Only €30. This Bealtaine-inspired workshop, led by Monica Corish, will take place on Sunday May 26, 10:30 – 4:30. You can book directly through the Glens Centre website, or by phone/email: (071) 985583/info@theglenscentre.com
Learn more about the workshop from my earlier blog, and from this Ocean FM Arts House podcast. The interview between Harry Keaney and Monica Corish begins about 16 minutes into the podcast.
My interview with Harry Keaney for Ocean FM’s Art House will be broadcast Sunday, May 19 between 8 and 9 p.m. (about half way through the program, Harry tells me). During the interview we talked about my upcoming Bealtaine Creative Writing Workshop at the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton. and also about the writing life, writing workshops and the Amherst Method.
You can book for the Bealtaine workshop (Sunday May 26, 10:30 – 4:30) directly through the Glens Centre website.
To book, contact the Glens Centre Manorhamilton directly: (071) 985583 / info@theglenscentre.com. Sunday, May 26, 10:30 – 16:30. Cost: €30. Places limited, advance booking required.
In the month of May the Cailleach of Winter transforms into the blossoming Goddess of Summer. Bealtaine is associated with the fertility of nature and the imagination; with flowering hawthorn; and the need-fire of purification and blessing. The Tuatha De Danann are strongly linked with Bealtaine. According to the Book of Invasions, the golden people of the goddess Danu landed at Sliabh an Iarainn (Iron Mountain, on the shores of Lough Allen, Co Leitrim) during the Bealtaine festival. Many years later they went through the same mountain into the Otherworld and became the daoine sídhe.
At this workshop we will draw on the stories of Bealtaine to spark new writing in any form – poetry, story, memoir, opinion, reflection. The workshops will be led by award-winning writer and AWA-trained writing group leader Monica Corish monicacorish.ie. They are suitable for both novice writers and experienced writers, anyone over the age of eighteen. No previous knowledge of folklore or myth is needed.
This is the first in a series of workshops on the theme of “Poetry and Story, Landscape and Myth”, supported by the Glens Centre, the Arts Council and Leitrim County Council. Photo credit Slieve Anierin mountainviews.ie
Be inspired to write by the landscapes and borders, mythologies and megaliths of Leitrim and the North West. Four one day workshops at the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, led by Monica Corish. €30 / single workshop; €100 / 4 workshops
Places limited, advance booking required.
To book, contact info@theglenscentre.com / (071) 9855833.
Supported by the Glens Centre, the Arts Council and Leitrim County Council.
Early bird till January 7 – poetry, fiction + memoir, women’s Amherst Method group – monicacorish.ie/workshops/ 
With thanks to Joe HF for his wonderful One-Stroke Sketch
You’d like to be a better writer? Or a better poet? You write a little, but you’d like to write more? Or you haven’t written since school, but you’d like to give it a try?
This term I’ll be leading three fortnightly workshops in Kinlough, Co Leitrim. Not sure which is for you? Read more at monicacorish.ie/workshops, or contact me.
Early bird concession available until Jan 7. Workshops start Tues 15 / Wed 16 / Thurs 17 January. Places limited, so advance booking is advised.
Spring 2019, Kinlough, Co Leitrim: This term I’m offering:
Full details at monicacorish.ie/workshops. Places are limited, so advance booking is advised.
“Makes me write instead of thinking about writing.” – J O’C
Pat Schneider, founder of the Amherst Method, in ‘Writing Alone and with Others’, OUP.
Women Writing Together, Kinlough, Co Leitrim, Autumn 2018: Explore your creativity, develop confidence in your voice by writing with other women in a warm and encouraging environment. The workshops will be led by award-winning writer and Amherst trained writing group leader Monica Corish. For more info go to www.monicacorish.ie/workshops / contact monicacorishwriting@gmail.com / 087-6414185.
Early bird concession until Tuesday, September 4. Details at www.monicacorish.ie/workshops
Develop your writing skills through free-writing and craft exercises, constructive critique and insightful feedback. Seven x 3 hours: Tuesdays, 7 – 10 pm, Sept 11 & 25, Oct 9 & 23, Nov 6 & 20, Dec 4 2018. Cost: €125, early bird concession €100, before Tues Sept 4.
Numbers limited, advance booking essential. For more info and payment options go to www.monicacorish/workshops
Explore your creativity and develop confidence in your voice by writing with other women in a warm and encouraging environment. Seven x 2.5 hours: Wednesdays, 7 – 9:30 pm, Sept 12 & 26, Oct 10 & 24, Nov 7 & 21, Dec 5 2018. Cost: €105, early bird concession €90, before Tues Sept 4.
Numbers limited, advance booking essential. For more info and payment options go to www.monicacorish/workshops
A day of writing inspired by Lugh, god of first harvests, great gatherings, skill, crafts, oaths and truth.
Where? Lakeside Centre, Belleek Road, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal
When? Saturday, August 11, 11 AM – 5 PM
How much? €75
Early bird concession: €65 before August 3
Questions? Go to monicacorish.ie/workshops/ or email monicacorishwriting@gmail.com
Six Tuesday evenings: 7 – 9:30 pm, Apr 10, Apr 24, May 1, May 8, May 22, Jun 5. Cost: €90, early bird concession €75, before Tues Apr 3. For more info: monicacorishwriting@gmail.com 087-6414185. Numbers limited, advance booking essential. Develop your writing skills through constructive critique, feedback and tailored craft exercises.
€90
Six Wednesday evenings: 7 – 9:30 pm, Apr 11, Apr 25, May 2, May 9, May 23, Jun 6. Cost: €90, early bird concession €75, before Tues Apr 3. For more info: monicacorishwriting@gmail.com 087-6414185. Numbers limited, advance booking essential. Develop confidence in your voice by writing with other women in a warm and encouraging environment.
€90
A workshop to generate new writing, inspired by the myths of the Cailleach, of Samhain and Winter, the dark of the year… The workshop will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel on Pearse Road, halfway between Queen Maeve’s Cairn on Knocknarea and the Cailleach a Bherra’s House in the Ballygawley Hills, in the heart of Sligo’s ritual landscape. What better place to meet your mythic muse?
When? Saturday, November 25, 10:30 – 5:30. Where? Hazelwood Suite, Sligo Park Hotel. Cost? €80. Numbers limited, advance booking essential. For more info contact 087-6414185, monicacorishwriting@gmail.com To pay, go to www.monicacorish.ie/workshops/
This is the second in a series of “Poetry and Story Inspired by Myth” workshops led by award-winning writer and AWA certified writing group leader Monica Corish.
Saturday, November 25, 10:30 – 5:30, Hazelwood Suite, Sligo Park Hotel. Cost €80 / €70 if payment received by November 19. To book, go to monicacorish.ie/workshops/, for more info contact monicacorishwriting@gmail.com
She is the Hag of Winter, both female and male, the end and the beginning, the gateway to the ancestors, she is the dark before birth and the dark we fear. And, in her wild and withered dryness, she is the juicy source of our best writing…
This is the second in a series of “Poetry and Story Inspired by Myth” workshops led by award-winning writer and AWA certified writing group leader Monica Corish.
The workshop will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel on Pearse Road, halfway between Queen Maeve’s Cairn on Knocknarea and the Cailleach a Bherra’s House in the Ballygawley Hills, in the heart of Sligo’s ritual landscape. What better place to meet your mythic muse?
Fighting Words is coming to South Donegal/North Leitrim/North Sligo/West Fermanagh, and we are looking for volunteers! Have you got what it takes? Have a browse on the Fighting Words website: www.fightingwords.ie/volunteer to learn more, or come along to an information session at Bundoran Library on Monday, October 9 from 12 till 1.
From the website:
What kind of people volunteer at Fighting Words?
Everyone! All tutoring at Fighting Words is free and delivered by teams of volunteer writing tutors. We have over 400 volunteer tutors – people from all walks of life – including third level students (from all disciplines!), retired people, writers (both professional and aspiring), teachers, journalists, visual artists, musicians and filmmakers – just to name a few.
What kind of skills do I need to volunteer at Fighting Words?
Anyone who enjoys working in a creative environment with the individuals and groups that come to our centres – and is a good listener – is welcome to volunteer. You don’t need to be a writer or a teacher to be a Fighting Words volunteer writing tutor.
What kind of commitment to I have to give?
Volunteering with Fighting Words is totally flexible because your time is a valuable resource. Tutors choose the days and times they come in using our online calendar for Dublin, Glencree and Cork. You simply click on the day you’d like to come in and sign up. For example, we have tutors who choose to come in on the same day every week on the same day, tutors who come in for a week or two in the summer and tutors who come in a few times a year for evening workshops. In Mayo, the local volunteer co-ordinator will contact you by email about our monthly workshops.
There is no minimum time commitment – and we mean that!
Dig out your best work, there is still time to enter. Up to 5 poems, max 40 lines; up to 5 flash fiction pieces, max 800 words. Moya Cannon will judge the poetry competition, Paul Lynch the flash fiction, and Monica Corish will be the filter judge for both competitions. Read all about it at http://www.allinghamfestival.com/fiction-poetry-competitions/
And keep an eye on the Allingham website for news of lots of splendid writerly events, including a poetry masterclass from Moya, a book launch from Paul, and readings from all three judges.
Bundoran Community Centre is offering a new ETB-funded creative writing class on Thursday mornings, 10.30 – 12.30, starting September 28.
The cost for 7 sessions is only €14. The classes will be led by local creative writing tutor Monica Corish. Places are limited, so contact bundorancommunitycentre@gmail.com to book your place, or phone 071-982-9675.
Poetry and Story Inspired by Myth, August 19. This workshop is now full 🙂 If you would like to go on a cancellation waiting list, please send me your mobile number via email or FB private message – Thanks, Monica
Sinead Morrisey, Belfast’s poet laureate and winner of the TS Eliot prize, will read at the Stoneywoods Festival on Saturday, July 1 at 5:50 p.m. Sinead will be accompanied by Teresa Lally, winner of the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award, and myself, Monica Corish. The event is €5 at the door and all are welcome to attend.
Unfortunately I’ve had to cancel the RDW/Comhlamh creative writing workshop, scheduled for April 22 in the Great Southern Hotel Sligo.
In the current issue of Africa Magazine.
Each morning I read the latest postings from The Writer’s Almanac, Delancey Place, and Word-a-Day. From those sources, and a few others, I’ve collected two kinds of quotations that have caught my eye:
Last year I launched www.tomsigafoos.com, hoping to attract a community of like-minded writers and readers. At the core of the website, I’ve posted quotations. In 2016, most of my posts were about writing. In 2017, in a world that seems to be losing its sense of decency and compassion, I’m going to post other quotes as well.
I hope that you enjoy the quotations and ideas. Please consider following my blog, re-blogging the quotes, and sharing them on Facebook or re-tweeting them on Twitter…
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Thanks to friend and Manorhamilton artist Rachel Webb for the videos, taken at the Five Glens Festival…
Highly commended for the Fish Flash Fiction prize for his piece “Down Mexico Way” – well done David! Look forward to reading the anthology…
Photo: Kigali, Rwanda by Maxine Niyomwungeri on Unsplash.com; Layout by Loretta Brennan, Africa Magazine
We wrote an animal-metaphor poem in my poetry group last week. Here’s my take, hot off the press:
ORDER! ORDER! It's feeding time in the Mother of Parliaments, words hurled from backbench to bench and back again, an orgy of guffaws, biting, nit-picking, backslapping, chittering. The Silverback shakes his dominance mace, thunders his deep-chested roar: Order! Order! But these are no gentle, familial Gorillas; the rowdy ones are not the listeners. They deafen silence, these feral Chimpanzees, shrieking, bickering, screeching. Hear, Here, they howl. Me, Me. Look at me. Look at me.
Be inspired to write by the landscapes and borders, mythologies and megaliths of Leitrim and the North West. Four one day workshops at the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, led by Monica Corish. €30 / single workshop; €100 / 4 workshops
Places limited, advance booking required.
To book, contact info@theglenscentre.com / (071) 9855833.
Supported by the Glens Centre, the Arts Council and Leitrim County Council.
Carnality sits at the root of the show-don’t-tell edict that every writing teacher harps on all the time, because it works. By carnal, I mean, Can you apprehend it through the five senses? In writing a scene, you must help the reader employ smell and taste and touch as well as image and noise. The more carnal a writer’s nature, the better she’ll be at this, and there are subcategories according to the senses. A great glutton can evoke the salty bite of pastrami on black rye; the sex addict will excel at smooth flesh; the one with a painterly eye visual beauty, etc. Every memoir should brim over with the physical experiences that once streamed in—the smell of garlicky gumbo, your hand in an animal’s fur, the ocean’s phosphor lighting up bodies underwater all acid green. Of all memoir’s five elements, carnality is the most primary and necessary and—luckily…
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On February 11, author and Fighting Words founder Roddy Doyle visited Bundoran. He sat in on a creative writing workshop with students from Holy Family National School, and he met with a group of prospective volunteers. His visit was covered in two articles in the Donegal Democrat. Following his visit, eleven new volunteers signed up to support Fighting Words North West.
Ocean FM recorded an interview about Roddy’s visit on the Arts House show. My interview is included in the first 12 minutes of the podcast.
