Tag: Irish PEN

Collaboration, Exhibitions, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing Workshops

John Hewitt International Summer School 2026: Words and Heart

It was wonderful to be able to do two firsts this year: attend some of the John Hewitt International Summer School and visit beautiful Armagh.

View of Armagh from the Armagh City Hotel showing trees and on a hill in the distance city spires including those of the Cathedral.

I attended various readings which were, without exception, moderated beautifully, and provided moving explorations of our human experience. Sarah Gilmartin interviewed Éilís Ní Dhuibhne; Paul Maddern introduced readings by Moyra Donaldson and Connie Voisine, Jessica Traynor and Abeer Ameer; Wendy Erskine interviewed Jan Carson. Everyone was generous with their words and time.

The Freedom to Write Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann event on Wednesday 29th featured an incredible presentation from International Human Rights Lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC followed by an in-depth interview with Irish PEN’s Lia Mills. The audience was invited to write postcards of support for imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli – represented on stage by an empty chair – who has been imprisoned in Georgia since January 2025. How powerful are words and heart when we come together.

Photograph of two black-and-white images from Brigid O’Brien’s exhibition “Home” showing people at home, talking and smiling and in the second image in their garden

I also attended a beautiful exhibition “Home” by Brigid O’Brien – a taste above. And lastly, how could anyone visit a literary festival without coming home with a book haul of signed books? In the photograph below, just some of the books:

  • Connie Voisine “And God Created Women”
  • Wendy Erskine “The Benefactors”
  • Abeer Ameer “Inhale/Exile”
  • Moyra Donaldson “the thirteenth moon”
  • Susannah Dickey “Into the wreck”
  • Sinéad Morrissey “Among Communists”
  • Jan Carson “Few and Far Between”

Congratulations to Niamh McNally and all the John Hewitt International Summer School for a brilliant and friendly festival. I look forward to returning, and hopefully attending the whole Summer School. Brava!

Collaboration, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing News

Nollaig na mBan Celebrations

I’m delighted to be representing Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann alongside fellow board member Celia de Fréine at this year’s Irish Writers Centre celebration of Nollaig na mBan. In these difficult times, it is even more important to defend the right to responsible Freedom of Expression which is at the core of the work of all PEN centres.

Poet Jessica Traynor will host the evening which will celebrate women, explore witchcraft, the tarot and scientific achievement. I very much look forward to hearing contributions from Marianne Lee, Nuala O’Connor, Sophie White, Chandrika Marayanan-Mohan, Anne Tannam and musician Zoé Basha.

Nollaig na mBan: Women of Magic and Science takes place on Monday 6th January in Pearse Street Library at 7pm.

Irish Times, Saturday 4th January 2025 – Summary of the event.