Author Archives: fionaconlonmckenna

Dalkey Book Festival

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The sun always shines for the Dalkey Book Festival! There is no nicer place than this seaside village to sit around in cafes, restaurants and pubs talking about books. Kirsty Wark discussed writing her first novel The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle in a packed St Patrick’s Church overlooking the sea. Interviewed by Miriam O’Callaghan she talked about Scotland, her work as journalist and thoughts on media and teenagers.

A summer’s evening, perfect to have dinner in the Tramyard with my author friends Sarah Webb, Catherine Dunne, Claire Dowling and Martina O’Reilly who was celebrating the recent launch of her new bestseller Things I want you to know.

It was a busy week as I saw Bryan Ferry give a stunning performance in the National Concert Hall and also attended Mary Finn’s lovely book launch for No Stars in the Circus where playwright Frank McGuinness talked glowingly about Mary’s work.

Marita, Frank McGuinness and Mary Finn

Marita, Frank McGuinness and Mary Finn

National Famine Commemoration 11th May 2014

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This year’s National Famine Commemoration will be held in Strokestown Park House (home of the National Irish Famine Museum) Roscommon on Sunday 11th May 2014 at 2.30pm.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Jimmy Deenihan will attend the ceremony, which is open to the public. There will be music, readings and poetry and the laying of a wreath to remember the many victims of Ireland’s Great Famine.

There is a full programme of events which includes a Famine Walk and a Children’s Soup Kitchen Workshop on Saturday 10th May in Strokestown.

It is so important for all of us to remember the Great Irish Famine and the generations of people who died and emigrated during those tragic times.

Strokestown Park Irish Famine Museum

Strokestown Park Irish Famine Museum

Competition for budding writers aged 8-16

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HarperCollins Children’s Publishers UK are looking for a wonderful story by a young writer aged 8-16 for this very special book which will come out later this year. If you write the winning story you will be really lucky as world famous illustrator, Niamh Sharkey, will illustrate your story which will be the twelfth story in the book along with stories by eleven Irish authors including Eoin Colfer, Derek Landy, Roddy Doyle, Michael Scott, Judi Curtin and myself. The money raised from the book is going to Fighting Words. It is an amazing opportunity for any of you young writers! So grab the chance and get writing! Check out how to enter here.

Beyond the Stars

Literary lunches and lambs…

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What a busy few weeks! Although I’m up to my eyes researching and writing my new book, I’ve been travelling all over the place doing lovely book things. First a few days in London with my editors and publishers and my agent Caroline. Then back to Dublin and what a treat chatting to the wonderful ladies in ‘The Yacht Club’ Book Club about their favourite books at the packed out Writers Lunch held in The Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire! Donal Ryan, Catherine Dunne, Martina Devlin and Paul Carson were among the writers talking at the event.

I celebrated IBBY Book Day at Cabra Library with a group from a nearby school. I was also in beautiful Westport at Scoil Phadraig talking to their pupils with pupils from Holy Trinity N.S. joining in the fun. In the afternoon I went to Lankill School, a small rural school which is surrounded by stone walls, hawthorn bushes, sheep and their lambs where I talked to the boys and girls there about my books and writing.

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