daughter Corrinna about how the book came about, Marie’s remarkable story and her lasting impact.

Sue LeonardA Journalist and Ghostwriter, Sue has made her living from writing for eighteen years. She recently co-wrote the number one bestseller, An Act of Love with Marie Fleming. (Hachette Ireland, 2014) about Marie’s extraordinary life, and fight for the right to die with dignity.

Sue is currently working on Whispering Hope, the True Story of the Magdalene Women, to be published by Orion in May, 2015. She has

worked on four other books as a ghostwriter, two, for Penguin Ireland, were best sellers. She is the author of Keys to the Cage (New Island, 2010).

As a journalist, Sue writes interview-based features for the Irish Independent, the Irish Examiner and many other publications. A former columnist with the Evening Herald she currently writes the Beginner’s Pluck book column for the Irish Examiner.

Corrinna MooreCorrinna Moore, 45, is Marie Fleming’s daughter, and was born in Strabane. A graduate of Oxford University, who worked at Unilever, the BBC, and Warner Films, she moved to Dalkey in 2005 to be close to her mother who, due to her MS, could no longer travel. She lives there still, with her husband, Richard, and their five children. As told in An Act of Love, Corrinna enjoyed an exceptionally close relationship with her mother. She was profoundly affected by Marie Fleming’s decision to fight for the right to be helped to die when the time was right.

Dave KennyDave Kenny is a journalist, broadcaster, best-selling author and songwriter. His books include The Trib: Highlights from the Sunday Tribune, The Little Buke of Dublin, Erindipity: The Irish Miscellany and Erindipity Rides Again. In 2011, Dave wrote and co-produced Warner Music’s No. 1 trad/rock book and CD, The Brilliant Irish Flute. In 2014, he co-wrote the theme song, Ani’s Lullaby, for the Italian/Irish thriller, Controra/House of Shadows, which is sung by Neil Jordan’s daughter, Anna.

Dave is the presenter of ’round-Ireland travelogue series, Kenny Wild, on satellite station Irish TV (Sky 191). He has worked for RTÉ TV news and is a regular weekly ‘columnist’ on the national broadcaster, TV3, and radio stations across the country.He has written for and/or edited the Irish/Evening/Sunday Press, Sunday Tribune (Assoc Ed), Daily Mail, Sunday Times, Irish Times, The Western Australian, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, The Examiner, and the Evening Herald (Deputy Ed). He hosts literary events for UNESCO Dublin City of literature, Dublin City Libraries, Waterford and Dalkey Book Festivals.He is currently working on his first children’s novel, and a family history around the founding of the Abbey Theatre and 1916.

2524

SATURDAY9th MAY

SATURDAY9th MAY

OPEN MIC FACILITATED BY POET LANI O’HANLON WITH MUSICAL INTERLUDES BY FERGAL O’CONNOR.

Saturday 9th May | 8:30 pm - 10:30 pmDownes Bar | Free

Open Mic Session in Downes’ Bar, Thomas Hill, Waterford.Facilitated by poet Lani O’Hanlon with musical interludes by Fergal O’Connor.Guest poets will read some of Seán Dunne’s poetry on the evening.To pre-register for your slot, please contact the Arts Office on 058 41416 before 1st May 2015.

Lani O’HanlonLani O’Hanlon has a background in Theatre, Dance, Meditation and Movement Therapy. Author of Dancing the Rainbow Mercier Press, she lives in West Waterford where she has been writing poetry and prose for the last ten years. She is currently working on a second novel while studying for an MA in Creative Writing with Lancaster University and a debut poetry collection. Her work has appeared most recently in Southword Literary Journal The Stinging Fly. Solas

Nua Washington DC. Skylight Poets, Poddle Publications, Anthology Small Lives, The Moth and up-coming in Raving Beauties Anthology, Bloodaxe in April 2015.She has worked as a Creative Writing Facilitator with Waterford Arts Office, Waterford Healing Arts Trust, the annual Molly Keane Writers Retreat in Ardmore, and internationally as an Arts Director/Facilitator on the Skyros Programme. www.laniohanlon.com

Fergal O’ConnorFergal O’Connor is a guitarist, percussionist and singer songwriter who also composes music for theatre and dance. His magical mythical piece The Ninth Wave featured Liam Ó Maonlaí, Ronan Ó Snodaigh and a host of dancers and musicians in the 2007 World Bodhran festival. He has just finished an album entitled Light breaks through. His work, rich in atmosphere and feeling, draws from from many cultures and traditions.

DEREK FLYNN CD LAUNCH.

CD launch with Derek Flynn and friends

Saturday 9th May | 10:30 pm till lateDownes Bar | Free

Derek FlynnDerek Flynn is an Irish writer and musician. He recently completed an MPhil in Creative Writing at Trinity College, Dublin; was featured in the Surge anthology published by O’Brien Press; and was responsible for the Irish viral hit, The Vincent Browne Song, for which, Vincent still hasn’t forgiven him. Derek launches his new album, The School of Night, in Downes pub as part of the Waterford Writers Weekend on Saturday 9th May at 10 pm.

2726

SUNDAY10th MAY

SUNDAY10th MAY

TELLING THE STORY: WORKSHOP

Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop with Niall Williams.

Sunday 10th May | 10:00 am - 1:00 pmCoastguard Station, Tramore | €25/€20 Concession

For advanced writers this workshop will focus on establishing and maintaining true narrative voice. Niall will bring a blend of group work with exercises, exploring different narrative approaches and styles to focus writers on identifying their own way of storytelling.

Niall WilliamsMan Booker Longlisted Niall Williams runs Kiltumper Writers Workshops in the beautiful surroundings of West Clare. Workshops revolve around establishing and maintaining true narrative voice. Courses are a blend of group work with exercises, as well as individual sessions with Niall. The workshops cater to both practicing and new writers and through exploration of different narrative approaches and styles focus on helping writers to identify their own way of storytelling. Niall Williams’ international best-selling Four

Letters Of Love was re-issued in January as a Picador Classic with a foreword by John Hurt and his Man Booker longlisted novel, History Of The Rain, came out in paperback (Bloomsbury) in March this year.

A PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS: AND REACHING MORE OF YOUR POTENTIAL IN LIFE WITH DR MARK ROWE.

Sunday 10th May | 11:30 am to 12:30 pmGreyfriars Gallery | €10/€8 Concession

A session which aims to motivate and challenge your thinking, thereby leading you to true wealth and prosperity in your personal life, your work commitments and your community engagements.

Dr Mark RoweDr. Mark Rowe has a background of working as a family physician based in Waterford City and is a thought leader in the emergent area of health, happiness and high performance in life.

Mark is author of The Mens Health Book - A Guide for the Irish Man which was published by Blackhall Publishing in 2009 with all royalties going to a Cancer Charity. He has also contributed to books on Leadership in Ireland and Healthcare Management. He has a longstanding interest in medical education, as a trainer of

young family doctors with the South East G.P. Training Programme in Ireland, as Senior clinical lecturer with the University of Limerick Graduate Medical School, and formerly as an ICGP examiner.

He graduated from U.C.D. Medical School in 1991 and became a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners in 1995, having achieved first place Ellerd Eppel award. He has worked with organisations consistently over the years as an advocate for health. He is an international keynote speaker on the topics of New Philosophy of Wellbeing, Health Leadership, Generative Space and A Prescription for Happiness.He holds the position of Chairman of the Board at Garter Lane Arts Centre in Waterford City, and has recently been appointed to the inaugural Healthy Ireland Council.

2928

SUNDAY10th MAY

SUNDAY10th MAY

A WINNING COMBINATION: MARY COSTELLO AND DONAL RYAN IN CONVERSATION WITH PAUL PERRY.

Sunday 10th May | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pmGreyfriars Gallery | €10/€8 Concession

Multi award winning authors Mary Costello (Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year and Book of the Year) and Donal Ryan (Booker longlisted, winner of the Guardian First Book Award) discuss story with Paul Perry, revealing what is at the heart of their work. Followed by a Q&A and an opportunity to hear the authors read from their work.

Mary CostelloMary Costello grew up in Galway and now lives in Dublin. Her collection of stories, The China Factory, was nominated for the 2012 Guardian First Book Award. Her first novel, Academy Street, won the 2014 Irish Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Prize.

Donal RyanDonal Ryan is from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. He holds the 2015 Arts Council Writer-in-Residence Fellowship at the University of Limerick, where, with Joseph O’Connor and Giles Foden, he teaches Creative Writing.

Donal’s debut novel, The Spinning Heart, was voted Irish Book of the Year in 2012, was a number one bestseller in Ireland and a Boston Globe bestseller in the US. The Spinning Heart won the Guardian

First Book Award in 2013, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Desmond Elliott Prize, and was a finalist for the 2014 IMPAC Literary Award.

Donal’s second novel, The Thing About December, was also a number one bestseller. It was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2013 and the Kerry Group Novel of the Year for 2014, and has been nominated for the 2015 IMPAC Literary Award.

Donal’s work has been translated into several languages. His first short story collection, A Slanting of the Sun, will be released worldwide in September 2015.

Paul PerryPaul Perry is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books. A winner of The Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award, he is a lecturer in creative writing at Kingston University, London, and course director in poetry at the Faber Academy in Dublin.

Karen Perry is the pen name of Irish writers Paul Perry and Karen Gillece.

31

FRINGE EVENTS

30

SUNDAY10th MAY

BEALTAINE FESTIVAL.

Fri 1st - Sun 31st MayGarter Lane Arts Centre | www.garterlane.ie

Garter Lane Arts Centre will come alive with a range of vibrant arts events from exhibitions, dance, film, music and theatre as part of their annual Bealtaine celebrations for the full month of May. For tickets and more info see www.garterlane.ie.

‘WHAT LAND AND COUNTRY IS THIS?’ GROUP EXHIBITION.

Fri 1st May - Sun 31st MayGarter Lane Arts Centre | Free

Opening Friday, 1st May to kick start the Bealtaine programme at Garter Lane What Land and County is This? will present a vibrant and varied group exhibition that showcases creativity along with active ageing and solidarity between generations following an open call for submissions earlier in February and March. The exhibition offers Waterford and the wider community the chance to come and celebrate the truly stunning creative response to the theme of What Land and Country is This? from the talented artists of all ages and that hail from across the County and Country. For more info see www.garterlane.ie

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: KAREN GILLECE AND PAUL PERRY

(Karen Perry) discuss co-writing and how it works with Sue Leonard.

Sunday 10th May | 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Greyfriars Gallery | €10/€8 Concession

Best selling crime author Karen Perry is in fact two experienced writers - Karen Gillece and Paul Perry. But how do two people write a book so you can’t see the seams, and how do you decide who writes which character? Is co-writing, all plain sailing, an ideal solution to not having enough time to write, or is it fraught with tension and does it take twice as long? Karen and Paul reveal the secrets of their double act.

Karen GilleceKaren Gillece studied Law at University College Dublin and worked for several years in the telecommunications industry before turning to writing full-time. She has written four novels and her short stories have been widely published in literary journals and magazines. She has been described by The Irish Times as “an emerging force to be reckoned with”, and by the Irish Independent as “the queen of emerging Irish writers”, and her

work as being “clever and compelling”. In 2009 she was awarded the European Union Prize for Literature. She lives in Dublin.

Karen PerryKaren Perry is the pen name of Irish writers Paul Perry and Karen Gillece.

Paul Perry is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books. A winner of The Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award.

Karen Gillece is the author of four critically acclaimed novels. In 2009 she won the European Union Prize for Literature (Ireland).

Sue LeonardSee biography on page 22

32

FRINGE EVENTS

OLD FLOUR MILLS BY DAVID MURPHY.

Fri 1st May - Sun 31st MayGarter Lane Arts Centre - FOH Space,kindly sponsored by AIB, Waterford | Free

David explains; “I have recently taken on a personal project to photograph the ‘Old Flour Mills’ on the docks in Waterford. The reason I took on this project was to capture the iconic memory of these old towers which are to be knocked soon. I myself have grown up in Waterford all my life. These towers for me represent Waterford as it was, (a hardworking city), and although the towers no longer represent that, I feel for me that they are a significant part of the history of the city. Waterford has been hit hard lately as you well know, and maybe it will take something significant like the destruction of one of our most iconic landmarks to get the fire

lighting again. When I arrive back from trips to Dublin and Kilkenny the first thing I see are these towers and it will be strange to imagine them not being there in the not so distant future.”

David Murphy is a recent BA (Hons) in Design (Visual Communications) graduate from WIT. For more info see www.garterlane.ie

VIOLETTE (15A) FILM.

Sun 10th May | 7:30 pmGarter Lane Arts Centre | €9/€6 Concession

Born out of wedlock early in the last century, impoverished and unloved Violette Leduc (Devos) meets Simone de Beauvoir (Kiberlain) in postwar Saint-Germaindes-Pres. An intense lifelong relationship develops between the two women authors, based on Violette’s quest for freedom through writing and on Simone’s conviction that she holds in her hands the destiny of an extraordinary writer. Based on the true story of French novelist Violette Leduc. Dir: Martin Provost Language: French with English subtitles Runtime: 139 mins

waterford writers weekend programme 2015

Documents