THE Irish novelist and short story writer, William Trevor, has won a $50,000 Lannan Literary Award for fiction, one of 10 awards made annually by the Lannan Foundation in the US. R.S. Thomas has won the Lifetime Achievement for Poetry Award ... Theatre professionals, don't miss the Theatre Shop, a vital fact finding meeting between Irish companies and international producers and festival directors, which takes place on October 17th in the Coach House in Dublin Castle, as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival - ring Declan Gorman on 01-6778439 to book . . . The Irish language cultural centre in South Armagh, Ti Chulainn, has received funding from Northern Irish government sources, to open its £1.5 million centre for business by the end of next year ... The Sligo International Choral Festival runs from October 18th-20th, with choirs from places as far flung as Russia Ukraine Norway and Germany - phone 071-70733 for details . . The Armagh Arts Festival runs all month from Monday, and includes a visit by the National Chamber Choir, a seminar with painter Brian Bourke, an evening of Breton music, a Percy French evening and a showing of the controversial film, The Eliminator - phone 08 01861 521800 for details.