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

West Cork Literary Festival
Bantry, Co. Cork
4 - 10 July 2010

The Festival, once again generously supported by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, Cork County Library and Arts Service and RTÉ lyric fm, will cover a broad range of writing disciplines. Speakers include leading Irish poet, Eavan Boland;  award-winning travel writer Tim Mackintosh-Smith;  Rooney Prize winner Philip O Ceallaigh and Booker Nominee, Simon Mawer.  We are also delighted to introduce Suad Amiry, Palestinian author of the international bestseller Sharon and My Mother-in-Law, Singaporean poet and novelist, Felix Cheong, bestselling novelist John Boyne and many more. Manchán Magan and Damien Enright  discussing Writing for the Environment, Peter Sirr and James Harpur talking  about the Poetry Journey, Simon Mawer and Tim Severin sharing their thoughts on Research are just some of the afternoon seminars taking place in the Maritime Hotel.

The Festival  will also feature a new generation of Irish writers, including immigrant poets.  There will be master classes in travel writing and fiction, seminars on the art of editing and some entertaining talks: Brian Dillon will speak about hypochondriac writers; Tony Humphreys will be launching his new book, Karen Coleman will speak about abuse in religious institutions, and Eileen Battersby on re-reading classics.  The  2010 Fish Anthology will also be launched in St Brendan's Church. Click here for more information about workshops.

Further details at www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie or ring +353 27 55987

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Kinsale Arts Week
10-18 July 2010

Kinsale Arts Week is an annual festival celebrating the Arts. Located in the beautiful seaside town of Kinsale in West Cork, Kinsale Arts Week offers a wide variety of summer entertainment and culture including literary workshops, book launches, and readings. 2010's events include readings by Christopher Reid, Gerard Smyth, and Claire Kilroy; viewings of a documentary about Derek Mahon; and a poetry cruise with Thomas McCarthy.

For more information visit www.kinsaleartsweek.com or phone 021 4700877.

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SoundEye Festival
Camden Palace Hotel, Cork
14-18 July 2010

This year’s SoundEye, along with the usual plethora of poets, Irish and international, alternative cabaret and ’closed mike’ session MCed by Mairéad Byrne, will include an embassy of poets from the Greenwich Women’s Poetry Festival, a Critical Thread and a launch night (see below) at the Sirius Arts Centre. Readings by Maurice Scully, Medhbh McGuckian, Randolph Healy and Rachel Warriner among many others.

More information at www.soundeye.org.

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Cúirt International Festival of Literature
Galway
20-25 April 2010

2010 is a remarkably exciting year for Cúirt as it turns twenty-five.  The 25^th edition of the festival year is about celebration of this momentous birthday and the festival programme highlights the place of Irish literature in the context of a strong international programme.  Among the many names that will visit Galway to celebrate this special anniversary year are Joyce Carol Oates, Roddy Doyle, Ian Rankin, Colum McCann, Claire Keegan, Robin Robertson, Marina Carr, Olivia O’Leary, Richard Bausch, Josh Ritter, Gerard Smyth, Kate Pullinger, Richard Hawley, Tom Kilroy, Joseph O’Connor, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, John Burnside, Philip King, Barrie Cooke and Paula Meehan. 

www.cuirt.ie

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Cork World Book Festival
Central Library (Grand Parade) & Triskel (Lee Hotel)
21-25 April 2010

Cork World Book Fest brings books and reading to a wider public, making them more accessible to people in the heart of the city. Since 2005, the Fest has established itself as a lively addition to Cork's cultural calendar. Featured writers in 2010 will include renowned Irish novelist Joseph O'Connor, Simon van Booy (winner of Frank O'Connor Short Story Prize), Rosaria Lo Russo (Italian poet), Hussein Bin Hamza (Syrian poet), along with other Cork and Irish writers. There will be a special focus on composer Aloys Fleischmann whose centenary occurs in 2010, with readings from the literary texts which inspired many of his works. Major strand of Catalan writers and artists.

Grand Parade, in the centre of Cork, will be taken over by books, music, food and street entertainers, on Saturday 24 April. Teen Day, featuring graphic novel-writing, children's programme, rap, hip hop and street arts, is also on Saturday 24 April.

Click here to download the 2010 World Book Festival brochure.

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Eigse Michael Hartnett Festival
Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
22-24 April 2010

Readers include Eileen Sheehan, Rita Ann Higgins, Gearoid MacLouchlinn and Jorie Graham.

Visit www.eigsemichaelhartnett.ie for more information.

The eleventh annual Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival is County Limerick’s prestigious literary & arts weekend. Reflection and inspiration are the two words that best describe this year’s programme. Leading Irish and International poets, writers and thinkers jostle with musicians, dancers, singers and storytellers, what Michael Hartnett termed ‘the harp side of the Irish coin’. Events that are bound to enthuse, stimulate, inspire, and occasionally bemuse, celebrate the literary and oral legacy of Michael Hartnett, the poet and man. Hosted throughout the town of Newcastle West, in the library, schools, the courthouse, church, hospital and pubs, the breadth of the programme creates an ambience of warmth and conviviality that lends itself to lively gatherings and easy conversation.

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Sean Dunne Writers' Festival
Waterford City, Waterford
18-20 March 2010

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

Over nearly 20 top authors and poets are gathering in Waterford on the 18th, 19th and 20th of March to participate in one of Ireland’s most prestigious writers festivals. Librarian Melanie Cunningham announcing the line-up said “the talent is second to none and there is an event to suit everyone. One of the great things about this festival…” she added “is that it’s free in for practically all the sessions”.
With a line-up including “Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” author John Boyne, author and comedienne Pauline McLynn, award winning authors Claire Keegan, Christine Dwyer Hickey and many more, the festival organisers are advising audience members to arrive early to get a seat.

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Ennis Book Club Festival
Ennis, Co. Clare
5-7 March 2010

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

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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.

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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)

*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 18 now online.

Sean Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition

now closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

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 from Landing Places, the new Dedalus anthology of immigrant poets. For further information, please visit the site at www.poetryinternational.org.

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.

Workshops

Workshops in poetry and fiction run in Spring and Winter at MLC. Contact Jennifer for more information.

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