Monday 22 June 2015

NWW Arts Night June 2015

So, this Thursday is NWW Arts Night, and there's a great line up of writing talent as usual. Two Belfast based poets, Colin Dardis and Geraldine O'Kane, are reading on the NWW stage for the first time. Colin and Geraldine also run and co-host the Purely Poetry event in the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. 

NWW starts at 8pm in Cafe Blend, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Thursday 25th June.

Colin Dardis is a poet, editor, creative writer tutor and arts facilitator, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His work has been published in numerous anthologies, journals and zines throughout Ireland, the UK and the USA. Colin runs Poetry NI, in which he is the editor of FourXFour, an online journal focusing on poetry from Northern Ireland. Pen Points Press, a poetry micro-press founded by Colin, launched at the Belfast Book Festival 2014. He also runs Purely Poetry, an open mic poetry night in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. Colin is also the online editor for Lagan Press. Colin’s Poetry chapbook, ‘Döji: A Blunder’, is out now from Lapwing Publications.


Geraldine O’Kane is originally from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She has been writing poetry since her teens, and has had numerous poems published in magazines, anthologies and online e-zines such as BareBack Lit, FourXFour Poetry Journal, Illuminated Poetry Ireland, Allo Trope, Short, Fast and Deadly, Poetry Super Highway, The Lake and more. Her first pamphlet “Quick Succession is available to purchase via Pen PointsPress. She is co-host and regular reader at the Purely Poetry open mic nights in Belfast. She is editor of Panning for Poems

Also featured is crime writer Charlie Garratt. He was born in Manchester and worked for many years as an engineer in England. Married to author and Donegal woman Ann, the couple moved to Mountcharles in 2006. Charlie joined a writers group in Donegal and began to write fiction.In 2015 his first murder mystery novel A Shadowed Livery was published by Grey Cells Press and is nominated for The Crime Writers Silver Dagger Award.

And, of course, there's the Open Mic. I'm looking forward to it.

Sunday 21 June 2015

NWW Writing Weekend 24th-26th July 2015


This year, in July, is the 3rd North West Words Writing Weekend in Co. Donegal. I've attended every one and enjoyed it immensely each time. The weekend opens on Friday 24th July with readings  in Cafe Blend, Letterkenny and continues with workshops on Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th.

This year the workshops are in the particularly lovely setting of Carn Lodge, Ramelton. I'm looking forward to an extra special weekend of writing and meeting writers. This event has always been distinctive for its relaxed and congenial atmosphere.

As in previous years, there is a great line up and variety of writing workshops covering a range of genres: fiction (including crime writing), poetry, memoir, and there is also a drawing workshop. Facilitators are Niamh Boyce, Moya Cannon, John MacKenna, Brian McGilloway and Winifred McNulty. For more details see NWW website news  and  workshop details  Niamh Boyce also has a workshop post on her blog at A Writer's Blog

For bookings email Maureen Curran at maureenwcurran@yahoo.ie or by post to North West Words, 54, Thornberry, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.