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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's oldest literary festival adds another memorable chapter to its illustrious story
Listowel town was buzzing with the energy and excitement of another hugely successful festival as people from near and far enjoyed what is a unique celebration. This year's programme proved so popular that several events reached capacity well in advance – two of which had to be moved to larger venues due to unprecedented demand. These included the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, proudly sponsored by Kerry Group, and a powerful event called Memory and Forgetting with Fergal Keane and guests. Another standout moment came from nature writer Seán Ronayne, whose event Nature Boy captivated a full house, underscoring the appetite for stories rooted in our natural world. St John's Theatre also confirmed full houses for Sharon's Grave, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and events featuring Jimmy Murphy and Eoghan Harris. A number of events had to be moved to larger venues due to soaring ticket demand. "Listowel was absolutely alive over the weekend. You could feel the sense of pride from the community as visitors filled the town for events, conversations, and connections,' said said Chairman Ned O'Sullivan. 'The support from Minister Patrick O'Donovan was a huge boost to the festival, and we're incredibly grateful for his recognition of the value Listowel Writers' Week brings, not just to Listowel but to the national cultural calendar. I would like to thank Kerry Writers' Museum and St John's Theatre for their collaboration for the Listowel Literary Festival this year,' Ned added. Listowel Writers' Week is nothing without the brilliant volunteers involved. Together, they imbue the energy, commitment, and generosity that makes the festival a success year after year. Festival Curator Márie Logue reflected on the remarkable public response saying she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the audiences this year. 'So many of our events were completely booked out, including the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, Brendan Begley's launch, and the Library's double launch on Friday which drew over 800 people,' she said, 'The crowd spilled out onto the street; library staff said they had never seen anything like it in their lives. Other sell-out events included Paul Durcan, Andy Irvine, and Francesca Simon,' Márie added.
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Clodagh Finn: An invite to rediscover the female writers of Kerry
It is not as if the creative powerhouse that was Siobhán Ní Shúilleabháin was unappreciated in her day. No less a figure than playwright John B Keane once referred to her as 'the best dramatist writing in Ireland', and she won a slew of awards for her work as a short story writer, novelist, scriptwriter and playwright. She was also an Olympian; her radio drama Arís featured in the literature category at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. (Here's a fascinating aside: seven of the 19 participants in that one-time Olympian field were Irish, but that's a rabbit hole for another day). It's enough to mine some of the rich material — all new to me — about this gifted artist that is coming to renewed and long overdue attention thanks to a new exhibition, Kerry Women in Literature, which opened at Kerry Writers' Museum in Listowel on Wednesday. Siobhán Ní Shúilleabháin wrote in Irish. Why would she write in anything else, she once asked. As a woman born in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry, it was her first language and one that was incredibly rich in vocabulary. What a shame that the flow and cadence of her words, so often-praised in her work, is not better known today. It would be wonderful to see a new production of her modern, funny and prescient play Madge agus Martha (1976), first staged at the Taibhdhearc in Galway in 1976. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading Set in the year 3000AD, it tells the story of 'two very liberated young women' who are preparing to have a baby without a man. The robot, the test-tube baby and the nurse are all lined up when the unthinkable happens. Madge reads a banned book — one that doesn't contain an account of the evils of men as all other books do — and she falls in love with a man. And so the stage is set for a wonderful romp through the charged territory of jealousy, relationships, accepted norms, science and technology — and much more. How is it that I had never heard of it, or indeed, Cití, also penned by Ní Shúilleabháin which was staged the year before? That play tells the story of a woman who has blazing rows with her husband after she decides she no longer wants to play the role of a patient, long-suffering wife. There is so much more to say about this woman, mother-of-six, full-time writer and wife to Patrick Leo Henry, professor of old and medieval English at NUI Galway, where the family lived for many years. But she is just one of the 13 women whose voices, stories and lived experiences are being celebrated at Kerry Writers' Museum, aka the Seanchaí Centre, in an exhibition funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media. The museum's executive director, Cara Trant, and theatre historian and archivist Dr Fiona Brennan are talking about some of those women who have, at last, been returned to the spotlight. Listening to them talk conjures up an image of the pair as torchbearers in a dark, dusty library casting a light on the long rows of shelves of women's writing which have been cast aside in an act of malign amnesia. Fiona Brennan talks about being stalked by some of those stories — a feeling familiar to this column — and being compelled to seek out the spirits of these forgotten writers who made such an important contribution to Ireland's literary landscape. The phenomenon of forgetting or neglecting women writers is an international one — and alas one with a long history. It goes back to the beginning of literature itself but at the opening of Kerry Women in Literature, one of the first events of Listowel's Literary Festival, Fiona Brennan recalled English writer Sarah Fyge Egerton. When she was just 14, she wrote The Female Advocate (1686), a spirited defence of women against charges that the female sex was evil. In response, her father banished her from her home and she was subsequently regarded as the 'she-devil incarnate'. 'While none of our writers cast such wrath in print, it is impossible to ignore the fact that like Egerton, for the most part, women in this exhibition were writing in a male-dominated society,' Brennan says. Both she and Cara Trant pay tribute to their determination, sense of self and passion for their art and words which arrived into the world in a breathtaking range of literary forms: poetry, drama, fiction, historical and academic writing, memoir, biography, history, religion, politics, children's fiction and journalism. Two of the women whose spirits prompted Fiona Brennan to research their lives and work are featured here; Pauline Maguire, civil servant and dramatist, and Máirín Cregan, nationalist and children's author. In her native Killorglin, Máirín Cregan is also celebrated with a vibrant mural by artist Ominous Omin. It is a hopeful sign that times are changing and we can, at last, commemorate the women as well as the men who shaped our literary heritage. Female writers in focus: Alice Curtayne, Sonja Broderick, Máirín Cregan, Bertha Beatty, Peig Sayers, Siobháin Ní Shúilleabháin and Cecile O'Rahilly. Strap in now for a rapid-fire tour of an exhibition that casts off the wilful forgetfulness of centuries. Some of the women are well-known, such as those representing the Irish oral tradition, Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill and Blasket Islander Peig Sayers. (It is good to see the latter in a new light rather than as the scourge of a generation of Leaving Cert students. Mind you, as one of those students, I confess to being slow to adjust, but it may happen). The majority of those featured have fallen below the radar. How many of us, for instance, could say anything about Mary Downing or Anne Margaret Rowan, two writers on either side of the political divide? Downing from Kilgarvan wrote under the pen name Christabel, and was a dedicated nationalist whose poetry was published by Charles Gavan Duffy, while Rowan was a journalist, novelist and committed Unionist from Tralee. Fellow Tralee woman, writer and journalist Alice Curtayne, and Listowel Celtic scholar Cecile O'Rahilly are here too; two women with international reputations who are now getting more recognition at home. Fiona Brennan offers this summary of Bertha Beatty and Maureen Beasley: 'They excelled in memoir and storytelling; their contributions are vital to the social and cultural history of Irish communities.' The formidable Sr Margaret Cusack, aka the Nun of Kenmare, is honoured too, along with the late poet Sonja Broderick who represents 21st-century literature in Kerry. Damian Daly's oil painting on canvas is inspired by the work of the late Listowel poet Sonja Broderick. Six of the women's work has been interpreted by artists (Damian Daly, Aidan O'Leary, Myfanwy Frost-Jones, Roisín McGuigan and Ciara Tuite) and the exhibition was curated by Louise Lynch. That list gives some insight into what goes into a project of this kind, but as the museum's executive director Cara Trant says: 'Kerry Women in Literature is not only an artistic and cultural milestone — it is an invitation to rediscover the women of Kerry who wrote, resisted, imagined, and recorded the world around them.' Now there's an invite worth taking up.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's oldest literary festival ‘combines local and international literary life'
The event marks the beginning of Listowel Literary Festival – a collaborative celebration delivered by Listowel Writers' Week, Kerry Writers' Museum, and St John's Theatre & Arts Centre. The opening night celebrated two of Ireland's most esteemed literary prizes: Niall Williams was announced the winner of the €22,000 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award for his novel 'Time of the Child', while poet Kerry Hardie received the Pigott Poetry Prize for 'We Go On'. Writer and publican Billy Keane had the honour of opening the festival, while Listowel Writers' Week Chairman Ned O'Sullivan said writers' week seamlessly combines local literary life with the very best of international literature. 'Ultimately, the festival brings people together to enjoy the written word in all its forms, and I know that this year's programme promises something for everyone. I am always heartened by the level of community participation and support involved in making this event happen on the ground and I commend all those involved,' said Mr O'Sullivan. The John B Keane Lifetime Achievement Award went to local playwright Tony Guerin. A former Kerry footballer and retired garda sergeant, Tony's work has shone a light on life in Ireland for many decades and this award is a fitting tribute to his insight and creativity. A special moment in the evening also featured 12-year-old author Danny Lawlor, who has already published two books. Representing the next generation of Irish writers, Danny presented Minister O'Donovan with a gift of the shortlisted books from this year's awards, on behalf of Listowel Writers' Week. Chairman of Listowel Writers' Week, Ned O'Sullivan, said it was an honour to have Billy Keane open the festival given his connection with one of the founding fathers of Listowel Writers' Week, John B Keane. 'We're proud of our local origins and the strength this gives our programme and the community spirit that powers it. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our partners, sponsors, staff, and over 50 volunteers who work so hard to make the festival such a success,' he said. The evening was hosted by Rhona Tarrant, a proud Listowel native whose journalism career began in Ireland with RTÉ. Growing up steeped in the town's literary and cultural traditions, Rhona has long been inspired by the storytelling spirit of Listowel. Her presence at the awards ceremony added a personal and meaningful connection to the town. Listowel Literary Festival runs until Sunday, 1st June. For tickets and the full programme, visit
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kerry Writer's Museum announce full programme of events for Listowel Literary Festival
The full programme for this year's Literary Festival, released on Monday (April 28), includes a host of events that will be of high interest to those into literature, history and the arts. Some of the renowned writers who will appear at the festival include award-winning authors Fergal Keane, Lisa Harding, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Jess Kidd, Julian Borger and Rónán Hession. Celebrated musicians Andy Irvine and Mike Hanrahan will also speak and play some of their finest tunes at individual events. Ireland's oldest literary festival will also feature Kerry writers including Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Victoria Kennefick, Eileen Sheehan, Paddy Bushe and Lorraine Carey. The upcoming celebration is the result of a collaboration between three leading local cultural institutions; Kerry Writers' Museum, Listowel Writers' Week and St. John's Theatre and Arts Centre. The festival has been awarded €44,520 in funding under the Literature in Listowel Grant Scheme, administered by Kerry County Council and supported by the Arts Council. Cara Trant, executive director of Kerry Writers' Museum, said festival organisers are honoured to receive this 'vital support'. 'The Listowel Literary Festival allows us to celebrate the written word while continuing our work to support writers at all stages of their careers – especially those rooted in the cultural and creative life of Kerry,' Ms Trant said. "It builds on the town's rich literary heritage and brings together our key arts and cultural partners to create something truly special. 'This is a celebration of literature that is both global and deeply rooted in our local community. We look forward to welcoming audiences to a rich and engaging programme in 2025.' ADVERTISEMENT The festival, consisting of readings, interviews, panel discussions, and workshops as well as interactive walks and open mic sessions, will take place from Wednesday, May 28 to Sunday, June 1. Events will take place across venues including the Kerry Writers' Museum and St. John's Theatre, The Listowel Arms Hotel, The Plaza Hall, local pubs, and spaces throughout the town. To view the full festival programme of events, those interested can visit
