Bailieborough Poetry Festival

The third Bailieborough Poetry Festival will take place over the weekend of 9 & 10 October 2015.

The LitLab group of writers are again organizing a weekend of readings, workshops, open mic session, book launch, etc. Visiting poets will include Niamh Boyce, Tony Curtis and Patsy McDermott.

A volume of exciting new writing by LitLab members based on a project they have been involved in for the past eight months will be launched by Myles Dungan during the festival. More details later!

One of the highlights of the weekend in past years has been the live adjudication and announcement of the winners of The Bailieborough Poetry Competition.

The Bailieborough Poetry Prize competition has a closing date of Friday 25th September 2015. The first prize is €250 and there will be a second and third prize.  There will also be a prize for a writer resident in Cavan or Meath.

Full details, including online entry are available on the website www.bailieboroughpoetry.com .

AT The Edge Reading, Cavan

AT The Edge, Cavan, Tuesday 25 August 6.30pm Johnston Library

AT The Edge, Cavan returns to the Johnston Library on Tuesday 25 August with a reading from two fab poets and a great writer: Nicki Griffin, Harry Browne and Catherine Ann Cullen

Nicki Griffin is a poet and writer. Her first collection of poetry, Unbelonging, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2013. Her poems have appeared in various publications including The Sunday Tribune, The Stinging Fly, Crannóg, The SHOp and Orbis (UK).

Harry Browne is the author of two books: The Frontman: Bono (In the Name of Power) (Verso, 2013) and Hammered by the Irish (Counterpunch/AK Press, 2008). His journalism has appeared in numerous publications, including the Irish Times, Village magazine, the Sunday Times, Irish Daily Mail, Evening Herald, Sunday Tribune, Sunday Business Post and The Dubliner.

Catherine Ann Cullen has published two collections of poetry with Doghouse Books in Kerry, Strange Familiar (2013) and A Bone in My Throat (2007), and two children's books with Little, Brown, Thirsty Baby (2003) and The Magical, Mystical, Marvellous Coat (2001).

Following the Readings, will be an ‘Open Mic’ session at which everybody is welcome. Please register with Kate on the night.

AT the Edge Cavan is supported by the Cavan County Council Arts Office.

Curtain Call- Theatre Production Workshop

Meath County Council Arts Office is delighted to present Curtain Call, a one day theatre production workshop that is part of the FEACH professional arts development training programme.

Curtain Call, facilitated by Delphine Coudray is designed for Meath Drama Groups, Musical Societies, clubs and individuals will explore the issues involved in producing and staging a show. This one day workshop will be held on Saturday September 12th from 11am – 4pm in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan.

Over the course of the workshop the group will discover or re-discover the basics about production. Each participant will be given documentation and practical tools to ensure each project undertaken runs smoothly and successfully.

Participants will share past experiences, what worked and what didn’t for them on past productions, brain-storm ideas for future projects and work in smaller groups on specific cases. The facilitator will provide advice as part of a “stage clinic” session.

Delphine Coudray is the Director of local company Oulala Productions. She has more than 20 years experience in Theatre, both on and off stage. She trained in France, Denmark and Ireland (SFX City Theatre Dublin, Gaiety School of Acting, National Association for Youth Drama, Fishamble and the Association of Theatre Directors Ireland). She has directed a number of professional and community plays as well as short films and coach actors for feature films.

Places are free of charge but limited and booking is essential. All booking enquiries are to Meath County Council Arts Office at artsoffice@meathcoco.ie or 046 9097414

Dromineer Literary Festival Competitions

I was lucky to win the poetry competition at Dromineer last year. A great festival, friendly welcome and a beautiful location.

This year's Festival will take place on 1-4 October.

Details of this year's Dromineer Literary Festival Competitions.

2015 Poetry Competition
Judge: Thomas McCarthy. Maximum number of lines per poem: 40

Prizes: 1st. Prize €500.00: 2nd. Prize €350.00: 3rd. Prize €150.00

Entry Fee: €5 per poem
Closing date: August 25 2015

2015 Flash Fiction Competition
Judge: Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Cohen (Tramp Press)
Maximum Number of words per story: 500

Prizes: 1st. Prize €500.00: 2nd. Prize €350.00: 3rd. Prize €150.00

Entry Fee: €10 per entry
Closing date: August 25 2015.

Full details and online entry on website.

Allingham Festival Competitions

Allingham 2015 Festival takes place in Ballyshannon, County Donegal 5 - 8 November.

In connection with the Festival they are holding Flash Fiction and Poetry competitions.

The prize in each category is €300.

The winners and runners up will be invited to read their work at the Allingham Festival on Saturday, 7 November, 2015, and will also receive free entry to all events in the festival.

The deadline for each entry is 14 September 2015.

Shortlists will be published in early October.

The winners and runners up will be informed of the judge's decision by 23 October.

Flash Fiction must not exceed 800 words. Poems must not exceed 40 lines.

Full details and online entry on the Festival Webpage.