LISTOWEL WRITERS WEEK 2013 - 29TH MAY - 2ND JUNE

 

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I love to visit Listowel. As I drive across the Cork/Kerry border and meander along the winding roads the stress of everyday life melts away.  When travelling to Listowel I usually leave time for manoeuvre.  Inevitably, I find myself behind a bouncy, rickety old tractor from another era driven by an equally rickety old farmer travelling at 30kph. Arriving in Listowel always feels like the first day of holidays.  There is a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in the town and for Writers’ Week, a gentle buzz.  People scurrying to readings, book launches, workshops, plays and art exhibitions.  

Relaxing in The Square, Listowel with Listowel Castle in view

My journey today is to the 42^nd Listowel Writers' Week 2013.   Listowel is the perfect town for a festival.  Whether it is the big racing festival in September or Writers’ Week in May all activities take place in the vicinity of a large, old market square.  Beautiful St John’s Theatre is the cultural focal point in the centre of the square. An old deconsecrated Protestant Church, it has been converted into a theatre and arts centre  and today I am there today to attend an exhibition opening by artist Michael Mulcahy.    Michael’s expressive paintings are strong in colour, energy and vibrancy.  The artist opened his exhibition with a short theatrical speech that was more a performance. Michael is as colourful as his paintings.

 

 

 

Michael Mulchahy opens his exhibition in St John's Theatre, Listowel during Listowel Writers' Week

 

 

 

 

                                         The Quiet Man, written by north Kerry writer Maurice Walsh, was originally a short story first published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1933.  The story was the basis for the film of the same name.  A 40 minute adaptation of Walsh’s story by Irish-American writer Frank Mahon was performed in St John’s Theatre at lunchtime on Thursday.



Colm Toibin being interviewed by Carlo Gebler in the Listowel Arms hotel Ballroom

Listowel Arms Hotel Ballroom was the venue for the afternoon and evening literary interviews.  First up was Colm Toibin, festival president, who was interviewed by Carlo Gebler (son of Edna O’Brien) on Thursday afternoon.  His most recent book ‘The Testament of Mary’ was performed on Broadway with Fiona Shaw in the title role.  IMPAC winner Colum McCann was next to be interviewed by Catherine Dunne.  His new work 'TransAtlantic' utilises the real-life narratives of Frederick Douglass, Alcock and Brown, and Senator George Mitchell in a daring novelistic feat. Colum did his book signing standing and engaged each person in conversation. Thursday evening a panel of writers discussed ‘Across the Waves: The Experience of Migration in Contemporary Irish Writing’. This was sponsored by The Gathering Ireland 2013. 

                                       Colum McCann signing his latest book 'TransAtlantic'

Emma Donoghue was in the Ballroom on Friday afternoon.  Her latest novel ‘Astray’ is a sequence of fourteen fact-inspired fictions about travels to, in and from North America.  A large crowd gathered on Friday evening for Rebecca Miller.  She is married to Daniel Day Lewis so she had a lot to prove to the inquisitive crowd.  She discussed her work and read from her latest book Jacob’s folly.  She had no problem engaging the crowd with her sense of humour and easy manner.  

 

Rebecca Miller signing copies for her latest book 'Jacob's Folly'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main event on Saturday evening was a bi-lingual celebration and tribute to the work of Irish poet Maire Mhac an tSaoi.  Maire is the most acclaimed Irish language scholar, poet, writer and academic of modern literature in Irish.  Deeply rooted in the Irish language traditions of the west Kerry Gaeltacht, Maire was a subversive voice in Ireland during the 1940s and 50s.  She is a woman who refused the conventions of her own time to celebrate the full extent of the female experience.  

This is a snippet of a most wonderful festival.   When I had a few hours to spare between events I travelled to Ballybunion beach 10km from Listowel for a long relaxing beach walk.  Again I will reiterate Listowel is a perfect location for a festival.   Get there if you can. 

Beautiful Ballybunion beach 10km from Listowel and Listowel Racecourse below