This year, Kerry County Council, in association with Kerry Writers’ Museum, Listowel and co-funded by the Arts Council has contracted Eileen Sheehan as Bealtaine writer-in-residence to be based in the Writers’ Museum for the month of May.
Eileen, originally from Scartaglin and living in Killarney, has three books of poetry published, her most recent being The Narrow Way of Souls (Salmon Poetry). She is an experienced facilitator in creative writing workshops of both poetry and prose.
The first residency event is taking place on Poetry Day, the 2nd May at 7.30pm at the Writers’ Museum in Listowel.
‘Everyone is welcome,’ explains Eileen, ‘to share a poem of their own, to read a favourite poem, to sing a song or chat about their favourite poet or poetry collection.’
The residency will continue throughout May.
‘My main focus,’ Eileen explains, ‘will be hosting themed creative writing workshops aimed at writers over fifty at all levels of experience. I am looking forward to engaging with individuals and various community groups.’
‘I am currently working on my fourth poetry collection’, she continues. ‘I will use some of my time in Listowel producing new work and researching folk tales and folklore particular to the North Kerry region. I am pleased to be part of this wonderful initiative between Kerry County Council Arts Office, the Arts Council and the Seanchaí Kerry Writers’ Museum.’
Further details on the workshops will be available from the Writers’ Museum, www.kerrywritersmuseum.com.
There are other Bealtaine events to enjoy in Kerry, including Evelyn Grant and the Lyric Quartet at Caherciveen Library on the 14th May and Killarney Library on the 15th May, both at 11am.
For further details on Bealtaine events in Kerry go to:
www.bealtaine.ie.
