The Patricia Leggett Scholarship which has been offered at The Lir Academy for the past six years.

This bursary is open to writers resident on the island of Ireland to support them to complete a one-year MFA in Playwriting at The Lir Academy, commencing later this year. The value of the support is up to €12,000.

This is a great opportunity for a budding playwright to train under the expert guidance of tutors Graham Whybrow, Karin McCully, Gavin Kostick and Thomas Conway.

For more information on our MFA in Playwriting, please follow this link.

In order to apply for the scholarship, applicants must be:

• Qualified to degree level
• Resident in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Applicants can submit a 45-minute-long complete play to info@thelir.ie by Friday April 8th, 2022.

It’s been an ‘Eipic’ year for 17-year-old Daire O’Muiri.

A talented actor, who hails from Tarmonbarry, Co Roscommon, Daire was cast in the acclaimed Irish-language comedy musical drama ‘Eipic’, which aired early this year.

“It was fantastic, it nearly exceeded expectations,” Daire smiled, when asked about seeing the finished product on screen. “I really enjoyed seeing the whole story come to life.”

In a nod to the 1916 Centenary, the six-part series follows five teenagers who take over the local Post Office to start a musical revolution. Daire played the role of Aodh in the series, which called on his talents as an actor, a musician and a gaeilgeoir.

‘Eipic’ received an extremely positive reaction, and has since gone on to be nominated for three Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards for Irish Language programme; Director – Soap and Comedy; and Children’s and Young People’s programme. It equalled the number of nominations received by the ever-popular Mrs Brown’s boys.

“I heard that the nominations were coming out on the Wednesday, so I was keeping an eye,” he admitted. “Just seeing ‘Eipic’ written was a bit weird.”

Daire has been keeping himself busy for the rest of the year, balancing auditions and school with a performance with Backstage Youth Theatre, of which he is a member. He took on the role of Padraig Pearse in the youth group’s engaging and moving 1916 production: ‘2016 – A Coming of Age’.

For now, however, Daire’s acting is taking a back seat as the St Mel’s College, Longford student prepares to undertake his Leaving Certificate exams. However, it’s definitely not the last we’ve heard of Daire, and he confirmed that he is keen to pursue other stage and screen projects, though maybe not immediately.

“I might not go straight into an acting course. At the moment I’m planning to do Primary School teaching and see where it goes from there,” he concluded.

A Longford man was ‘At Large’ in Edinburgh last month, as a Dublin-based theatre group brought three plays to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
30-year-old Daniel O’Brien, a native of Newtownforbes, is a member of At Large Theatre, who presented three original shows over two weeks.

From a passing interest in drama as a child, O’Brien joined the drama society when he enrolled in Trinity College to study History and Economics, but, as he laughed; “College just got in the way.”

It wasn’t until he had left college and completed his accountancy exams thereafter that he was convinced by a friend to join No Drama Theatre in Dublin, where he developed his acting, writing and directing skills.

“I went along with him and I enjoyed it. They did a weekly workshop every Tuesday and I’d go to those,” Daniel explained, before laughing, “my friend dropped out after a few weeks.”

After working with At Large Theatre’s Artistic Director, Gráinne Curistan, he joined the group and went on to write one of the three plays they presented in Edinburgh.

According to Daniel, ‘Nowhere Now’ centred on “internal trade agreements and capitalism and working life”.
“It’s mostly just about the language people use to talk about them.”

Daniel also appeared in the Gráinne Curistan written and directed ‘The Meeting’ a comedy set in an office. The third show was the deeply personal, character-driven ‘Beryl’.

Speaking on his return from the festival, Daniel said; “Edinburgh was great. We got settled into it pretty quickly; the routine of flyering, dealing with the time slot pressure that you get at festivals… which was great. I was a bit nervous beforehand about how we’d react to that but everyone handled it very well.

“It is a very competitive environment and we had to learn very quickly how best to sell the different shows.”

They did an excellent job, if the results were anything to go by, with Daniel reporting some great audiences as well as some sell-outs.

“I think it was a very positive experience overall,” he concluded, “we got some very positive audience reactions, we saw a lot of great shows and talked to a lot of interesting people, and everyone made it back physically safe and mentally sane, which is a good result on its own!”

For more on At Large Theatre, visit www.atlargetheatre.com or follow them on Facebook.

A thrilling page-turner which keeps the reader guessing from beginning to end, Bernice Barrington’s debut novel ‘Sisters and Lies’, published by Penguin Ireland, was released in March of this year, to great acclaim.

The story centres on two sisters, Rachel and Evie, the latter of whom is in a coma following a car crash. Everyone, including the police, believes that the crash was either an accident or a suicide attempt, but Rachel isn’t convinced, particularly when she discovers that Evie has been living with her childhood bully and has been concealing her identity from him.

The book is written as a dual narrative, as Rachel searches for answers and Evie desperately tries to remember what happened and communicate with her sister, and is set between London, Dublin and Leitrim.

It has received rave reviews from fans and fellow writers alike – including Marian Keyes, who dubbed it “head and shoulders above the rest” – and Bernice is thrilled with the reaction.

“Obviously, getting the quote from Marian was amazing, and by and large the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads have been very positive,” she stated, admitting; “I was dreading the inevitable one-star ratings but there have been mercifully few of those”.

Beyond the great reviews, the book has also re-connected Bernice with many old friends and acquaintances, and she has received many Facebook photos showing the book being read on sun loungers around the world.

“Basically the whole experience has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m still trying to process all the good will and positivity that has been directed my way,” Bernice continued. “The other amazing thing is that it has given me a feeling of legitimacy about my writing. Making any kind of creative work can be so lonely and difficult – but the reaction has made me feel the hard work was worthwhile.”

A native of Aughnacliffe, north Longford, Bernice (née Mulligan) cut her writing teeth at the Longford Leader, where she worked as a journalist for almost two years. She then went on to work as sub-editor and editor at a magazine publishing company before taking on the role of Media Project Manager at Zahra Media Group.

Based in Dublin, where she lives with her husband Brian and their beautiful daughter Lily, who was born mere months after the release of ‘Sisters and Lies’, Bernice has certainly had a busy year.

“I was on the TV3 show Midday as a panellist promoting the book in June,” Bernice revealed. “I also wrote the article in the Irish Independent about the Leaving Cert and did the follow up interview with Kathryn Thomas on the Ray D’Arcy show.”

Just a month after publication, ‘Sisters and Lies’ was part of the Eason/Pat Kenny Book Club for the month of April, and Bernice is due to feature in the Sunday Times for an article about writers and their writing desks.

In terms of writing desks, Bernice’s has changed slightly since welcoming baby Lily this summer.

“I am in the very early stages of a new idea,” she revealed, “in between nappy changes and feeds!

“Needless to say, we are beyond smitten and (touching every piece of wood possible) she has been a wonderful baby – sleeping well and generally being an absolute treasure. I know it’s going to be challenging combining writing and motherhood, but I’m (optimistically/naively) hoping it will all work out!”
For more information on ‘Sisters and Lies’, which is now available as an audiobook through Bolinda, or to contact Bernice, see: Facebook.com/bernicebarringtonauthor; Twitter @beebarrington or visit www.bernicebarrington.com.

‘Sisters and Lies’ will also be coming out in the UK in Spring 2017.

Artists Bursary

The focus of this year’s County Arts Office Bursary Scheme will be: individual professional artists operating in the Longford County Council administrative area and aspiring artists from the Longford County Council administrative area, studying creative arts at a third level college.

Grants will be awarded to artists to support continuing professional development.  The forms of professional development envisaged are: support for the creation of new work, professional development and training, funding for materials and equipment and other creative or professional development purposes.

Artists Bursaries will be in the region of €500.00 though this figure may be varied by the adjudicators based on such factors as the number of applicants and the quality of projects.

All entries must be by e-mail to fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is: 1.00pm Friday April 10^th.

Education Bursaries

Education Bursaries will be paid to students from Longford County Council administrative area involved in a full time third level creative arts course, in an accredited third level college from September 2014.Students intending to attend art-form specific creative summer courses may also apply.

All entries must be by e-mail to fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is: 1.00pm Friday April 10^th.

Anne Skelly Commemorative Bursary

In recognition of the enormous contribution made by Anne Skelly to the development of creative writing in Longford during her time as Creative Writing Development Officer with the County Arts Office, the Arts Office has established the Anne Skelly Commemorative Bursary. The Bursary has been established to enable an artist, preferably a writer, from Longford to spend a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Annaghmakerrig Co. Monaghan, for the purposes of developing or completing a creative project.

This Perpetual Prize will be offered in the early Spring of each year starting in 2015, we feel that it is a means of commemorating Anne’s memory in a manner that she would have appreciated. The County Arts Office wishes to thank Anne’s husband Michael for his generous approval of this commemoration.

Applicants for the Anne Skelly Commemorative Bursary must complete an application form (PDF format, Word document) which should be emailed to fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is: 1.00pm Friday April 10^th.

Next week the Word Corner Cafe is back at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon. This is a free, informal event for all writers, readers and beat poets to share their work!

Word Corner Cafe is in the second Tuesday of every month – this month February 10th  – from 6 – 7.30pm in the Jury Room Cafe at The Dock.

Please come along and read / hear some wonderful work, and please pass this information on to people you think may be interested.

Anne Skelly who was the creative Writing Development Officer for the County Office for a number of years sadly passed away earlier this year. Last Friday night 10/10/14 her friends and fellow members of Ballymahon Writers Group published a commemorative collection of creative writing entitled Out of the Shadows.

As part of the launch proceedings at Ballymahon Library it was announced that:” In recognition of the enormous contribution made by Anne to the development of creative writing in Longford during her time as Creative Writing Development Officer with the County Arts Office, this Office will establish the Anne Skelly Commemorative Bursary to enable one artists, preferably a writer from Longford, to spend time at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Annaghmakerrig each year, for the purposes of developing or completing a creative project.

This Perpetual Prize will be offered in the early Spring of each year starting in 2015 and we feel that it is a means of commemorating Anne’s memory in a way which she would have appreciated.

We also wish to thank Anne’s husband Michael for his generous approval of this commemoration.”

This week Longford County Arts Office launched, ‘Respond’ a fascinating creative project. According to County Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy; “artists and art lovers know that the visual arts and literature are both capable of creating an energy and atmosphere unique to the arts. However when you combine the two different forms of creative expression you can create a wonderful frisson of imaginative energy and excitement.”

Longford has more creative writers per head of population that anywhere in Ireland. In addition there has been a huge resurgence in the visual arts in the county in recent years.

The Respond Project is an effort to harness and combine these two art forms to create an exciting and imaginative project that is unique to Longford. Ten local writers were shown a piece of work by ten local artists and used it as a setting-off point to explore ideas about art, love, loss, family, dreams, memory, places and privacy.

The painters were: Hugh P.Magrath, Brendan Duffy, Phil Atkinson, Pat Hourican, Gordon Farrell and Gerard Keaveney. Gary Robinson showed a three dimensional multi-media piece and the photographers were Michael Croghan and Shelley Corcoran. Ed Walshe showed ceramic work.

Among the responding writers were poets Mary Melvin Geoghegan, Breda Sullivan, Margaret Nohilly, Rose Moran, Valerie Masters, Rose Byrne and Jackie Gorman. The prose writers are: Ann Gerety Smyth, Lorne Patterson, Caroline O’Connor Coyle.

The project will culminate with an exhibition of the work and a reading by the responding writers in the Atrium Gallery, Backstage Theatre, Longford on Wednesday 10th December. The art and literature will also be celebrated in a booklet published by the County Arts Office.

Granard Writers’ Group was established in 1987, and is the longest established group in Co. Longford. Its home is Rath Mhuire Resource Centre, Granard, where meetings are held on a monthly basis. The group has developed and evolved over the last 27 years and has always been a place within the community where writers are encouraged and supported in an enjoyable and relaxed setting, as well as participating in workshops, literary events and social outings.

Its latest project is the publication of a DVD of original poetry, prose and memoir written by the members and edited by the internationally recognised Granard poet and dramatist Noel Monahan.

Many members, past and present, have been successfully publishedand we look forward to continued success and enjoyment in the future.

Longford Arts Office intends to establish a Writers Directory on this site.

The purpose will be to provide a focus of attention on the number of published authors from Longford, the diversity and quality of their work and to provide a professional contact point.

To qualify for inclusion in the Writers Directory it is necessary that a body of your work to have been published in a dedicated publication by a reputable independent publishing house.

If you are a creative writer born in County Longford or if you have strong creative or literary connections with the county and you would like to be included in the Writers Directory send an e-mail to; fkennedy@longfordcoco.ie marked; www.virtualwriter.ie Writers Directory – we will contact you as soon as possible.

In August Longford County Arts Office announced two interesting creative competitions: to create a title for the up-coming collection of creative writing and the design of a book cover inspired by the title.

The idea was to engage as many Longford artists in a collaborative process as possible. According to County Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy ”the judges of the title competition and of the book cover design competition where bowled over by the number and quality of submissions”

The creative writing is the work of writers who participated in a poetry mentoring programme facilitated by the internationally recognised Granard poet and dramatist Noel Monahan and in a prose mentoring programme facilitated by Longford town’s up-and coming writer Alan McMonagle.

The winning entry for the title of the collection was Ring Around the Moon which was suggested by the poet Breda Sullivan member of Granard Writers Group. The winner of the cover design was Longford photographer Shelley Corcoran.

Prizes for both winners will be presented at the launch of Circle Around the Moon on Thursday 2nd October at 8.00pm in The Canal Studio Backstage admission free.

Due to the unanticipated demand for places and the overall excellent quality of work submitted an extra class has had to be scheduled for the Prose Mentoring Programme by Longford County Arts Office.

Poetry Mentoring Programme Starting Tuesday 11th February in Templemichael Community College at 7.30pm

The successful applicants were:

1. Rose Moran
2. Caroline O’ Connor Coyle
3. Breda Sullivan,
4. Jackie Gorman
5. Anne Maher
6. Margaret Hayden
7. Yvonne Coates
8. Kevin Bateman
9. Mary McGushin
10. Anna Delaney

Prose Mentoring Programme Starting Tuesday 11th February

In Templemichael Community College at 7.30pm

The successful applicants were

1. Lorne Patterson
2. Miriam Mulrennan
3. Rose Byrne
4. Anne McDonnell
5. Majella Reid
6. Eileen Moynihan
7. Frank Horne
8. Geraldine Ryan

Due to the unanticipated volume of applicants for places on the Prose Mentoring Programme and the overall quality of the work submitted an additional class has had to be scheduled for:

Wednesday Evenings starting 12th February in Templemichael Community College at 7.30pm

The successful applicants were:

1. Sally Martin
2. Dette Lowry
3. Justine Gannon
4. Michaela Curwin
5. Margaret Browning
6. Ann Gerety Smyth
7. Donna Maguire

Oscar Night by Alan McMonagle

It’s Oscar Night in the home of aging sisters Annabelle and Miranda. The Oscar Ceremony has become an annual ritual and the two sisters like to make the most of the occasion. That is, until this year’s broadcast is interrupted by a young man making a fast escape from a police van transferring him to a new prison. The felon is in need of some quick cash, a getaway car and, as he is famished, a bowl of hot soup. His eyes light up when he stumbles into the home of the elderly sisters. This is one prison break that will go without a hitch…or is it…

Transmission date: Sunday, January 19 at 8pm, on RTE Radio One.

Often the precise eye of a fellow craftsman is required to fully appreciate the intricate detail and skill that goes in to creating something of beauty within that selected field.  For that reason, the high praise heaped on local poet Mary Melvin Geoghegan’s new collection of poetry by her fellow poets and authors lend serious credence to the quality of the work.

The poet and writer Nuala Ni Chonchuir refers to Mary’s “obvious delight in words” while praising her new collection, Say it Like a Paragraph, as “engaging economy and playfulness with language and original thought” to deliver up its riches.  Ni Chonchuir is just one of many esteemed poets who have lavished praise on this collection.

Say it Like a Paragraph is Mary’s fourth collection of poetry and is one that is inspired by journeys both personal and physical, the poet has taken since the death of her father in 2008.

“My last collection was very much borne out of coming to terms with my father’s death.  This collection is basically what has happened in my life since and all of the different journeys that I have taken.  Its life jumping out at you:  the coincidences of existence strike me as I feel obliged to put them together2.

While speaking with Mary who is also associate editor of Eurochild anthology of children’s art work it’s easy to understand her ability to find poetry in the rhythms of every day life. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.

Her poetry finds the immense in the mundane, delivered succinctly with an underlying tenderness that never threatens to spill over into cliché.  The process of writing poems is sudden, she tells me.

“If something arrests me I get a prompt and in many cases I don’t know what the poem wants to say.”  As a result her poems in this collection are short, they come to the point quickly and focus on imagery rather than metaphor.

“At times I’m completely astonished by an experience unravelling a synchronicity that leaves me breathless, grateful, sad, amused and wanting to capture that life in its twists and turns inside a poem.

The launch of the collection takes place in the Backstage Theatre on 17^th October.