Category Archives: Events

Readers Day in Clones Library in Monaghan

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22489760_1109224142443141_5271740234397733242_nI was delighted to come along to Readers Day in Clones Library in Monaghan to meet so many great readers, many who were also interested in writing.

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I had a wonderful conversation about my writing with Irish Times journalist Frank McNally, who later talked with Alison Jameson and Liz Nugent about their work. The wonderful Ally Bunbury told us out her Monaghan childhood, getting published and her ‘big house’ novel ‘The Inheritance’.

RTE’s Sean Rocks remembered poet Patrick Kavanagh’ with Kavanagh expert Art Agnew who also treated us to some of the poets work.

After a lovely lunch in the library Sean talked with Fermanagh born actor/writer Ciaran McMenamin about writing Skintown. The audience was riveted as Ciaran read from his first novel about the life of a young man growing up in the divided border counties.

We finished up with all of us picking a favourite book we’d recommend to our fellow readers.

Thanks to all the librarians in Clones for organising such a great event!

A Sailor Went to Sea… Sea…. Sea…

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What a fitting place to launch former  Dun Laoghaire Writer- in Residence Sarah Webb and illustrator Steve McCarthy’s fabulous new collection of rhymes but  in The Lexicon Library overlooking  the sea and Dun Laoghaire’s harbour and boats.

Designer Emma Byrne, artist Steve and Sarah discussed the genesis of this beautifully produced book with Elaina Ryan of Children’s Books Ireland. The art work is stunning and there are lots and new rhymes for everyone to enjoy. Definitely this is a book to treasure!

 

Children’s Book’s Ireland Celebrates 20 Years!

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Kate Di Camillo  & Marita Conlon-McKenna

Culture Night 2017 was such a balmy evening, that Dublin was packed with culture lovers of all ages keen to enjoy the events and to explore some of the great buildings that were open to the public.

I was one of the writers in the big glass shop window of ‘Dubray Books’ on Grafton Street  reading  for the charity ‘Aware’, to  the passing crowds all about. It was a bit strange at first standing there with a microphone that could be heard out on the busy street but we all soon got used to it.

I was delighted to meet one of my all- time favourite American authors Kate Di Camillo, who was also taking part and reading from her new book ‘Raymie Nightingale’.

Saturday was the annual Children’s Book’s Ireland Conference at The Lighthouse Cinema.  It is hard to believe that CBI is celebrating 20 years!!

It was a privilege to listen to the wonderful Lucy Cousins, creator of the much loved Maisie books talk about her work and even see some of her early childhood drawings.

Illustrators Chris Judge and Rob Biddulph chatted about the life of an illustrator as they showed us some of their work, followed by   Anna Carey and Lucy Adlington talking about writing history, and the importance of research and detail. Shane Hegarty , John Boyne and Cecelia Ahearne discussed the difference between writing for adults and children.

However the highlight for me was the wonderful Kate di Camillo, who talked about her childhood and growing up and the importance of learning to look at the world.

A reserved child, she discovered this after a trip in a glass bottom boat, when the old lady sitting beside her touched  her arm when she saw the silver swish of a big fish below them.  The shy, Kate looked down and seeing a turtle, told the stranger.

Oh my…This world.’ the old lady said.

‘Oh my…This world’….. One for all of us to remember…

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Anna Carey, Marita Conlon-McKenna and Alan Nolan

Monica McInerney’s Book Launch

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Monica McInerney’s Book launch of ‘The Trip of a Lifetime,’ –Marita with Monica , Sinead Moriarty and Martina Devlin.

Great to get along to Dubray Books on Grafton Street for Monica McInerney’s Book launch of ‘The Trip of a Lifetime,’ the third book in the Australian Quinlan family series which began with ‘Alphabet Sisters’. This book has the indomitable Lola Quinlan returning to visit her homeland in Ireland with her granddaughter and great- grand daughter in tow.

Author Sinead Moriarty, a close friend of Monica’s launched the book, which is already top of the bestselling charts in Australia. Lots of writer friends came along to join in the celebrations with Monica who divides her time between living in Australia and Ireland- The best of both worlds!

 

Bloomsday Party in ‘The Park’

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On Saturday as Dublin sweltered, it was straw hats and sunshades for The Bloomsday Garden Party at Aras an Uachtaran, where everyone got a warm welcome from President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina.  There were bands playing as everyone mingled and chatted and strolled around the magnificent gardens, with plenty of entertainment as we lolled under shady parasols.

Then it was full afternoon tea served in the marquee on the lawn as we listened to Joycean inspired opera and readings including a brilliant section of Ulysses read by the president’s wife Sabina. There was more poetry, prose and music with the President joining in with a poem of his own. The Stunning set everyone’s feet hopping before heading back outside.

Afterwards we dallied listening to some mellow jazz in that most beautiful of gardens.

What a swell summer party!!