Want to know a bit more about Claire Keegan before she arrives in Ballyshannon next week? Well the kind people at The Booker Prize put together a handy page with a profile, some extracts from her work and an interview or two.
So now you've no excuse not to come and meet her in person and use the opportunity to ask her a question in person on Sunday Nov. 6th in the Abbey Arts Centre!
This is quickly shaping up to be one of many highlights in this year's festival. Dr. Tony Bates will discuss the increasing medicalisation of our everyday lives during the Allingham Lecture in the Abbey Arts Centre on Thursday 3rd November at 8 pm. Admission is free but booking is strongly recommended as tickets are going fast.
History Ireland editor Tommy Graham and his panel of Adrian Grant, Brendan MacSuibhne and Pauric Travers discuss the Civil War in Donegal. The Battle of Pettigo in early June 1922 became the last stand-up fight between the IRA and the British Army. Many of the people involved here became involved on both sides of the Civil War which followed. As usual the History Ireland Hedge School will provide fascinating insights into our past.
Due to generous funding from the government's Commemorations Unit the Hedge School will now be a free event
After much deliberation, the judges have released the shortlists for the Allingham Festival Seecondary Schools’ Competitions, sponsored by Donegal ETB. Well done to everyone, and thanks to all who entered…and all those who assisted in getting the entries in!
The winners in each category will be selected from these shortlist and announced in the Awards Ceremonies which will be streamed on our YouTube channel on November 3rd. The link will be published on our website closer to the time. Best of luck to everyone!
ALLINGHAM FESTIVAL SCHOOLS’ FLASH FICTION SHORTLISTS
First & Second Year
Senán McCann, Abbey Vocational School The Greatest Outlaw
Seoighe McCafferty, Abbey Vocational School O2
Isla Buchanan, Abbey Vocational School Are You OK?
Melissa Whelan, Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon The Sun If it Reaches the Meadow
Emily O’Gara, Mercy College, Roscommon The Loss
Joe Colgan, Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon The Eye of the Storm
Sarah Goan, Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon Left or Right
Cassie McKinney, Crana College, Buncrana She Left
Rachel McGee, Crana College, Buncrana Corvus of the Valley
Olivia Sheehy, Crana College, Buncrana Day Dreams
Jessica Robb, Crana College, Buncrana
Fódhla, McGinley, Moville Community College An Ordinary Morning
Aran Lafferty, Moville Community College Hunters
Third Year and TY
Noah Edwards, Crana College, Buncrana Cave Diver
Mia McLoughlin, Crana College, Buncrana The Woman in the Window
Finja Schaumann, Drumshambo Voc. School Time’s Up
Faith Creighton, Moville Community College Blissful Rain
Ghita Osia, Moville Community College Nightbeat
Carys Hudner, Moville Community College Bon Appetit
Chloe Crowley, Scoil Mhuire, Cork Bleak Ending to Bittersweet Memories
Óran McGuinness, Colaiste Cholmcille, B’shannon Lost at Sea
Alaoíse McGrath, Ard Scoil Chiarian Naofa, Clara Layla
Lily Tanham, Abbey Vocational School A Shooting Star
Rowan Buchanan, Abbey Vocational School In a Future Not So Far Away
Kevin Gavin, Ard Scoil Chiarian Naofa, Clara Two Wrongs Don’t Make Right
Tianna Maher, Ard Scoil Chiarian Naofa, Clara The Innocent
Cara Coughlan, Home Schooled Thank You To the Boy I Knew in 1952
Fifth Year and Leaving Cert
Gabriella Jose Irwin, Abbey Vocational School A Journey to Hell
Conor Gallagher, Abbey Vocational School Not To Be
Amanda Cooke, Abbey Vocational School Let Them Eat Pie
Sarah Lowry, Ard Scoil Chiarian Naofa, Clara Alexa’s Great Escape
Kieran McCallion, Crana College, Buncrana Jeremy
Declan Roe, Crana College, Buncrana Green
Conor Grant, Crana College, Buncrana Ripper
Kate Wilson, Crana College, Buncrana Clone
Cayla Moran, Crana College, Buncrana Leaving For Good
Jo Ann Evens, Errigal College , Letterkenny A Mysterious Night
ALLINGHAM FESTIVAL POETRY COMPETITION SHORTLIST
First and Second Year Poetry
Aoibhin Kelly, Moville Community College. Who Am I?
Harry Cassidy, Crana College, Buncrana. The Piano
Peter O Gorman, Moville Community College. Pulse
Oisín Crumlish, Moville Community College. The Snowbird
Gavin Harkin, Moville Community College. Spooky Season
Oisín Bradley, Crana College, Buncrana. The Caravan
Fiachra Connell, Colaiste Cholmcille B’shannon. My Truth
Lewis Kelly, Crana College, Buncrana. My Poem
Emma Messenger, Moville Comm. College. Dandelions After Dawn
Aoife Cassidy, Abbey Vocational, Donegal Town. Stone Cold Eyes
Ethan Wasson, Abbey Voc. Donegal Town. The Forest
Katy Jervis, Abbey Voc. School, Donegal Town. A Positive Poem
Third Year and TY Poetry
Siún Farrelly, Loreto Letterkenny. A Brief Encounter
Kacper Denidziuk, St. Eunan’s Letterkenny. Emotions
Evan Cassidy, Finn Valley College, Stranorlar. Anticipation
Aoibhlín Shortt, Crana College, Buncrana. Stalked
Teagan McLoughlin, Crana College, Buncrana. Perceptions
Ciara Devlin, Crana College, Buncrana. Loss
Rebecca Devlin, Crana College, Buncrana. I Hate You
Ella Porter, Crana College, Buncrana. Social Media
Erin Doherty, Crana College, Buncrana. Different People
Fifth Year and Leaving Cert Poetry
Aisling Doherty, Crana College, Buncrana. Applause
Amy Doherty, Crana College, Buncrana. Expiration Date
Shannon Doherty, Crana College, Buncrana. A Blunt Knife
Lucas McDonald, Moville Community College Glad To Be Me
Agneta Pavlone, Crana College, Buncrana. Hunger
Kieran Robinson, Crana College, Buncrana. I Stand Behind the Bar
Orla Devlin, Ursuline College, Sligo. In the Interim
Joseph McCafferty, Errigal College, Letterkenny. The End of the Line
Eoin Byrne, Errigal College, Letterkenny. Islands
Delighted to announce that our good friend, Winifred McNulty, is runner-up in this year's Red Line Festival Poetry Competition with her poem, When Lough na Suil Drains.
We're very excited to welcome Win in person to the Allingham Festival with her work, Step into the Workhouse on Friday November 4th.
