Writing & Poetry at Allingham 2017

Poetry readings, workshops, writing awards, interviews, book launches, story-telling...the written word is celebrated across the Allingham Festival weekend in Ballyshannon. Susan Mc Kay will talk about her experience as a writer from the border on Thursday night. The Fighting Words team will hold information sessions on Friday morning on setting up and running writing workshops for children. Olive Travers will guide writers through an engaging workshop focusing on creativity on Friday afternoon. Festival favourite Mick Delap returns to host Wild Atlantic Writers in Diceys at 4pm on Friday. Marc Geagan will launch his book and CD, 'Songs of the Erne' in Dorrian's at 6 (followed by the 'Songs of the Erne' concert at 8pm in St. Anne's).

On Saturday morning, Moya Cannon hosts a sold out poetry workshop. The Primary and Secondary School Art, Poetry and Fiction awards will begin at 12pm, and is always a highly enjoyable event. At the Literary Lunch, the winners of the Allingham Fiction & Poetry competitions will read their work and receive their awards from judges Moya Cannon and Paul Lynch. Lynch will also launch his latest novel, 'Grace', at the lunch. Mike Mc Cormack will be interviewed by RTÉs Sinead Gleeson in the Abbey Centre at 3.30pm. On Saturday evening, John D. Ruddy will launch the latest in his series of Manny Man books, 'Manny Man Does Revolutionary Ireland 1916-1923'. The weekend is nicely rounded off with a gentle morning of stories and songs in the Thatch Bar from 12pm. 

What more could you ask for?

Barry Britton's Poster Art

The legend that is Barry Britton will give a talk on his unique and celebrated style of poster art in Local Hands on Saturday morning at the Allingham Festival. During the talk, Barry will give insights into the inspiration for his work and the stories behind the posters. This is one not to be missed!

www.facebook.com/events/1251269955018452/

Olive Travers Writing Workshop

There are still a few places left on Olive Travers' writing workshop entitled 'The Art of Awareness', which promises to be a very stimulating and inspirational opportunity for all writers.

Hosted by Olive Travers, clinical psychologist, creative writer, workshop facilitator and regular contributor to RTE 1’s Sunday Miscellany, the workshop is hands on and engaging, incorporating practical mindfulness, psycho-drama, psychology & creative writing.

Following on from successful workshops in Sligo & Enniskillen, this is a new & fun way of charging your creativity. The workshop will be in the beautiful setting of the Abbey Mill Wheel with the workshop content adapted to reflect the stunning location.

Tickets are available from
allinghamfestival.eventbrite.co.uk

Listen Back to Susan Mc Kay on Arena

On Monday night's Arena (RTÉ Radio 1, 7pm), Susan Mc Kay had a chat with Sean Rocks about her upcoming lecture at the Allingham Festival on Thursday night (8pm, Thursday Nov. 9th, Abbey Arts Centre). Listen back to the show by clicking on the link below.

Susan's lecture on Thursday night promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend. Taking as her starting point the “No Man’s Land” that lies along either side of the Irish border, writer Susan McKay will explore No Woman’s Land, the somewhat larger territory which nonetheless remains to be fully mapped.  Originally from the border town of Derry, and currently living near the border in Leitrim, she will look at questions to do with the crossing of lines, incursions.  She will look at how women who are writers have negotiated frontiers into places where they were never expected to be, and where their voices are not always heard.  She will draw on writings by poets Eavan Boland, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, Rita Ann Higgins and Seamus Heaney, essayist Rebecca Solnit and Professor Mary Beard, as well as on her own experiences. 

Susan Mc Kay on RTÉ's Arena: www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=b9_21266584_0__

Music at the Allingham Festival

Jazz, folk, trad, classical, choral, contemporary songwriting...the Allingham Festival has music to suit all tastes this weekend in Ballyshannon. The festival begins with some cool West Coast Jazz at Wednesday night's fringe gig in Dicey's. On Friday night, Marc Geagan's troupe of local musicians will perform 'Songs from the Erne'. Following that, we have twelve diverse new songs performed by twelve acts from all over the country in the Allingham Songwriting Contest, always a very enjoyable night celebrating new talent. On Saturday evening, fiddle maestro Maurice Lennon will play along to stunning photographs from the Letrim area. Later that night, we have classical piano pieces from Marie Askin, classical voice by Claire Breslin, jazz by Lorraine Walls and Eddie Lynch, followed by the beautiful harmonies and wide range of tunes from the Henry Girls. Don't forget the Festival Club in McIntyre's on Thursday night and the Rushy Glen on Saturday night. On Sunday, we have more stories and songs in the Thatch, the Songwriters' Circle in Dicey's, and we finish off with choral pieces performed by Bel Canto in St. Anne's.