Writing, Editing & Classes
Cuirt International Festival of Literature 2012 – some highlights
Ah, the end of April in Galway…I can't remember a day of bad weather while the Cuirt festival has been on. (I'm not inviting comments for any reminiscences of rain-soaked writers taking to the stage here.)
There's always a few names to catch the eye at Cuirt. This year, some of the events that jump out at me are:
Paul Durcan & Rita Ann Higgins – Town Hall Theatre – Tuesday 24 April at 8.30pm
Both are well-established poets, with many collections behind them.
John Banville & Richard Beard – Town Hall Theatre – Wednesday 25 April at 8.30pm
Banville is a novelist who needs no introduction, especially after winning the Man Booker prize in 2005. Beard sounds like an interesting character. His latest novel re-imagines the life of the Biblical figure Lazarus.
Panel Discussion: E-Book vs. Real Book – Town Hall Theatre – Thursday 26 April at 1.00pm
This is an ongoing topic which often throws up the same old arguments on websites and blogs. I suspect there'll be some more interesting points here, though. The panel is assembled from quite a varied bunch of professionals.
ROPES anthology book launch – Busker Browne's – Thursday 26 April at 5.00pm
ROPES is an annual production from the MA in Literature & Publishing students of NUIG. Each year's issue is vastly different from the last, both in terms of style and content (usually poems, stories and photography). Proceeds go to Laura Lynn House, Ireland's first children's hospice.
Over the Edge Showcase – Town Hall Theatre – Friday 27 April at 3.00pm
The Over the Edge showcase also offers a wide variety of up-and-coming writers – always a treat. This year's readers include Sarah Maria Griffin, Erin Buttner and Maeve Mulrennan.
Launch: Thanks for Nothing, Hippies – Galway Arts Centre – Sunday 29 April at 3.00pm
This imaginatively titled book is Sarah Clancy's second poetry collection. It's published by Salmon Poetry, who never fail to produce books of startling quality. Sarah will be reading from her witty, sometimes dark, collection, and is known as a particularly accomplished performer of her work. The book will be launched by Galway poet, essayist and reviewer Kevin Higgins, and there's sure to be a few glasses of wine knocking about.
Literary Brunch with Doire Press – Vina Mara – Sunday 29 April at 12.00pm
Vina Mara restaurant on Middle Street hosts a morning of breakfast, music and words in the company of some fine writers from Doire Press. Both fiction and poetry will be represented by Jim Mullarkey, Gerry Galvin, Susan Millar DuMars, Susan Lindsay and John Walsh. Can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning/afternoon.
These are also a lot of plays, music events and other things going on. I can't say I know much about the companies or musicians involved, but some sound interesting. Check out http://www.cuirt.ie/ for more info.
Prior to the events of Cuirt, John Walsh launches his first collection of stories, Border Lines. John is a long-established Galway writer, with three previous collections of poetry published by Salmon Poetry, Guildhall Press and Doire Press. I'm particularly looking forward to reading Border Lines, as John's work is always vivid, entertaining, contemplative and engaging. This book, published by Doire Press, will be launched in Galway City Museum on Saturday 21 April at 1.00pm.