The death is announced of the poet Robert O’Donoghue, father of poet, the late Gregory O’Donoghue. Robert O’Donoghue was an integral part of Cork literary life for five decades and more and worked with David Marcus on New Irish Writing, later encouraging a host of Irish writers while literary editor of The Cork Examiner.
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Competitions, visual art exhibitions, readings and music combine to make up the Caomhnú Literary Festival, running for the most part in The Farnham Radisson Hotel in Cavan from February 5th to Sunday 8th, with Joseph O’Connor turning up, Heather Brett, Noel Monahan, Michael Harding and the excellent Billy Roche, whom we brought to read at Loughrea, Co Galway, some goodly time back. The fabulous Crannóg Bookshop and Poetry Ireland are the main sponsors. The Caomhnú Crannóg Bookshop National Short Story Competition is judged by novelist Shane Connaughton and the Caomhnú National Poetry Competition is judged by Noel Monahan; details of both from aoifereilly@cavancoco.ie or on www.cavancoco.ie, or by calling the Arts Office at 049.4378548. Stories shouldn’t exceed 2,000 words, in Irish or English. Each story submission is €3. Closing date is January 16th, and it’s more or less the same for the poetry competition (not more than 40 lines), but consult the Arts Office for further details.
♦ On a sadder note and with condolences to family and friends, I note the recent passing of an old personal friend and traditional musician with solid Cavan roots, Peter ‘Pete’ Galligan. Many’s a good session of music we had together in Galway over the years. Pete had been living in Clarinbridge, Co Galway, for some time. He is sadly missed by anyone who knew him and affectionately remembered by the musicians who played with him. - Fred Johnston
“Ag dul síar ar m’aistear
Le solas mo chroí. . . . “
- Antaine Ó Raifteirí
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Darach Mac Con Iomaire kicked off a three-workshop programme of Irish language workshops on drama and media writing at the Western Writers’ Centre this morning. Details of the remaining two, due in January, can be found by scrolling down this site.
- curtains up: Darach Mac Con Iomaire (left) and participants in the workshop.
Foras na Gaeilge
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