Athlone’s Literary Festival, which is now in its 9th year, takes place from October 4-7. This year’s festival offers opportunities for budding writers to hone their craft in two unique workshops and a masterclass: aA workshop in creative writing with author Anne Skelly; and a workshop in playwriting with Thomas Conway, literary manager of Druid Theatre. Both workshops will attract great interest at this year’s festival. The festival also includes a poetry masterclass with Noel Monahan.
The workshop in playwriting takes place on Friday October 5 with director Thomas Conway of Druid Theatre. A practising professional director, he is also director-in-residence at NUIG’s School of Humanities, where he focuses on enhancing the undergraduate programmes in drama at NUI Galway, including the BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance. He also continues to work with the renowned Druid Theatre Company. The workshop is a great opportunity for writers to be introduced to the craft of playwriting and may be a follow-on event for those who participated in other successful playwriting workshops with Thomas Conway.
The workshop in creative writing takes place on Saturday October 6 with Longford author Anne Skelly. She recently published her first novel Foolish Pride which is loosely based on the plot of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and is set in contemporary rural Longford. The workshop in creative writing with Anne Skelly is a unique opportunity to learn together in a group about the writing process from a local and talented writer.
Noel Monahan will hold his poetry masterclass on Saturday October 6. His poetry has been translated into Italian, Romanian, French, and Russian and he has read his work and given workshops at numerous summer schools and festivals throughout Ireland. He has received numerous national literary awards including the Poetry Ireland Award, the PJ O’Connor Radio Drama Award and the Hiberno English Poetry Award.
For more information log on to www.athloneliteraryfestival.com To make a booking contact [email protected] or phone/text (086 ) 2282760.
