Tag: Writing Retreat

Writing News

Glorious Annaghmakerrig Lake

I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to decamp from real life and spend a week in residence at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annamakerrig in Monaghan. What can I say that I, and others, have not said before? It is a truly magical place in which the creative spirit is given time and space to flourish – surrounded by like-minded-souls and facilitated by the most wonderful team guided by the calm, kind Director Anna Walsh.

I stayed in the Butler Room:

Photograph of a writing desk and lamp in front of a bay window with white shutters overlooking a green well-kept lawn and Annamakerrig Lake, Co. Monaghan. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan.

Not having to worry about shopping for food, cooking food, or indeed anything involving looking after a household for a week meant that I could immerse myself in the world of my fiction, walk in the countryside, and not having to hurry my thoughts or processes.

Close up of white flower against a green leaf. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan.

Walking included moments by the beautiful Annamakerrig Lake, watching the water for movement, following the clouds and searching for patterns (something I used to do as a child!).

Photograph of Annamakerrig Lake showing the boat house to the left and the lake to the front with silhouettes of trees. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan.

Now begins the next piece of the work – reviewing what I wrote, and edited, and deciding what to do with those words written in the luxury of peace.

Writing Awards, Writing Life, Writing News

Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig

I was honoured to have been awarded the Jack Harte Bursary 2025 for professional writers and am delighted to report that I had a most wonderful productive week of writing at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig.

To have an entire week free from everyday obligations and distractions, a week dedicated to thinking and talking about writing…and in gorgeous surrounds, with delicious and healthy food, and to be able to engage in new writing and editing is such a rarity. It was great also to connect with other creatives in a variety of disciplines, and an honour to visit some of the visual artists in their studios and see stunning work in progress. I am most grateful to Jack Harte, The Irish Writers Centre and Anna and her team at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig for this award – the gift of a week immersed in creativity.

Below are a few photos from walks around the house, grounds, and lake.

Photograph of the bell, wall, and flowers at the entrance to the house, the name plate to the fore. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
Photograph of the house in the evening – with some lights on in the house and grass to the fore. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
Photograph of the hallway and stairs through the mirror with a beautiful green house plant to the fore. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
Close up of a yellow (sun) flower in bloom in the gardens of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
View of the beautiful Annaghmakerrig Lake from just outside the house Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
A glimpse of some of the treasures in the Tyrone Guthrie library, a beautiful room which overlooks the lake. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.
Close up of lilac foxglove. Photograph by Shauna Gilligan (c) 2025.