Seanchaí Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre
24 The Square,
Listowel,
Co. Kerry.
Tel. (068) 22212
Fax (068) 22170
E-mail : info@kerrywritersmuseum.com .
Website : www.kerrywritersmuseum.com
Seanchaí – Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre 24 The Square, Listowel

LITERARY WORKSHOPS PROGRAMME


Seanchaí – Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre aims to foster and encourage the arts in Listowel and North Kerry, with a specific emphasis on literature, the traditional arts, visual & community arts, and film through the provision of a Centre of excellence for the local community to access and participate in artistic activities, and as a resource for professional artists to assist in the development of their art form.

As part of its ongoing programme the Centre provides a purpose-built venue for the aspiring writer to develop their skill by providing weekend intensive writing courses throughout the year, building on the successful tradition of workshops developed by Writers’ Week literary festival over the past 36 years.

All our tutors are well known award winning writers, with experience of tutoring at all levels. We aim to make you feel at home while enjoying a stimulating, encouraging and intense literary experience.

WRITING POETRY

6th & 7th September

Director : Mícheál Fanning

I would like participants to bring at least 2-4 poems or more if they have them. I will ask each participant to read their poems to the group if they so wish. I will offer my advice to participants. I hope that the participants can get a poem or two placed in a literary journal or perhaps with a publisher. My plan is that the group host a reading on the Sunday afternoon.

&

Course Director

Born in County Kerry, Mícheál Fanning is a doctor and poet. He has worked as a doctor in England, Wales, Eastern Europe, Africa and Northern Ireland. He has published a trilogy; part 1 Verbum et Verbum (Salmon, 1997); part 2 The Separation of Grey Clouds (Salmon, 2002); part 3 Homage (Salmon, 2006). He publishes also in Irish, four books published with Coisceim. Michael is co-founder and Director of ‘Féile na Bealtaine’ - an arts and politics festival held each May on the Dingle Peninsula.

&

WRITING A NOVEL

5th & 6th April, 2008
Director : Carmen Cullen
The aim of the workshop will be to examine the novel writing process, looking at narrative, character development, structure and form. Reference will be made to examples of writing from well known writers, to underline points made. Understanding the writing of a novel is a major task and all participants will be given support and encouragement in their writing endeavours. There will be writing exercises, people will read their work to the group and practical criticism will be offered. The workshop will also look at punctuation, manuscript layout, editing and getting work published.

Course Director
Carmen Cullen was born in Templemore, Co. Tipperary and lives in Bray Co. Wicklow. She was a second-level teacher for over twenty years and head of English in Colaiste Dhulaigh Coolock, CDVEC. She became Director of the Oscar Wilde Autumn School, Bray in 1999 and held the position until 2003. She has published Class Acts (plays for schools, Dublin, Folens, 1994), Sky of Kites, Poetry for Children (Co Wicklow, Kestrel Books, 1998); and Under the Eye of the Moon (with illustrations by Oona McFarland: Cork, Mercier Press, 2001). She has just completed her first novel Heaven’s Above, and is currently working on her second, The Sisters Singing.

WRITING A SHORT STORY

12th & 13th April
Director : Leo Cullen
The objective of the workshop is to expose participants to some good writing - both of short stories and other short prose, to look at why these texts work (the good short story is a revelatory experience, which increases our awareness of the world around us) and to stimulate the creatively of the participants towards enabling them to write. The emphasis will be on group participation; people will read their own course work and then the class will discuss it. Writing exercises will concentrate on three main areas of technique: ‘setting’, ‘character’, and ‘plot’. On completion of the course, writers will have brought greater energy and tension into their work.

Course Director
Leo Cullen was born in Tipperary in 1949. He has published a collection of short stories, Clocking Ninety on the Road to Cloughjordan(Belfast, Blackstaff Press, 1994); and a novel, Let's Twist Again (Blackstaff Press, 2001). He lives in Dublin.

WRITING FOR THEATRE

18th & 19th October

Director : Miriam Gallagher

A PLAY is a living, breathing creature (if it doesn’t live and breathe - it’s dead!) The play’s heartbeats are like parts of a musical composition. Rhythm, pace, structure, mood shifts, climax, tone, colour, shape etc. are all vital to its life. The SCRIPT is the basis and core of what happens on stage. ACTIONS are a major part of the script as well as Speeches. Another major part is the SUBTEXT. DIALOGUE (or monologue) on stage may resemble ‘regular daily chat’ but, in fact, it is constructed with infinite care, precision and rhythm –like a piece of music.

In this workshop we will discuss Writing for Theatre and practise exercises that will focus on Character Development, Story, Overview of Structure, Writing Effective Dialogue, Subtext, Dialogue versus Alternative Means of Expression, Scene Analysis, Character and Conflict, Cutting Scenes & the Art of Rewriting, which is the Real Craft. This workshop is suitable for all ages and stages, including beginners. It will include script analysis, creative exercises, rehearsing scenes & review.

Course Director
Miriam Gallagher is an Irish author, playwright and screenwriter. Her work, staged & screened in Ireland, Europe, USA & Canada, is translated into several languages. Her Plays are published: Fancy Footwork (Dublin, Soc. Irish Playwrights, 1997, 2nd Edition), Kalahari Blues & Other Plays (Dublin, Mirage, 2006) and The Gold of Tradaree (Dublin, Mirage, 2008) Her novel Song for Salamander was published in 2004 (Trafford, Canada) and described by poet Macdara Woods, as 'A paradigm for our times.' Recently Pusakis at Paros and Other Stories (2008,Trafford, Canada) was selected as June Book of the Month by Dublin Writers Museum.

Her film Gypsies screened in Ireland, UK, New York, San Francisco and at International Children's Film Festival, Hyderabad, India. She received Arts Council & European Script Fund awards for Girls in Silk Kimonos (feature length screenplay celebrating Constance & Eva Gore Booth) Other awards include MHA Tv Script Award for Kevin, EU Theatre award, a Writer's Exchange to Finland and recently The Parting Glass (int. prizewinner of the 'Near & Far' Playwrighting Contest (USA) and her play Doracha Mór agus Seoltóirí Ghaoth Dobhair (best new script award) at An Gríanán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

COURSE FEE & BOOKING INFORMATION

Fee Per Weekend Workshop : Euro 120.00
  • The price includes all tuition. It does not include accommodation, meals and transport to & from Listowel. Light refreshments will be available at break times.
  • All payments should be made in Euros.
  • Seanchaí reserves the right to cancel the course at short notice. In this event, a full refund will be made.
  • Courses will run from 7 pm and 9 pm on Friday & 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Daily times may be subject to change, and participants will be notified of any changes prior to the workshop.
  • The workshop director will agree appropriate break times with participants on arrival.
  • Places are limited. Strict priority will be given to those who register in advance of the workshop.
  • Where participants are asked to submit work, this should be done three weeks in advance of the workshop.
  • This will be an intensive weekend, and the intention is that it will be as inclusive, and interactive as possible so as to be of maximum value to the participants.
To book a place on the workshop contact :
INFORMATION & ENQUIRIES All enquiries should be made to : :
Seanchaí - Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre,
24 The Square,
Listowel,
Co. Kerry.
Tel. +353 68 22212
Fax +353 68 22170
E-mail: info@kerrywritersmuseum.com
Website : www.kerrywritersmuseum.com
Seanchaí is wheelchair accessible and provides facilities for people with disabilities.