Plans in place to publish John McGahern yearbook

Plans are being finalised for publication of a John McGahern yearbook, which will commemorate the writer's work and be published annually.

It will be edited by Dr John Kenny, of NUI Galway's English department, who said it will not be an academic publication, but one which will be aimed at having the widest appeal.

Speaking to The Irish Times at the John McGahern international seminar in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, at the weekend, Dr Kenny said it was also intended to hold such a seminar again next year, but after that it would become a prelude to a John McGahern summer school, which it is hoped will become an annual event.

He also said NUI Galway is preparing a John McGahern website, which will be interactive and will include as much material as possible which is relevant to the writer's life and work. It will also include McGahern's archive, which the writer presented to the university.

McGahern attended University College Galway in the 1950s before turning to teacher training. He makes reference to his time at the university in his novel The Dark.

The weekend international seminar, which was sponsored by NUI Galway and Leitrim County Council, was very successful. More than 300 people applied for the 80 places available at events which took place in Carrick on Shannon and at Aughawillan, where the writer is buried.

A planned boat trip on the Shannon to Cootehall had to be abandoned as the river was so high boats could not pass underneath its bridges. Instead people were taken to Cootehall by coach.

It is intended that from next year as many as 500 places will be available to people who may wish to take part in the seminar and/or summer school.