Welcome to the Munster

Literature Centre

Founded in 1993, the Munster Literature Centre (Tigh Litríochta) is a non-profit arts organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of literature, especially that of Munster. To this end, we organise festivals, workshops, readings and competitions. Our publishing section, Southword Editions, publishes a biannual journal, poetry collections and short stories. We actively seek to support new and emerging writers and are assisted in our efforts through funding from Cork City Council, Cork County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.

Originally located in Sullivan's Quay, the centre moved to its current premises in the Frank O'Connor House (the author's birthplace) at 84 Douglas Street, in 2003.

In 2000, the Munster Literature Centre organised the first Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival, an event dedicated to the celebration of the short story and named for one of Cork's most beloved authors. The festival showcases readings, literary forums and workshops. Following continued growth and additional funding, the Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award was introduced in 2005, coinciding with Cork's designation as that year's European Capital of Culture. The award is now recognised as the single biggest prize for a short story collection in the world and is presented at the end of the festival.

In 2002, the Munster Literature Centre introduced the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Prize, an annual short story competition dedicated to one of Ireland's most accomplished story writers and theorists. This too is presented during the FOC festival. The centre also hosts the Cork Spring Literary Festival each year.

Workshops are held by featured authors in both autumn and spring, allowing the general public to receive creative guidance in an intimate setting for a minimal fee. In addition, the centre sponsors a Writer in Residence each year.

We invite you to browse our website for further information regarding our events, Munster literature, and other literary information. Should you have any queries, we would be happy to hear from you.

FESTIVALS

SPRING LITERARY FESTIVAL 2010: THE LORE OF PLACE

February 17 - 20

Click on the programme for more information!

Click here to download the festival programme.

Click here to download the festival timetable of events.

View Cork Spring Literary Festival in a larger map 

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Cuisle Limerick City International Poetry Festival 2009

14- 17 October

Cuisle 2009 marks the twelfth Cuisle Festival in Limerick City, celebrating local, national and international excellence in poetry.  The festival will take place from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th October with poets two former US Poet Laureates and two Pulitzer Prize winners visiting Limerick over 4 days.  Limerick's long association with poetry makes Cuisle the perfect opportunity and place for audiences to extend their experience of poetry during four festival days of convivial discussion readings, book launches and workshops with the leading contemporary poets of our time.

The festival format over the four days includes lunchtime readings, readings for secondary school students, book launches and evening readings.

This year’s line up of poets include international visiting poets Robert Hass (USA), Donald Hall (USA),  Fleur Adcock (NZ/UK), Penelope Shuttle (UK), Aonghus MacNeachail (Scotland), Lidija Dimkovska (Slovenia), Taja Kramberger (Slovenia), Catherine Smith (UK), John O’Donoghue (UK) and Irish poets Patrick Moran, Ulick O’Connor, Clairr O’Connor and Paul Muldoon, Vivienne McKechnie, Maurice Riordan and Paul Sweeney.

Highlights of the festival:

• Readings for school groups at Limerick City Library and Daghdha
• Poetry masterclass for schools at the Dominican Biblical Centre
• Presentation of the Cuisle Young Poet of the Year Awards will take place on Saturday 17th in Daghdha
• Lunchtime readings at Limerick City Gallery of Art each day
• This year’s Stony Thursday Book is edited by Limerick’s own well know poet, Ciaran O’Driscoll
• Open mic nightly at the White House Pub with a poetry slam on Saturday night
• Nightly evening readings with poets of national and international importance

(Cuisle, Limerick City International Poetry Festival is grant aided by The Arts Council and Limerick City Council)

Further information from – The Arts Office, Limerick City Council, City Hall, Merchant’s Quay,

Telephone : 061 407421 / 407363,

E-mail: artsoffice(AT)limerickcity(DOT).ie

The official Limerick International Poetry Festival Cuisle poster (PDF - 1,827 Kb)
Cuisle Brochure (PDF - 1,195 Kb)

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Sean Dunne Writers' Festival
Waterford City, Waterford
19-21 March 2009

Please click here for a PDF brochure of all festival events.

The Seán Dunne Writers Festival commemorates Waterford born poet and journalist Seán Dunne and  is run by Waterford City Council with support from the Arts Council. The festival, now in its thirteenth year, features the best in international, national and local writers. Further details are available at www.seandunne.ie or contact Mary Conway, festival organiser, on (051) 849974, (087) 921 5426 or mconwayATwaterfordcityDOTie. All tickets are available from the Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford (051 849975).

Programme
Events on Thursday the 19th March include readings by best selling novelists Paul Carson and Tara Heavey in the Central and Ardkeen libraries. The Seán Dunne Young Writers Awards will be presented at the opening of the festival in City Hall, where author Celine Kiernan will give a keynote speech. Following the opening, Tramore Writers Group read from their work in the Tower Hotel, followed by an Open Mic session.
Friday the 20th provides opportunities to hear poetry from Conor O'Callaghan, Macdara Woods and Anthony Healy in Greyfriars Gallery. Local poets Jim O'Donnell, Teri Flynn, and Anthony O'Neill will read in the Central Library .
The sports writing debate will be held in the Tower Hotel on Friday evening between Eamon Carr, Ulick O'Connor, Conor O'Callaghan and Declan Lynch. It is chaired by WLR FM's Matt Keane and the evening rounds off with a "stand up reading" session from comic and best selling author A.L. Kennedy.
The Literary Breakfast on Saturday 21st offers the opportunity to hear Peter Cunningham and Ellen McCarthy, two of Waterford's best selling authors, read from their new works while enjoying a full Irish breakfast in the Tower Hotel. Mid morning a celebration of Sean Dunne's work takes place in Scoil Lorcain, St. Johns Park and also provides an opportunity to see the photographic exhibition created by local school children in conjunction with the festival.
Poetry and creative writing workshops given by Conor O'Callaghan and A.L. Kennedy  take place on Saturday afternoon in the Tower Hotel. The latest crop of young Waterford writers read from their work at Waterford Youth Arts in the Arch in the afternoon. Other events on Saturday include talks in the Central Library from journalists Michael Kelly on sustainable living and Anthony Healy on the changes in journalism as we know it.
Poet Tom Paulin gives a rare reading of his work on Saturday evening and the festival concludes with a lively performance poetry session from Eamon Carr and Raven, accompanied on sax and guitar by Richie Buckley and Hugh Buckley.

Eigse 2009: Humour, Irony and Wit
Éigse 2009: Humour, Irony and Wit is a festival of poetry and prose presented by the Munster Literature Centre. This year the festival will take place from Wednesday, 18th February to Saturday, 21st February. Download the festival brochure here.

Ennis Book Club Festival
Ennis, Co. Clare
6-8 March 2009

The Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare County Library, is a unique literary and social gathering for book clubs and book lovers from all over the world. The 3-day annual event takes place in one of Ireland’s oldest and most beautiful towns. Here you can share your reading passions, meet your favourite writers, get new ideas for your reading list and pick up useful tips on approaching new material. The programme includes author readings, discussions, workshops, walking tours, advice on reading, events as Gaeilge, and even chocolate tastings! Further details at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com

*Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list and is updated on an ongoing basis. If you wish to be included on this page, or list another event on our website, please email the administrator (administrator AT munsterlit DOT ie).

Read Southword Journal Online

Issue 17 is now up!

Spring Literary Festival

17 February - 20 February

Best Irish Poetry in English 2010

Visit our bookstore here.

Poetry International.org

The Munster Literature Centre produces the Irish section of this prestigious poetry site. Current featured poets are Martina Evans and Pat Boran. For further information, please visit the site at www.poetryinternational.org.

The Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition is now closed.

Click the photo above to view the shortlisted authors.

Workshops

Workshops in poetry and fiction will be starting in early 2010. The leaders include published poet and fiction writers. The workshops are offered to the general public for a minimal fee. Full details will be available in late January.

Festivals

The Munster Literature Centre hosts two annual festivals. The larger Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival takes place each September, while the Cork Spring Literary Festival, with varying themes, is presented each spring. Further information is available on our drop down menus.

Munster Literature Centre

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Frank O'Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork, Ireland.

Tel. (353) 021 4312955, Email: munsterlit(AT)eircom(DOT)net