Latest news with #ListowelWriters'Week
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Louth poet Edel Molloy takes a top prize at Listowel Writers' Week 2025
The Argus Today at 04:00 Edel Molloy, a Tyrone native now living in Blackrock, Co Louth, has won the single poem award at the Listowel Writers' Week, Ireland's oldest literary and arts festival, recently with her poem I'd prefer to talk about rats. Edel, who loved to Blackrock twelve years ago, has always loved writing but between working and raising a family, found it hard to find the time to develop a routine that would allow her follow this passion.
Irish Independent
4 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 Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kerry literary festival ‘deeply appreciates' €25,000 award funding
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Patrick O'Donovan, visited Listowel during the festival meet with organisers and festivalgoers at St John's Theatre for a special event. As part of his visit, Minister O'Donovan announced a funding award of €25,000 to Listowel Writers' Week in recognition of its enduring contribution to literature and community engagement. He said the Listowel Writers' Week team work seamlessly to combine local literary life with overseas writers of renown. The minister added that such a system succeeds in bringing people together to enjoy the written word in all its forms. '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 Minister O'Donovan. The Chairman of Listowel Writers' Week Ned O'Sullivan warmly welcomed the minister's remarks and financial support, adding that the organisers of Ireland's oldest festival are truly grateful for the ongoing support of Listowel Writers' Week. 'This magnificent funding award recognises the importance of our work. Minister O'Donovan's encouragement for the arts and engagement with communities like ours is deeply appreciated and helps sustain our efforts year after year,' he said. The 2025 Listowel Literary Festival was a collaborative initiative with Kerry Writers' Museum, and St John's Theatre & Arts Centre. The festival concluded on Sunday with the organisers satisfied that this year's festival was a huge success with numbers up on many events.
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
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kerry Group Novel of the Year winner announced at Listowel Writers' Week
The Dublin born writer was announced the winner at the opening night of the festival at the Listowel Arms Hotel. Williams' book is set in 1960s Ireland and explores traumatic themes of childhood and Church and State. Now in its 31st year, the award remains one of the most esteemed literary honours in Ireland that celebrates outstanding Irish fiction with a prize fund of €22,000 – €20,000 of which is awarded to the winner with €500 for each shortlisted author. The prize is sponsored by Kerry Group, whose long-standing partnership continues to elevate and honour Irish literary excellence at what is Ireland's oldest literary and arts festival. This year's adjudicators were acclaimed authors Carol Drinkwater and Paul McVeigh who reviewed over 50 submitted novels before selecting the winner from a powerful shortlist that included Christine Dwyer Hickey, Joseph O'Connor, Colm Tóibín, and Donal Ryan. Ms Drinkwater called Niall's writing 'exciting' and 'exquisite' and that reading his sentences is like sitting in a magnificent cathedral and listening to a great soprano singing. 'It's like notes reaching to the rafters and returning to me, to nestle in my heart. It is a novel full of compassion. The characters are so vulnerable, they tear you apart,' she said. 'It has been several weeks since we chose Niall's novel as our winner. Still, I sit at my desk and picture myself in that doctor's surgery. I hear the child crying; I can smell the newly washed nappies; I long for these people, that father and daughter, to be given the miracle they so crave… This is the third time I've judged this prize and each time I'm reminded of the richness of Irish fiction today. Ireland truly is a treasure chest of brilliant modern novelists' Ms Drinkwater added. Mr McVeigh said that judging this year's prize was no small task due to the quality of entries which is testament to an extraordinary time in Irish literature. 'Any of the shortlisted books could have won but, in the end, Time of the Child by Niall Williams rose to the top. I don't remember the last time I read a book that made me stop, so frequently, unable to continue until I had savoured a sentence. He is an extraordinary writer and a worthy winner of the Irish Novel of the Year,' he said. Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Kerry Group, praised the continued partnership with Listowel Writers' Week and said every year the calibre of writing reminds us why Ireland continues to lead on the global literary stage. ADVERTISEMENT 'We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Niall Williams on this well-deserved recognition,' Ms Keogh said. The prize night at Listowel Writers' Week and literary festival is an exciting occasion as it marks the official start of a major celebration of literature that runs until 1st June. The super weekend features events with acclaimed writers, panels, workshops, and performances across Listowel. For more information and updates, visit Time of the Child (2024) is published by Bloomsbury Publishing.
