Category: Writing Life

Book launch, Collaboration, Contemplation, Exhibitions, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing News

Launch of FIRE – what a memorable evening!

Contributors and Editors at the launch of FIRE in Naas Library and Cultural Centre (Photo courtesy of Attracta Fahy)
Shauna Gilligan, Editor and Project Lead, Lucina Russell, Lecturer University of Limerick, who launched FIRE and Niamh Boyce, Editor at the launch 26/09/2024.
Image of Noreen Ramsay’s Brigid’s Mantle featured in Fire

Contributors travelled long distances to Kildare – from Cork, Clare, Galway to name a few – in terrible weather to celebrate the coming together of the work but also of the people who contributed, and (most) who were meeting the editors/ fellow artists/ contributors for the first time. Thank you to everyone who travelled to read, to listen, to support. It was – and still is – very much appreciated.

Thank you to my co-editor Niamh Boyce – and good luck to her on her residency in Paris! – and publisher Alan Hayes, Arlen House, a joy to work with.

Thank you to Evelyn and Kevin at Naas Library and Cultural Centre, and to KRF 2024 for the beautiful venue and warm welcome. It was truly a wonderful evening!

Purchasing Details: KENNYS in Ireland (free postage in Ireland) and BLACKWELLS (free worldwide postage)

THANK YOU again to funders, Brigid 1500 and Kildare County Council

Book launch, Collaboration, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing News

Fire: New Anthology Cover Reveal

Editors Niamh Boyce and Shauna Gilligan are delighted to reveal the cover for Fire: Brigid and the Sacred Feminine (Arlen House: Dublin, 2024)

Save the date:

Fire: Brigid and the Sacred Feminine an anthology of art and writing (Eds Niamh Boyce and Shauna Gilligan) will be launched at Naas Library and Cultural Centre at 6.45pm on Thursday, 26th September by Lucina Russell, Lecturer in Art & Design Teacher Education, Limerick School of Art. This is part of the Kildare Readers’ Festival 2024. Copies of a special limited edition to celebrate 50 years of Arlen House will be available at the launch only!

We are thrilled to feature “Snakelady” by the brilliant Noël O’Callaghan as the cover art – see more of her work here. Keep posted for more on this exciting new anthology on the themes of Brigid, the Sacred Feminine and the heritage of Kildare.

This anthology  – the result of the Holy Cows Project started by Shauna Gilligan – was made possible with a 2024 Brigid 1500 / Kildare County Council Arts Act Grant.

On Reading, Poetry Collection, Writing Life

Poetry as Hope: Ilhan Sami Çomak

‘The remarkable thing about Çomak’s work is its lack of bitterness. We might expect anger, or a railing against injustice but instead he writes about love and hope and freedom.’ – Irish Times

Turkey’s longest-serving student prisoner, internationally-regarded Kurdish poet and honorary Irish PEN member Ilhan Sami Çomak was denied release due on 21 August 2024. His latest poetry collection Separated from the Sun: poems by İlhan Sami Çomak, Edited by Caroline Stockford is available from Smokestack Books.

Image by Gianluca Costantini

Read more about Ilhan Sami Çomak and the global campaign for his freedom over on Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann

Visit Çomak’s website and sign the petition to free the poet Ilhan Sami Çomak.