13th Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award 2011

I've never really been enticed by the prize for this one.

First prize is the Ledwidge plaque inscribed with the winner's name.  There are cash prizes for second and third prize and the top three winning entries are entered in the Forward Prize UK.  The winner will be asked to read at the annual Francis Ledwidge Commemoration at the National War Memorial Gardens in July 2012.   Commended entries receive certificates. 

Poems must be 40 lines or less, be the writers own work and have never been previously published or broadcast.  

Place your name, address and telephone number on a separate sheet.  

The entry fee is 4 euro per poem and 10 euro for three poems. 

Deadline: Saturday, 5th November 

snailmail only to:

The Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award 2011,

C/o 43, Emmet Crescent,

Inchicore,

Dublin 8.

Feel the Fear

Feel the Fear and read it anyway.
This sounds innovative.
I've never read Flann O'Brien.

Our Feel The Fear and Read It Anyway! sessions for Autumn 2011 will tackle Flann O’Brien’s wonderful At Swim-Two-Birds to mark the centenary of one of Ireland’s most original writers. Feel The Fear and Read It Anyway! sessions are designed to give readers a helping hand with those intimidating ‘great works’ that so many give up on or avoid altogether.
You know that there are a host of books out there that you plan to read, that you feel you should read, that people keep talking about – - but somehow you never get round to them. They’re kinda scary. . . Or maybe you’ve tried to read some of these so-called ‘great’ books? Honest - you have – but you can’t stick with them. Can’t make sense of them? You just don’t know what the fuss is about. Why is it so famous? What’s so good about it?
We feel your pain, but relax.. We’ll answer these questions as we take you through the book. We’ll help you to enjoy it, to get a great deal from your reading. To mark Flann O’Brien’s centenary we are focusing on his wonderful comic novel At Swim-Two-Birds, a great classic of Irish modernism. We guarantee you’ll feel the fear and read it anyway!
Dates: Thur October 6th – 6:00PM The Stag’s Head, (Upstairs), Dame Court
Thur October 13th – 7;00PM The Central Hotel, Wicklow Street Price: €12

Troubadour International Poetry Prize

Announcing the £2,500 Fifth Annual Troubadour International Poetry Prize

Judged by Susan Wicks & David Harsent (with both judges reading all poems)

Sponsored by Cegin Productions

Prizes: 1st £2,500, 2nd £500, 3rd £250 & 20 prizes of £20 each
Plus a Spring 2012 Coffee-House-Poetry season-ticket
and  a prizewinners' Coffee-House Poetry reading
with Susan Wicks & David Harsent on Mon 28th Nov 2011
for all prize-winning poets

- Both judges will read all poems submitted.

Rules:

- Poems: Poems must be in English, must each be no longer than 45 lines, must be the original work of the entrant (no translations) and must not have been previously broadcast or published (in print or online); winning & commended poems may be published (in print or online) by Troubadour International Poetry Prize, and may not be published elsewhere for one year after Monday 17th October 2011 without permission; no limit on number of poems submitted; no alterations accepted after submission.

- Fees: All entries must be accompanied by fee of £5/€6/$8 per poem; payment by cheque or money order (Sterling/Euro/US-Dollars only) payable to 'Coffee-House Poetry' with Poet's Name (and e-mail Entry Acknowledgement Reference, if paying for earlier e-mail submission) written clearly on back.

- By Post: No entry form required; two copies required of each poem submitted; each poem must be typed on one side of A4 white paper showing title & poem only; include a separate page showing Poet's Name, Address, Phone No., E-Mail (if available), List of Poem Titles, Total Number of Poems and Total Fees 
Troubadour International Poetry Prize, Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, LONDON, W4 1ZP

- By E-mail: No entry form required; poems must be submitted in body of e-mail (no attachments) to CoffPoetry@aol.com; entries should be preceded by Poet's Name, Address, Phone No., List of Poem Titles, Total Number of Poems and Total Fees at £5/€6/$8 per poem; acknowledgement will be sent to entrant's e-mail address showing Entry Acknowledgment Reference; send payment by post within 14 days quoting Poet's Name and Entry Acknowledgement Reference; e-mail entries will be included only when payment received by post; no Special Delivery, Recorded Delivery or Registered Post.

- Deadline: postmarked on or before Monday 17th October 2011.

- Prizewinners: All prizewinners will be contacted individually by Monday 21st November 2011. Prizegiving will be on Monday 28th November 2011 at Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour in Earls Court, London.

Idea to Script

This is in Galway Film Centre.


This course is for those who have an idea for a short film and want to put it on paper. Working closely with an experienced tutor, you will be guided through traditional screenplay structure, writing exercises, pitching your idea and group readings of your work.

The tutor is available by email every week to look at participants’ rewrites. To get the most out of this course, you should have time between each class to write. There will be a fortnight long break between class 4 & 5 to allow participants more time to work on their scripts. Any good screenplay requires work and effort and this course can help you to establish a weekly writing routine. The results can be very rewarding. The tutor will give feedback each week in class on everybody’s work so it is much more beneficial if you have read that work beforehand.

We run a short script competition with RTÉ, where 2 scripts are chosen and the filmmakers receive €10,000 each to make the script. As a participant on this course, you are automatically a member and you can enter this competition.

About the Tutor: Ivan McMahon is a filmmaker with over twenty years experience working in the Film and Television industry. He has a Masters degree in Screenwriting from the Huston School of Film. Ivan set up TWO HUNGRY FISH Productions in 2009 and has directed and co-written a number of Irish Film Board funded short films. Ivan produced, directed and co-wrote THE OUTLAW CONCY RYAN for RTE’s Storyland 3.
 
Date: 6 Tuesday evenings. October 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, November 8th, 15th 2011. (6.30pm - 9pm)
 
Cost: €225 unwaged/ €255 waged (These fees include membership to the Centre for the year).  

Just 6 spaces.

I'm a Saturday Women Poet

I have two poems featured on this growing blog, Poethead

The first, Verbatim was originally published in the lovely mag, The Shop. It's kind of a found poem, taken from a (rather oneway) conversation with an elderly women.

The second is about what small children bring home from school (no, not nits, art and craft)

Hope you like them.

They both feature in my new poetry book from The Moth Editions. Buy one here for a bargain 4 Euro including postage.

Listowel Writing Courses

For my Kerry readers

The Seanchaí - Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, Listowel is offering special recession busting rates for their upcoming writing courses as follows :

October 8th & 9th - Writing Poetry, directed by Paul Perry - €100 per participant 
November 5th & 6th - Short Fiction, directed by John McKenna - €120 per participant

Full details of all courses and course directors are attached.

* WRITING FOR THEATRE WORKSHOP PART OF THE GEORGE FITZMAURICE LITERARY WEEKEND

  

Places are limited so early booking is advisable.  Places must be paid for in advance.

To book contact the Seanchaí - Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, 24 The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, tel. (068) 22212,

or e-mail info@kerrywritersmuseum.com

www.kerrywritersmuseum.com

Tallaght Library Readings

Get thee to Tallaght! (I love Tallaght Library)   Poetry Readings The series has been developed by and will be facilitated by award winning local poet and writer, Eileen Casey All welcome, advance booking is not necessary and readings are free to attend. Monday, from 7pm - 8pm: 3rd Oct: Louise Phillips, Brian Kirk, Colm Keegan 17th Oct: Enda Coyle Greene, Eamonn Lynskey, Mary Guckian 7th Nov: Tom Hanrahan, Mervyn Ennis, Susan Condon, Eithne Cavanagh 21st Nov: Mae Newman, Marie Gahan, Aine Lyons, Doreen Duffy 5th Dec: Michael Whelan, Maria Wallace, Eileen Casey, Gavan Duffy

Location The County Library, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Contact Tel +353 1 4620073