Tag Archives: Festival

Presents sorted!

Miscellaneous, , , ,

Tom Sigafoos’ new novel Pool of Darkness – Raymond Chandler in Ireland is available in paperback, audiobook and Kindle. It would make the perfect gift for fans of historical fiction and crime fiction, and for fans of conspiracies involving Raymond Chandler, former Nazis, the US House Un-American Activities Committee, and a locked-room mystery involving the cat of the widow of William Butler Yeats…

Nuala O’Connor, author of Nora and Seaborne, launched Pool of Darkness at the 2024 Allingham Festival (video link here).

At the launch, Nuala said: “I hope that this novel gets all the notice it deserves. It’s an informed, witty, elegantly written book, with a lively energy in its pages. It’s a celebration of all that’s good and exciting about bio-fiction, about the act of illuminating real people and lived lives; it’s an honouring of Chandler as person, as husband, and as writer… Congratulations, Tom – may your ink never run dry.”

Declan Burke, novelist, critic and regular contributor to the Irish Times, called Pool of Darkness “A magnificent feat of imagination, and brilliantly sustained.”

And Alan Titley, Emeritus Professor of Modern Irish at UCC, said: “Pool of Darkness rattles along, full of wit and great one- liners, funny along the way, brilliantly researched and imaginatively brought forth.… Chandler comes to life as I think he was, generous, but troubled… very human, very vulnerable, yet confident in the no-nonsense of his craft.”

What’s On at the Allingham Festival?

Miscellaneous, , , ,

The 2024 Allingham Festival will offer a rich tapestry of events fromNovember 6-10 in Ballyshannon. ranging from a keynote speech by RTE broadcaster Richard Currari to a concert by delta-blues prodigy Muireann Bradley. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the Abbey Centre.

On the 200th anniversary of the birth of William Allingham, Festival events will include:

The World of Ideas

  • Keynote Address by RTE broadcaster Richard Curran: “Artificial Intelligence – Threats and Opportunities, Both Real and Artificial”
  • Artist Celina Muldoon, Dr Rhoda McGovern (Environmental Humanities) and Dr Clare Kelly (Psychology) exploring the consequential issues of our time
  • “Sean O’Casey: Political Activist and Writer” – a talk by Paul O’Brien

The Literary Thread

  • Memoirists Phyl Herbert, Liz McManus and Mary Rose Callaghan in conversation with Sinéad Crowley
  • “Literature and the Law” – a live session of The Fifth Court – Ireland’s Legal Podcast, featuring Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL.
  • Screenwriting for Television – a workshop for second-level students led by Ray Lawlor, lead writer for the acclaimed television series Obituary
  • Book Launches:
    • “Grace Notes” by Jennifer Liston – poems and stories of the Irish Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley
    • “110 Donegal Fiddle Tunes, Vol 1” by Caoimhin MacAoidh
    • “Pool of Darkness – Raymond Chandler in Ireland” by Tom Sigafoos
    • “A Maid on Fifth Avenue” by Sinéad Crowley
  • The Literary Lunch, incluing the Allingham Poetry and Fiction Awards Ceremony – Nirvana Restaurant, with buffet lunch tickets available at the door
  • Primary Schools’ Awards for poetry, fiction and art
  • The Mertales Writers’ Group – readings and music in Dicey Reilly’s pub
  • The WORD Regional Meeting – Kilbarron House – all writers welcome

The Film Thread

  • “In the Shadow of Beirut” – documentary film plus Q&A with director Garry Keane
  • Dr Ken Fox: “Magic Primitivism in a Border Landscape – representations of Donegal on film”
  • “Patsy, Man of Stone” – film by Michael McMonagle
  • “Where the Wind is Always Young” – film by Declan Doherty
  • “The Battle of Assaroe” – film by Emer O’Shea

The Theatre Thread

  • “An Audience with William and Helen” – a time-traveling event with Ballyshannon’s favourite poet and his wife, the talented watercolourist Helen Allingham, interviewed by Sinéad Crowley, featuring Michael McMullin and Trisha Keane
  • “A Night in November” by Marie Jones, performed by Paddy Campbell
  • “Allingdram” – Three New One-Act Plays by Donegal Playwrights
    • “Homegirls” by Shaun Byrne
    • “The Evicted” by Kieran Kelly
    • “The Priests” by Gerry Moriarty

The Musical Thread

  • The Allingham Concert starring delta-blues prodigy Muireann Bradley and featuring Chanelle McGuinness
  • The Ballyshannon Samba Band
  • “House of Fiddlers” with Glenn Hendrix and Caoimhin MacAoidh
  • The Sunday Evening Concert in St. Anne’s

The Schools Programme

  • Storyteller Joe Brennan
  • Little Top Stars – circus skills for children
  • Children’s Art Workshop with Christine FoxTraditional Favourites
  • Open Mic sessions in McIntyre’s with host Tony Liston
  • “Gather Again” – songs and recitations by Festival-goers, hosted by Conor Carney and featuring the award of the PJ Drummond Cup


Allingham Festival Francis Harvey Award for Poetry, James Keane Award for Flash Ficiton

Competitions, Literary Events, ,

The 2023 Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions are open for entries until 22 September. Competition rules and entry forms are detailed on the Festival website www.allinghamfestival.com. The Festival will take place on 8-12 November in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.

This year’s Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Awards Ceremony will feature a new award – the Francis Harvey Award for Poetry. This annual award has been created to highlight the life and legacy of Donegal poet Francis Harvey, 1925-2014. The winner of the 2023 Allingham Poetry Competition will also be declared the winner of the Francis Harvey Award. The poetry competition will be judged by poet and publisher Kate Newman.

If you’re not familiar with Francis Harvey, look into his Collected Poems. In her introduction, Moya Cannon writes that ‘…Francis Harvey’s work combines the passion for precision of a naturalist and the yearning for grace of a poet, except for the fact that a passion for precision, for naming, is also part of the bedrock of poetry. In [his] poems there is a vivid sense of how we are all moving, “free but tethered, through time’s inexorable weathers.”’

As in past years, the winner of the Allingham Flash Fiction Competition will also be declared the winner of the Keane Family Award, honouring the memory of Ballyshannon writer and arts patron James Keane. The flash ficiton competiton will be judged by Alan McMonagle

Writerly Events at the Allingham Festival, on-line and on-stage

Literary Events,

Interesting happenings at this year’s Allingham Festival, 3rd to 7th of November 2021, taking place both at the Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon, and online. Here’s my personal selection of writerly events – click on the links to go to the relevant page on the Allingham Festival website:

Nets of Wonder: Stories on the Wall

Nets+of+Wonder.jpeg

Abbey Centre, Wednesday, November 3, 8:30 PM

A creative collaboration between writer Olive Travers, of frequent Sunday Miscellany fame, artist Barry Britton, and musician/composer Eamon Travers.

Readings by Lepus Authors

 

Brian Leyden will introduce readings by poet Mary Branley and novelist and filmmaker Johnny Gogan. Brian will also talk about Lepus Print, the new independent publisher of fiction, poetry and non-fiction based in the North West, dedicated to the discovery and curation of exceptional Irish and international literature.

Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Awards

Literary Awards Adult.pngOnline, Friday, November 5, 2021, 18:00 – 19:00

The finalists in the Poetry and Flash Fiction competitions will be joined by the judges, Afric McGlinchy and Nuala O Connor, to read their entries before the winners are announced. This year’s record number of entries will ensure that the standard of writing will be as high as ever. 

Loughshore Lines – Book Launch and Readings 

 

An anthology of stories and poems inspired by the River Erne. Contributors to the collection include Colin Dardis, Kate Ennals, Monica Corish, Tom Sigafoos, John McIntyre, Pat Joe Kennedy, Trish Bennett, Teresa Kane, and Jenny Brien.

Literary Highlights of the Allingham Festival 2017

Literary Events, Miscellaneous

Poetry Masterclass; Fighting Words; The Art of Awareness; Literary Lunch; Wild Atlantic Writers; and lots, lots more… Book all events through Eventbrite. More info at www.allinghamfestival.com

Allingham 2017 logo

  • Friday, 10:30 – 11:30 Fighting Words Information Session, with Sean Love – for anyone interested in learning about Fighting Words, the free creative writing programme for students of all ages in Ireland.
  • Friday, 11:30 – 12:30: Fighting Words Volunteer Training, for those who have already completed the application process – if you are interested in applying in time for this training, please email donegal@fightingwords.ie
  • Friday, 13:30 – 15:30: The Art of Awareness: A Creativity Workshop for Adults, with Olive Travers
  • Friday, 16:00 – 17:30: Wild Atlantic Writers, with Mick Delap, Winifred McNulty, Monica Corish and Enda McGloin.
  • Saturday, 9:00 – 12:00: Poetry Workshop with Moya Cannon: “Stitching the Inner and the Outer World Together”. This workshop is aimed at those who have been writing poetry for some time – places limited to 10. Participants are asked to send two pieces of work to allinghamfest@gmail.com before October 31st.
  • Saturday 12:30 – 15:00: Literary Lunch in Nirvana: Splendid Food; Jim Keane Flash Fiction Award; Allingham Poetry Award; launch of “Grace” by Paul Lynch
  • Saturday 15:30 – 17:00: Mike McCormack, author of “Solar Bones”, in conversation with Sinead Crowley, RTE Arts and Media Correspondent.
  • Saturday 19:00 – 20:00: History Ireland Hedge School: William Allingham – “An Irish poet but not a national poet”? Moderated by Tommy Graham, editor of History Ireland.

Celebrating Cuba in Ballyshannon!

Literary Events, Miscellaneous

The Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Dr. Hermes Herrera Hernández will be the Guest of Honour at the Official Opening of Emer O’Shea’s fabulous ‘Celebrating Cuba – From the Bluestacks to the Carribean’, a photographic exhibition at the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, at 6 pm  (prior to the carnival parade) on Saturday  October 7.

The exhibition is sponsored by Donegal County Council as a Bluestacks Festival Event. Refreshments will be served  and a wee taste of salsa may be on the menu. Prints of the images can be ordered and all profits will go to Dr.David Hickey’s Fund for Medical Aid for Cuba. Everyone is welcome, RSVP Emer O’Shea  0860219023, emerosheaphotography@gmail.com

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Deadline Extended for Allingham Flash Fiction and Poetry Competitions

Competitions, ,

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.

Paul Lynch, Irish writer.

Yeats Day Book Launch by Paula Lahiff; and Stoneywoods Festival Update

Literary Events, Miscellaneous,

The launch of From India to Ithaca, a new collection of poetry by Paula Lahiff, will be held in the Yeats Memorial Building, Sligo on Yeats’s birthday — Tuesday, 13 June at 1:00 pm. Damien Brennan will launch Paula’s collection.
www.yeatsday.com/assets//yeatslilylollyprog%20listings%20page.pdf

Sinead Morrisey at Stoneywoods Festival – start time 5.50 pm, entry fee €5.

Join poets Sinead Morrissey, Monica Corish and Teresa Lally for a summer feast of poetry in the community centre in the heart of Kiltyclogher! If you wish to reserve a place in advance, contact Alison: 083-1755723. Tickets: €5 at the door – proceeds to charity. Cash only, please! www.facebook.com/events/682393661931626/

Poetry and Myth Workshop Postponed

The “Poetry and Story Inspired by Myth” writing workshop, which was due to take place as part of the Stoneywoods festival, has been postponed. Future venue and date TBC