Alan McMonagle awarded Arts Council Literature Bursary

Congratulations to Galway-based writer Alan McMonagle who has just been awarded a Literature Bursary by the Arts Council.

Alan is originally from Longford but now lives in Galway City. He writes both fiction and poetry. He recently completed an MA in Writing at NUI Galway. He was a Featured Reader at the March 2007 Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library.

http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/news/news.aspx?article=ee4f31b0-aa57-4904-b09b-c893337510f5

Lunchtime with Melanie Frances at Galway City Museum

The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
presents

Melanie Frances (Montreal)

To celebrate the Launch of "Anatomy of a Love Affair" (My Life in the Movies) Melanie Francis' latest collection, published by Salmon Poetry on Friday Oct. 26th in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Contribution: 5 Euro

Mélanie Francès was born in Paris on October 18th, 1972, with Canadian and French origins and grew up in France. As a young girl, she lived for four years in New Delhi, India, where she learned English and started a lifelong love story with the language. As a college student, she discovered her gift for writing and developed an interest in the arts and American literature. She later moved to Montreal, Canada to pursue her graduate studies at Concordia University and obtained an M.A. Degree in English and Creative Writing. In 2001, she published her first chapbook of poetry, The World is in your Head, with Ginninderra Press in Australia. She lives in Montreal where she works in communications and public relations and is currently working on her first novel about the immigrant experience and the birth of the movies at the beginning of the century in the USA.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
The poems of Anatomy of a Love Affair (My Life in the Movies) explore the constant interaction between everyday life and art and the imaginary space it provides all of us. In the first section which gives its title to the collection, a poetic sequence retells a real-life love affair from beginning to end, from the encounter to the break-up, through memories of love as it is remembered by the author and through the lens of pivotal and memorable movie scenes that seem to mirror her own experiences. With ritualistic cadence and use of the long line, the poems in this collection weave a web of stories that illustrate the ongoing interplay of personal experience and art, photographs, music and films that haunt us and make us who we are.

Rita Ann Higgins at North Beach Poetry Nights

Rita Ann Higgins reads at BK's.

A rare opportunity to hear Galway poet Rita Ann Higgins read as guest poet at North Beach Poetry Nights in BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade.


Ever since the publication of Goddess on the Mervue Bus and Witch in the Bushes in the early 1980's, Rita Ann has become one of the foremost poetic voices in Ireland. She has read in most countries and at most of the famous universities in the world. Gerry Ryan and Pat Kenny have also had the pleasure of her "on-air" company.

Rita Ann's poetry is straight-talking and hard-hitting.
Her poetry readings are always memorable.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd.

The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's
poetry.

Thursday 25 October 9 pm
BK's Winebar
Spanish Parade, Galway

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Louis Jenkins, Tamar Yoseloff & Geraldine Mills at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Louis Jenkins

Over The Edge presents a reading by Louis Jenkins, Tamar Yoseloff & Geraldine Mills at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway
on Friday, October 19th, 8pm.
Tamar Yoseloff










Louis Jenkins was born and raised in Oklahoma and now lives in Minnesota. In addition to extensive experience as a poetry workshop leader, he has been a truck driver, farm-hand, ranch-hand, fisherman, librarian, construction worker, museum guard, gardener and shoe salesman. One of America's leading writers of prose poems, he’s a favourite on Garrison Keillor's popular radio show A Prairie Home Companion. His seventh book, North of the Cities, was published this year.

Tamar Yoseloff was born in the US in 1965 but now lives in London. Her first collection, Sweetheart (Slow Dancer Press, 1998) was a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation and the winner of the Aldeburgh Festival Prize. She received a New Writers’ Award from London Arts for her second collection, Barnard’s Star (Enitharmon Press, 2004). In 2005 she was Writer in Residence at Magdalene College, Cambridge, as part of their Year in Literature Festival. Her third collection, Fetch, was published recently by Salt Publishing.

Geraldine Mills, a native of Galway, began her writing career in Dublin where she lived for twenty years before returning with her family to settle in Rosscahill Co. Galway in 1995. Bradshaw Books published her two collections of poetry, Unearthing your Own(2001) and Toil the Dark Harvest (2004) She was the Millennium Hennessy/Sunday Tribune New Irish Writer Of The Year. Her first short story collection, The Lick of the Lizard, was published by Arlen House in 2005 and her second, The Weight of Feathers, is published very soon also by Arlen House.

There is no entrance fee. All are welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Writers Group of the Year Award

As part of the second National Writers Group Festival, the Longford Arts Office invites entries for the Writers Group of the Year Award. For this, groups are asked to submit a portfolio containing one poem, one short story, one short short, and a group profile.

Judging the portfolios will be Jean O'Brien, author of two chapbooks and two poetry collections; Leo Cullen, winner of the 'PEN' Ireland & UK short story competition; Martina Devlin, award-winning journalist and author of five novels; and Kevin Higgins, co-organiser of the Over The Edge literary events in Galway and author of two poetry collections.

Prizes: First Prize: €500, Second Prize: €300, Third Prize: €150.
Entries must arrive on or before Friday 14th December 2007.

For a full list of competition rules and guidelines, visit http://virtualwriter.net

For further information, contact Anne Collins at acollins@longfordcoco.ie

Four poetry collections launched at Charlie Byrne's Bookshop by Over The Edge

Photos by Jessie Lendennie

Dave Lordan reads from The Boy In The Ring

Billy Ramsell reads from Complicated Pleasures

Alan Jude Moore

Alan Jude Moore reading from Mike Begnal's Ancestor Worship

Professor Brian Arkins introducing Knute Skinner

Knute Skinner reading from Fifty Years: Poem 1957-2007

Billy Ramsell

Dave Lordan relaxes

Susan Millar DuMars

Charlie Byrne and bookshop manager, Vinny Browne

Kevin Higgins with the Salmon anthology

Over The Edge facilitated the Galway launch of Ancestor Worship by Michael S. Begnal (Salmon Poetry); Fifty Years: Poems 1957-2007 Poems by Knute Skinner (Salmon Poetry);The Boy in the Ring by Dave Lordan (Salmon Poetry) & Complicated Pleasures by Billy Ramsell (Dedalus Press) http://www.dedaluspress.com/poets/ramsell.html

at Charlie Byrne's Bookshop Middle Street, Galway

on Friday 12th October.

Dave Lordan, Billy Ramsell & Knute Skinner read from their collections.

Mike Begnal was sadly unable to attend due to plane delays which left him stranded in the US.

Mike's good friend and fellow Salmon poet, Alan Jude Moore, stepped in to read a selection of poems from Ancestor Worship.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year': Winning Entry Published in West 47 Online

Kevin Lavelle from Barna in County Galway is the 2007 Over The Edge New Writer Of The Year.


'Bury Me In The Garden', the story which won Kevin Lavelle the competition is published in the latest issue of Galway Arts Centre's online literary quarterly West 47 online. It can be read at http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/review.html

Over The Edge would like to thank Galway Arts Centre and especially Maura Kennedy for their support in publishing Kevin's winning story.

Australian Poet Earl Livings at City Museum Lunchtime Reading & North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights and The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum present Earl Livings (Australia) on Thursday Oct. 11th in BK's Winebar, Spanish Arch at 9 pm and Friday Oct. 12th in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Earl Livings was born and educated in Melbourne. He is a poet, creative writing teacher and editor of Divan, Australia's first online poetry journal. His poetry, fiction and non-fiction have been published widely in Australia. He is also a frequent reader on radio. He currently teaches Creative Writing at Box Hill Institute, Northcote,Victoria. His latest collection is Further Than Nights.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar. Two finalists this

month automatically go forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Thursday 11 October 9 pm Friday 12 Oct. 1 pm
BK's Winebar Galway City Museum
Spanish Parade, Galway

Check out the NEW!!! North Beach Poetry Nights MySpace for all the news.
You might be there! www.myspace.com/northbeachpoetrynights

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Greek Poet For September Over The Edge: Open Reading

The September ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 27th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Greek poet and playwright Dimitris Lyacos and Galway-based poets Rita O’Donoghue & Geraldine Keane.

Rita O’Donoghue is originally from County Mayo and lived for many years in the UK, where she won an Eastern Arts Award for Poetry in 1993. She has now settled in Galway where she works at NUIG. Rita has previously read her work at Galway Arts Centre’s Nuns Island Studio, the Westside Library Summer Open-mic and the Over The Edge open-mic. She has taken part in the Advanced Poetry workshops at Galway Arts Centre.

Geraldine Keane is a Galway native and received her M.A. in Writing from NUI Galway in 2005. She has published several non-fiction pieces in the U.S. and Ireland, including travelogues in New York’s The Irish Letter. She performed in last year’s BAFFLE festival and was published earlier this year in ROPES. She is currently working on her first book.

Dimitris Lyacos was born in Athens in 1966. He is both a poet and a playwright. His trilogy Poena Damni has been translated into English, Spanish, Italian and German and has been performed extensively across Europe and the USA. A sound and sculpture installation based on his poetry collection Nyctivoe opened in London and toured Europe in 2004-2005. Lyacos’ work has been the subject of lectures and research at various universities, including Amsterdam, Trieste and Oxford.

There will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

POSTCRIPT: There is a short review of the September Over The Edge: Open Reading on the website of one audience member, Maura McHugh. You can read it at http://splinister.com/blog/?postid=410

BACK WITH A SLAM!

GALWAY ARTS CENTRE’S POETRY SLAM! RETURNS

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
7-8pm, The Ruby Room, The King’s Head

Take to the stage with your own 3-minute poem on any subject.

Need inspiration? See if you can write an ode (or haiku, sonnet, sestina…) to cryptosporidium. The best Crypto-poem will be published online on GalwayArts Centre’s website.

The overall winner goes forward to Cúirt FestivalGrand Slam (April 2008). If the muse doesn’t strike, come along and listen to the eight performers strut their poetic stuff - you may even be picked as one of our audience judges!

Resident MC Pete Mullineaux will keep order, admission is free andall are welcome.

For further information, please contact Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway 091-565886 or info@galwayartscentre.ie

Lucy English at North Beach Poetry Nights and The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum

North Beach Poetry Nights
and
The Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
present
LUCY ENGLISH
on Thursday Sep. 20th in BK's Winebar, Spanish Arch at 9 pm
and on Friday Sep. 21 in the Galway City Museum at 1pm.

Contribution to each event: 5 Euro

Lucy English is a novelist and performance poet.

She has three novels published by Fourth Estate. As a poet she has toured Holland, Denmark, India, Sri Lanka and the U.S . She appeared with Big Word at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1999-2002 where she was titled, 'the hippy chick love mother sex goddess'. She was a member of the acclaimed 'Temptation' poetry tour in 2005 and artistic director for the 'Exposed' tour in 2006.She was a guest poet at the Calgary Litfest in 2006 and a finalist in the BBC radio Four poetry slam in Sept 2007. She is a senior lecturer in creative studies at Bath Spa University and runs the only UK module in performance poetry.

also

The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam

Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each.

The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is the publication of a collection of the winner's poetry. Thursday 20 September 9 pm Friday 21 Sep. 1 pm BK's Winebar Galway City Museum Spanish Parade, Galway

Check out the NEW!!! North Beach Poetry Nights MySpace for all the news.
You might be there! www.myspace.com/northbeachpoetrynights

Info: john walsh at 091-593290

Large crowd at Sheridan's Wine Bar for Galway launch of 'Revival' magazine and reading by Sara Byrne, Ed Boyne & Matthew Sweeney

To view a full slideshow of the Revival magazine launch click on http://whitehousepoets.blogspot.com/2007/09/launch-of-revival-4-at-over-edge-galway.html

Matthew Sweeney to read at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Matthew Sweeney, Sara Byrne & Edward Boyne, plus the Galway launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine Revival at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, September 14th, 8pm.


Sara Byrne was born in 1980 in Dublin, where she survived for 18 years before escaping, relatively unharmed to Galway. In 2003 she started to publish some of her poetry. In 2004 she co-founded the North Beach Nights Poetry Slam, which she hosted until relocating to London to pursue a glittering career in sandwich making. In this she has been very successful. In London she continues to read her work to whoever will listen. She is currently completing a BA in Creative Writing.

Edward Boyne is a poet and fiction writer. He has been short-listed for the Hennessy award in both poetry and fiction and for the Francis McManus short story competition. His work has been published in a variety of journals and anthologies. He read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. He lives in Galway.

Matthew Sweeney was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1952. He moved to London in 1973 and studied at the Polytechnic of North London and the University of Freiburg. His poetry collections include A Dream of Maps (1981), Blue Shoes (1989), Cacti (1992), and A Smell of Fish (2000). Selected Poems, representing the best of 10 books and 20 years' work, was published in 2002. He won a Cholmondeley Award in 1987 and an Arts Council Writers' Award in 1999. He has also published poetry for children. Matthew Sweeney has held residencies at the University of East Anglia and the South Bank Centre in London, and was Poet in Residence at the National Library for the Blind as part of the ‘Poetry Places’ scheme run by the Poetry Society in London. His latest poetry collections are Sanctuary (2004) and Black Moon (2007).

This reading will be preceded by the Galway-launch of the latest issue of the Limerick-based poetry magazine ‘Revival’.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council.

Brendan Murphy in final of BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam

Brendan Murphy is second from right. Also pictured are Denise Heneghan, Steve Murray and Micéal Kearney.

2006 Cúirt Grand Slam Winner, Brendan Murphy, recently took part in the Semi-final of the BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam in Manchester. Brendan is representing Ireland, having won the Irish heat which took place in Belfast back in May. With some ease Brendan qualified for the Final which will take place in Bristol on Saturday, September 8th, when there will be five other finalists.

Brendan's winning semi-final performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, September 6th at 11pm. To listen to it click on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/poetry_slam.shtml

Sheila Phelan launches poetry collection

'Washington, D.C.', a first collection of poems by Shela Phelan, published by Lapwing, will be launched on Wednesday 26th September at 6.30pm in the Galway City Library.

The speaker will be Michael O'Loughlin, Galway City Council's Writer in Residence.

All are welcome.



Sheila Phelan was born in Dublin in 1971 and now lives in Galway. She has worked with the Baboro Childrens Festival and with Galway Civic Trust. She was awarded an Arts Council Bursary in 2002 and was runner up inthe Patrick Kavanagh Competition in 2005. She is a graduate of the NUI, Galway MA in Writing. Sheila read at the inaugural Over The Edge/Cúirt Festival showcase reading in April 2006.

Lapwing is an independent publisher based in Belfast. In Irish folklore the lapwing is a bird that symbolises hope. Excerpts from 'Washington, D.C.' can be viewed on Google Booksearch

Galway City Museum Lunchtime Reading

Colette Nic Aodha's most recent poetry collections,
'Sundial' and 'Between Curses / Bainne Géar'
are published by Arlen House.



Her work is included in the Field Day Anthology
of Irish Writing and The White Page /
An Bhileog Bhán, among other anthologies.
She is a member of the Board of Directors
of Poetry Ireland and of the Irish Language
Festival, IMRAM. She works in the National
University of Ireland, Galway.

The Galway City Museum Poetry Reading
takes place on the special date
Sept. 07 / 07 at 1 pm.

A contribution of 5 Euro is welcomed.

For more information contact John Walsh
on 091 593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie

Winner of Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' competition

Kevin Lavelle Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' 2007

Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition sponsored by Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop



The winner of the inaugural Over the Edge New Writer of the Year competition is Kevin Lavelle, from Barna, County Galway, for his story Bury Me In The Garden. The winning story will appear in the Oct.-Dec. issue of the Galway Arts Centre's journal, West 47 online. Kevin will be a featured reader at the November 22nd, all-fiction Over the Edge: Open Reading.

Second place was taken by poet Cate Huguelet, while joint third place went to fiction writers Aidan Hynes and Claire Anderson-Wheeler.

A short-list of eight was chosen from the long-list of sixteen.

The short-listed writers were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Kevin Lavelle, Galway County
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
Grace Wells, County Tipperary


The writers who made the long-list were

Claire Anderson-Wheeler, Paris, France
Megan Buckley, Galway City
Evan Costigan, Co. Kildare
Philip Crymble, County Dublin
Paul Duffy, Dublin
Vincent Flannery, County Galway
Aideen Henry, Galway City
Cate Huguelet, Cork City
Aidan Hynes, Dublin
Maureen Kelly, County Galway
Miceál Kearney, County Galway
Kevin Lavelle, County Galway
Alan McMonagle, Galway City
J.K. Morrissey, Dun Laoghaire
Neil Ward, Dublin
Grace Wells, County Tipperary

The winner was announced at the first Over The Edge: Open Reading after the Summer break in Galway City Library this Thursday, August 30th, 6.30pm.

The competition judge was Alan Jude Moore, a Featured Reader at the reading on Thursday. His reading was sponsored by Poetry Ireland. The other Featured Readers were Margaret Faherty and Tom Lavelle.

The competition was a great success, yielding 116 submissions. We're very grateful to the contestants, our judge and Charlie Byrne's bookshop for their sponsorship.

Micéal Kearney to read at Vilenica Festival, Slovenia

Miceál Kearney, winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam is off this week to read at Slovenia’s 22nd Vilenica International Literary Festival on September 8th, 11am at the Štanjel Literary.








Micéal also won the inaugural Cuisle Festival Poetry Slam in Limerick last October. Poems of his have recently been accepted for publication in The Shop and The Cork Literary Review. He will also feature in a forthcoming anthology from Cinnamon Press.

Australian Poet at Galway City Museum

Friday Lunchtime Reading Series in Galway City Museum
August 31st at 1pm.
Miceál Kearney (Winner Cúirt Grand Slam '07)
and Mark O'Flynn (Australia).

Miceál Kearney, poet and performer,takes to the road in September for Brighton,Chicago and Slovenia.He is taking this opportunity to give us a preview of the set he will be performing at the Green Mill in Chicago and at the Literary Festival in Slovenia.

Mark O'Flynn, is a poet, novelist and playwright from Australia.He has had 7 plays produced back home in Australia and his third collection of poetry is due out this year. At present he is at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre working on his third novel and is coming to Galway especially for his reading in the Galway City Museum.

Contribution: 5 Euro
Info: John Walsh @ 593290

Poetry workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre

Galway Arts Centre is offering a choice of three poetry workshops, facilitated by Kevin Higgins, whose first collection of poems, ‘The Boy With No Face’, published by Salmon Poetry, was short-listed for the 2006 Strong Award. ‘The Boy With No Face’ was Salmon Poetry’s bestselling book of 2005 and has recently been reprinted.


Kevin Higgins is an experienced workshop facilitator and several of his students have gone on to achieve publication success. He is also co-organiser of the popular Over The Edge literary events.

Each workshop will run for ten weeks.They will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7-8.30pm; Wednesday afternoons, 2-3.30pm; and on Thursday afternoons, 2-3.30pm. The Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon workshops are open to both complete beginners as well as those who’ve been writing for some time. These workshops commence the week of September 17th. The Thursday afternoon workshop is an Advanced Poetry Workshop, suitable for those who’ve participated in poetry workshops before or had poems published in magazines. It commences on Thursday, September 27th.

The cost to participants is €100, with an €90 concession rate.Places must be paid for in advance. To reserve a place contact Victoria at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

The popular ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ series returns to Galway City Library after the Summer break on Thursday, August 30th 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Tom Lavelle, Margaret Faherty & Alan Jude Moore. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.


Tom Lavelle lives in Galway and works as the finance director of a manufacturing company. He began writing poetry quite recently, having attended workshops in the Galway Arts Centre. His work has appeared in West 47 online and The Cuirt Annual. He lives in Galway.

Margaret Faherty has published short stories in literary journals and magazines; she was an award winner for both short fiction and poetry at the Moore Literary Festival. Her work has featured on BBC Radio 4 and on RTE’s Sunday Miscellany and Living Word. She has also been published in the DIVAS! anthology. She lives in Galway.

Alan Jude Moore’s poetry has been widely published in Ireland, Europe and the USA. His fiction has twice been short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Award. His first collection of poetry, Black State Cars, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2004. A selection of poems from Black State Cars was published last year in translation by the Moscow literary journal, Novaya Junost. He currently lives in Dublin.

There will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always welcome.

The evening will also see the announcement of the winner of the Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition.

The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Creative Writing for Beginners at GMIT

The course is facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. She will give support, instruction and feedback to students who are interested in writing either fiction (short stories, novels) or poetry. The first part of each class is devoted to instruction. In the second part, students read their homework assignments aloud and receive feedback from the instructor and the class. An atmosphere of trust and mutual encouragement is built during these workshop sessions.

The eight sessions will cover

*Techniques for forming ideas and getting started

*Creating characters

*The importance of sound in poetry

*Engaging the reader's five senses

*Stream of consciousness writing

*Using figures of speech

*Learning through imitating published writers

*How to edit and present your writing

The course runs one evening per week (Wednesday) for 8 weeks from 7.30 p.m.- 9.30 p.m and commences on Wednesday, September 26th.

The course fee is €120. To register contact Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway. Tel: 091 753 161 or see http://www.gmit.ie/lifelong-learning/lifelong-learning-programmes/lifelonglearning-general/creative-writing-beginners.html

Creative Writing for Beginners at Galway Arts Centre

Creative Writing for Beginners with Susan Millar DuMars

This September Galway Arts Centre presents a daytime class for all those beginner writers out there, facilitated by Susan Millar DuMars. Susan Millar DuMars writes both poetry and fiction. A collection of her stories, ‘American Girls’, was published by Lapwing Press in April; her first collection of poetry, ‘The Wellspring Wife’, is forthcoming in 2008 from Salmon Poetry. Susan is a renowned creative writing teacher, and with her husband Kevin Higgins co-organises the Over The Edge readings in Galway City Library.

The class runs for ten weeks, commencing on Monday September 17th, 2-3.30pm. It will be a gentle introduction to fiction, poetry and autobiographical writing. Through in-class exercises, homework assignments and work-shopping of pieces, participants will be encouraged to discover and refine their own voices and material. An atmosphere of mutual support and fun will be encouraged.

Places cost €110 and must be paid for in advance. There is a concession price. For booking please contact Vicky at reception at Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street. Phone Vicky on 091 565886 or email victoria@galwayartscentre.ie

Dates for Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams

The dates for the autumn/winter Galway Arts Centre Poetry Slams in The Ruby Room at The Kings Head, High Street, Galway are

Tues 25 Sept

Tues 30 Oct

Tues 27 Nov

Tues 11 Dec

All 7-8pm

Each month's winner qualifies for the 2008 Cúirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam.

For further details contact Maura Kennedy at 091-565886 or call in to Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway.

The winner of this year's Cúírt Poetry Grand Slam was Micéal Kearney, the joint runners-up Gary King and Katie Lawless. Previous winners are Brendan Murphy, Steve Murray, Trish Casey & Kevin Higgins.

Upcoming Lunchtime Readings at Galway City Museum

Upcoming North Beach Poetry Nights - SLAMS

Aoife Casby to read at Westport Arts Festival

*Voices of the West*:
Poetry and short story reading
An eclectic mix of poetry and prose
read by Ger Reidy, Paddy Guthrie and Aoife Casby.
At The Westport Arts Festival 2007
In The Sea Sky Shore Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo
On Sunday 2nd September At 6pm
Wine and cheese will be provided.
Sponsored by Andrew Carney Construction.

Perciphone Petticoat at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights
presents
Perciphone Petticoat
Thursday 23rd August at 9pm
BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway





Perciphone Petticoat theatrical poetry performer, writer, singer songwriter, musician, is a fresh and entertaining face in the world of performance poetry and entertainment.

Perciphone uses enchanting lines, beguiling and palatable - weaving their way in and out of the cold hard truths being projected. From surrealism to social dysfunction - sexuality to empathy, fairytales to self-harm, Perciphone Petticoat often flirts on a rather risqué edge. However, pertinent subjects delivered graphically, are skillfully tempered, allowing ideas that would otherwise be unpalatable to be considered.

Her performance sites can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphonepetticoat2.

Her music can be found at http://www.myspace.com/perciphone.

Also The North Beach Poetry Nights' 2 - Round Slam
Poets wishing to enter the Slam are requested to bring along 2 poems, max. 3 minutes each. The winner of the Slam receives a bottle of red wine courtesy of BK's Winebar and automatically goes forward to the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam on December 22nd. The prize for the winner of the Grand Slam is publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Admission 5 Euro

Information: John Walsh @ 091-593290 or johnwa@iolfree.ie

OPEN-AIR CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD MUSIC IN GALWAY

OPEN-AIR CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD MUSIC IN GALWAY

Sean Agus Nua concerts scheduled for Galway City: August 18th and August 25th, 2007

Following the recent release of the excellent CD, Éagsúlacht!, the Sean Agus Nua initiative has now scheduled two free open-air concerts to take place in August. These events will feature prominent ethnic musicians from diverse regions of the world now based in Galway, and establishing names for themselves locally, in a rousing celebration of the city’s newfound multicultural identity.

The first of these is to take place in the courtyard of Galway City Museum on Saturday, August 18th, between 12am and 4pm. The line-up for this event is as follows:
· Os Immigrantes (Brazilian Samba)

· Night Elvs (Filipino Rock)

· Dusty Banjos (Irish trad)

· Silnamandla (South African female vocal group)

· Granam (eclectic folk combo, featuring musicians of Poland, France and elsewhere).

Then, on Saturday August 25th from 2pm, a further concert of multicultural celebration is to be held in Eyre Square. The line-up for this event is as follows:

Natty Wailer and his band (authentic Jamaican Reggae outfit fronted by former member of the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers)

The Rye (high-octane fusion of Irish trad, blues and rock, featuring quality musicians from Germany and Ireland)

Vesuwave (Funky Latin Rock, fronted by highly-regarded Italian guitarist / vocalist, Vincenzo Donnarumma)

Cafe Minor (successful Scandinavian quartet, well-known throughout the West of Ireand, who specialise mainly in Gypsy and Klezmer).

Baslowa (very popular and long-established local Congolese Rhumba outfit)

Contact: Brian MacNamara
Mobile: 087 7954940
Email: buttermilklane@yahoo.co.uk

These events are being supported by Ireland West, Towards A City of Equals, Galway Arts Office, and local businesses.

Lunchtime with the Poetry Chicks at Galway City Museum

Friday 17th August

Lunchtime Reading in Galway City Museum
with The Poetry Chicks at 1 pm.

Contribution: 5 Euro

The Poetry Chicks:

Pamela Brown
Pamela is a published poet and creative writing facilitator who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced; one was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 1993. Collaborating with photographer Jan Voster, her work has also been exhibited in Holland. Pamela helped establish The Poets' Corner, a wall in the Gasyard area of Derry displaying poems from local teenagers and primary school children. She received a commendation in Community Drama at the University of Ulster, Magee and has participated in workshops by Augusto Boal - Theatre of the Oppressed, and Barney Simon - The Market Theatre, Johannesburg. A creative writing facilitator, Pamela also practices Bio-energy, Reiki and Tai Chi.

Jenni Doherty
Donegal-born, Jenni has worked in bookshops, with local publishing houses and as an arts & book reviewer for the local press. In 2006 she directed a multi-creative discipline project called EVE... a Celebration of Creative Women, published with Guildhall Press, Derry and is about to publish another anthology, Wonderful World of Worders involving over 70 international writers. Co-author of local folklore book, That Land Beyond, she has also toured Australia with the Belfast Poets Tour Group in 2006 and was a finalist in the Queensland SLAM. She works in Waterside Library and for Guildhall Press as well as co-facilitates youth creative writing workshops and runs the monthly BBC RaW Poetry Place in Derry's Central Library.

Abby Oliveira
Abby has lived in Northern Ireland since 1994. She was the winner of the Belfast Poetry Performance Cup 2006 and Cúirt SLAM Finalist 2007. Literary Festival Facilitator for the Gasyard Féile 2005, Abby also has a strong background in the Performing Arts. She has facilitated poetry workshops in Toronto, Canada, and performs regularly with In Your Space theatre company. Abby has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster, Coleraine and she was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and the Dean's Prize, 2005. She also conducts art and craft workshops with groups of all ages and is a Bio-energy and Reiki practitioner.

For more information contact John Walsh on 091-593290

Poetry Chicks at North Beach Poetry Nights

North Beach Poetry Nights presents
Abby Oliveira, Pamela Brown, Jenni Doherty



The Poetry Chicks from Derry
Thursday 16th August 9pm
BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway

also the return of the North Beach Poetry Nights' Slam

and INTRODUCING the NORTH BEACH POETRY PUBLICATION PRIZE for the Winner of the North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam to be held on Saturday 22 December in the Bank of Ireland Theatre, NUIG.

The Poetry Chicks:

Pamela Brown
Pamela is a published poet and creative writing facilitator who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced; one was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 1993. Collaborating with photographer Jan Voster, her work has also been exhibited in Holland. Pamela helped establish The Poets' Corner, a wall in the Gasyard area of Derry displaying poems from local teenagers and primary school children. She received a commendation in Community Drama at the University of Ulster, Magee and has participated in workshops by Augusto Boal - Theatre of the Oppressed, and Barney Simon - The Market Theatre, Johannesburg. A creative writing facilitator, Pamela also practices Bio-energy, Reiki and Tai Chi.

Jenni Doherty
Donegal-born, Jenni has worked in bookshops, with local publishing houses and as an arts & book reviewer for the local press. In 2006 she directed a multi-creative discipline project called EVE... a Celebration of Creative Women, published with Guildhall Press, Derry and is about to publish another anthology, Wonderful World of Worders involving over 70 international writers. Co-author of local folklore book, That Land Beyond, she has also toured Australia with the Belfast Poets Tour Group in 2006 and was a finalist in the Queensland SLAM. She works in Waterside Library and for Guildhall Press as well as co-facilitates youth creative writing workshops and runs the monthly BBC RaW Poetry Place in Derry's Central Library.

Abby Oliveira
Abby has lived in Northern Ireland since 1994. She was the winner of the Belfast Poetry Performance Cup 2006 and Cúirt SLAM Finalist 2007. Literary Festival Facilitator for the Gasyard Féile 2005, Abby also has a strong background in the Performing Arts. She has facilitated poetry workshops in Toronto, Canada, and performs regularly with In Your Space theatre company. Abby has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies from the University of Ulster, Coleraine and she was awarded a First Class Honours Degree and the Dean's Prize, 2005. She also conducts art and craft workshops with groups of all ages and is a Bio-energy and Reiki practitioner.

THE NORTH BEACH POETRY NIGHTS' GRAND SLAM and PUBLICATION PRIZE: The winner of each of the 10 North Beach Poetry Nights' Slams from August until 20 December will go through automatically to the Grand Slam on Saturday 22 December.

Another 10 entrants will be selected by submission of written and recorded material. Submission fee: 10 Euro.

The winner of the North Beach Nights' Grand Slam will be chosen by a team of experienced poetry performance judges.

The prize is publication of a collection of the winner's poetry.

Information: John Walsh 091-593290

19 readers at Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic

Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic: ALL WELCOME!

The Westside Arts Festival
presents
the 2007 Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic



Readings by Margaret Cullagh, Susan Millar DuMars & Kevin Higgins will open the Westside Arts Festival/Over The Edge Summer Open-Mike on Wednesday 25th July at 7pm. Susan Millar DuMars will MC the event. Anyone who has a poem or story they want to share is welcome to take part. Each reader will have a three minute slot; but there is no limit on the number of readers. If you come along and sign up for the open-mike, you will definitely get to read.

Venue: Westside Library, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway

Date/Time: Wednesday 25th July, 7pm

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council

Friday Lunchtime Readings in Galway City Museum

Friday July 20th at 1pm.
with Poet and Performer Tamsin Kendrick from London.

Tamsin made a brief appearance at Over the Edge in November '06 and then went on to blow every one away at The Voice and Verse evening in the Crane. This is your chance to catch up with her and see for yourself.

With your support we aim to make this another special Galway poetry event, with a magic of its own.

Contribution: 5 Euro
Info: John Walsh @ 593290

Tamsin will also be the guest poet at
North Beach Poetry Nights in BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade on Wednesday 18th July at 9pm.

"One of the hot new stars of the London poetry scene, intelligent, fierce, honest and delivered with a unique stage presence." Shortfuse

Tamsin Kendrick at North Beach Poetry Nights

Tamsin Kendrick returns to Galway
at the invitation of North Beach Poetry Nights
on Wednesday 18th July at 9pm

Also: Last Open-Mic before the Slam returns in August!

BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway

Admission: 5 Euro

Poet and Performer Tamsin Kendrick from London made a brief appearance at Over the Edge in November '06 and then went on to blow every one away at The Voice and Verse evening in the Crane. This is your chance to catch up with her and see for yourself.

Tamsin will also be the guest poet at
Friday Lunchtime Readings in Galway City Museum
on Friday 20th July at 1pm.

Info: John Walsh @091-593290

About Tamsin:

Tamsin Kendrick is a vivid veteran of the London poetry scene and has performed internationally in places such as Ireland, New Zealand and New York. She uses intelligent, streetwise poetry (Saltmargins) with a dose of humour to talk about anything from the apocalypse to navigating south London estates. "Sometimes," she says of them, "they feel like the same thing". Tamsin is a freelance writer, editor and chancer.In 2000 Tamsin Kendrick lost her poetry virginity through a loudspeaker on Clapham Common to a homeless man and his dog. She has been performing in some of the most prestigious poetry nights and venues ever since. Whilst studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford she hosted an open-mike night called Poetry Unhinged on The High.Tamsin has performed at many places including Shortfuse's Poetry Idol, the Latitude Festival, New Blood, Heartbeats (Liverpool), Voice & Verse (Galway Ireland), The Cellar, The Bricklane Festival, Elephest, Fruitstock and at Dodo modern poets. She has also done a mini New York tour where she featured at the Bowery Poetry Club and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.She has also been published in various poetry/magazines such the Wolf, the Delinquent, The Fix and Rising. She is currently working on her first collection.

People say things like:

"Just your average, giggly girl about town with an Oxford degree in philosophy. Muses on faith and the emotional grime of London life, the only poet I know of to be young yet experienced enough to feature in both eras of New Blood!" Niall O'Sullivan, host of New Blood and The Cellar

"One of the hot new stars of the London poetry scene, intelligent, fierce, honest and delivered with a unique stage presence." Shortfuse

Paddy Henry

Paddy Henry retired to Galway in 1998 having been a soft drinks manufacture in Charlestown, Co. Mayo. He continued his life long interest in drama through his involvement with Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society. He was a member of the Knocknaccarra Active Retirement Writers Group.


In May of this year he was a Featured Reader at the final Over The Edge: Open Reading before the Summer Break.

He passed away yesterday at UCHG. Our sympathy goes out to his wife, family and all who knew him. He will be missed.

Summer poetry extravaganza at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by Eamonn Wall (left), Celeste Auge & Michael O’Loughlin, plus the Galway launch of Trio, a collection showcasing Limerick poets, Noel Harrington, Ger Sheehy and Edward O’Dwyer at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, July 13th, 8pm.

Eamonn Wall, born and raised in Co. Wexford, has lived in the US since 1982 and is now settled in Missouri. His poetry collections are Dyckman--200th Street (1994), Iron Mountain Road (1997), The Crosses (2000), and Refuge at Desoto Bend (2004) all published by Salmon. From the Sin-é Café to the Black Hills (2000), a volume of essays on the Irish Diaspora, received the Michael J. Durkan Prize from the American Conference for Irish Studies for excellence in scholarship. Eamonn Wall teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Celeste Auge was born in Canada, but moved to Ireland when she was twelve years old. She now lives in County Galway. Her poems have appeared in a wide variety of literary journals in Ireland and internationally. She has read her work at Poetry Ireland Introductions and also read at the inaugural Cuirt Festival/Over The Edge showcase reading in April 2006. In 2006 she was awarded the Assistance Towards Publication Grant by Galway County Council. Tornadoes For The Weathergirl, a chapbook of her poems, was published in November 2006. Celeste has new poems forthcoming in Poetry Ireland Review.

Michael O’Loughlin was born in Dublin in 1958. His poetry collections are Stalingrad: The Street Dictionary (1980); Atlantic Blues (1982); The Diary of a Silence (1985); and Another Nation, New & Selected Poems (New Island Books, 1994/UK Arc Publications, 1996). He published a collection of short stories, The Inside Story (Raven Arts Press, 1999). Michael is also a screenwriter, his most recent feature film is Snapshots (2002).He has lived for many years in continental Europe, mostly Amsterdam but recently returned to Ireland. He is Galway City Council’s Writer In Residence. He is currently completing a new collection of poems.

This reading will be preceded by the Galway-launch of the Revival 'Trio', a collection by Limerick-based poets Noel Harrington, Edward O’Dwyer and Gerard Sheehy
recently published by Revival Press, Limerick

Noel Harrington is from Tuamgraney in Co Clare. In his 20s he did the customary living abroad thing (Copenhagen, Munich, New York etc) and has washed more than his fair share of dishes. In his final year studying for a BA at Maynooth, he won the University's top award for literature, the Barbara Hayley Memorial Prize. Has had work published in Revival and will be appearing in a future issue of The Stinging Fly.

Gerard Sheehy was born in Limerick and has lived there for most of his life. He is a regular reader at the White House Poetry Revival nights. Previous work has been published in the Microphone On anthology and Revival.

Edward O Dwyer is 22 and from Limerick. He's been writing seriously since June 2006, which incidentally is the time he began going to the White House in Limerick. He holds a first class honours degree in English and Media & Communications (U.L.) and in September begins a H.Dip in secondary school teaching (N.U.I Cork). He has been previously published in Revival.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council.

Poetry Workshop Participants Take First & Second Place

Aine Egan receives her prize from poet Ger Reidy





Two participants in Galway Arts Centre's current round of poetry workshops have taken first and second place in The 2007 Raftery International Poetry Competition.

Áine Egan's poem, The Tree Ceremony, won first place, while Moycullen-based poet Mary Madec came in second. Áine Egan is also a member of Mayo Writers Block; while Mary Madec was a featured reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading in November 2005. She also recently read at an Over The Edge event at Sheridan's Wine Bar.