Literary listings: upcoming events in the Irish books world

Nollaig na mBan at the Irish Writers Centre

An evening of lively discussion and literary entertainment will take place at the Irish Writers Centre on January 6^th in association with The Anti Room and the Women's Museum of Ireland. The Anti Room, founded by journalists Sinéad Gleeson and Anna Carey, will host a panel that includes actress and writer Tara Flynn, the writer Louise O'Neill and co-founder of Tramp Press, Lisa Coen. The popularity of confessional writing and the rise of the female essayist are among the topics up for discussion. 

The centre is also encouraging visitors to take part in a New Year's Kris Kindle. "Bring along a much-loved book by a female writer, wrap it in newspaper and tag it with a short description," says Amy Herron, events co-ordinator at the centre. "If you bring a book, you go home with one too. We're taking #ReadWomen into 2015." The €10 entry ticket includes a complimentary drink.

For more information, visit www.irishwriterscentre.ie

Mountains to Sea festival

The Dun-Laoghaire based Mountains to Sea festival gets an earlier start next year, returning in March for its seventh year. The literary festival will run alongside the Poetry Now Festival from March 18^th – 22^nd. Both festivals will use the recently opened dlr LexIcon for various events. Set over four floors, the LexIcon houses the Studio, a 100-seater performance space, a children's library, the county's first municipal gallery, a café and a local history level with study and research spaces. As in previous years, events will also take place in the Pavilion Theatre Dun Laoghaire, the Mill Theatre Dundrum, the Maritime Museum and County Hall.

The line-up to date features Sheila Hancock, Paul Durcan, Andrew O'Hagan, Francesca Simon, and Frank Cotterell Boyce. Also confirmed are bestselling thriller writers SJ Watson and Paula Hawkins, and Britain's most successful ghost writer, Andrew Crofts.  Special events include dramatic readings of James Joyce and Flann O'Brien. The full programme will be announced on February 4^th.

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2015, the Poetry Now festival will have events with international poets Maureen McLane (USA), David Ferry (USA), Tom Pickard (UK) and Kei Miller (Jamaica). The programme also includes the annual Irish Times/Poetry Now Award, last year received by Sinéad Morrissey, and the Shine/Strong Award for a début collection, won by Tara Bergin in 2014. Bookings open on 4^th February. See www.mountainstosea.ie for updates and announcements.

New writing centre in Waterford

For those looking to kickstart their writing in 2015, The Story House Ireland is offering a five-day residential course in Waterford next March. The centre's inaugural course on short fiction will be led by the writers Julian Gough and Susie Maguire. The mid-week guest writer will be Donal Ryan (The Spinning Heart, The Thing About December), winner of the Guardian First Book Award.

The course costs €595 and includes full tuition and board, five nights accommodation, one-to-one sessions to discuss participants' work, a reading and discussion with Ryan, and plenty of time and space for writing. The co-founders of the new centre are Margaret O'Brien and Nollaig Brennan. For more information, visit www.thestoryhouseireland.org

Contact sarah.gilmartin@gmail.com with your literary listings