News from the Munster Literature Centre of the first Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival. 2003 will be the 100th anniversary of O'Connor's birth, so this year's festival is the initial event leading towards the anniversary celebrations, explains Jerry Kelly of the Munster Literature Centre. The Short Story Festival will run this month, from 19th to 24th, in Cork city, with the anchor venue being the Cork Arts Theatre. A number of practitioners of the short story will be in Cork for readings and to discuss the art of the short story. Among them will be Bernard MacLaverty, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Anne Enright, Micheal O Conghaile, Mary Leland and Mike McCormack. Ludmilla Ulitskaya, a Russian short story writer, will read from her work in Russian, and there will be a translation in English. There will also be a number of visiting academics, who will discuss the short story from an international perspective. Kelly tells Sadbh that by the time O'Connor's 100th anniversary comes round in three years, Cork hopes to have in place an international short story competition of major importance, "with substantial prize money - the Booker Prize of the short story". Details from 021-312955.
Given the number of historians who've produced books on the early years of the State over the past 18 months, there's a solid constituency of readers out there who'll welcome the re-issuing of Conor Brady's Guardians of the Peace, the story of the building of the Garda Siochana in a fledgling Irish state, first published in 1974. The author has rewritten the chapter about the supposed preparations by then police commissioner, Gen Eoin O'Duffy, to stage a coup against the incoming Fianna Fail government in 1932 to prevent de Valera from running the country. Relying initially on the account of one witness, David Neligan, Brady has now incorporated certain qualifications he feels it lacked first time round. For instance, no corroboration of Neligan's account - in which O'Duffy collared him in the depot mess, advocating a military takeover, and saying "You know, Dave, you'll be the first one to go under de Valera" - has ever come to light. Of all the characters from an intriguing era, O'Duffy is one still capable of making waves - witness the recent rumpus about whether or not he was homosexual - and there's plenty here about his instability, volatility and unbelievable vanity. The new edition comes from Prendeville Publishing in London at £8.50 sterling and has a new introduction by the author.
News from Dun Laoghaire about Feile Filiochta, its international poetry competition. The competition is open to adults and young people, in a range of categories and languages, in association with libraries in other countries. They are looking for poems in either Irish or English, in the following categories: under 12; under 17; and adult. Entry is free but must be accompanied by an official form - available from public libraries or by calling 01-2781788. The closing date is October 9th. Up to four poems can be submitted. Send entries to International Poetry Competition, PO Box 6983, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Who said that writers have to starve in chilly garrets? Sadbh hears that the Irish Landmark Trust is making two of its beautiful restored houses available for writers and artists to rent over the winter months - Termon House in Co Donegal and Ballealy Cottage in Co Antrim, each with studio space. The rent (subsidised) is £80 a week, per person, and electricity and heating is included - which could count for a lot in those cold, wet winter months. Residents will be asked to document the work they do there, and will be encouraged to make contact with local groups active in the arts. More information from 016704733, or e-mail landmark@iol.ie
The other roof you could seek out to put over your creative head is the Heinrich Boll cottage on Achill, with a residency funded by Mayo Co Council and the Arts Council. This is a one-month stay for writers or artists and applications for residencies for 2001 are now being considered. Send a letter, CV and samples of work, before the end of this month, to John McHugh, Abha Teangai, Dooagh, Achill, Co Mayo.
Ever wanted to read Ulysses but been daunted by the prospect - the size of the book, the baggage it carries, the reputation attached to it? Well, the James Joyce Centre would like to lure you into the fold. Starting on September 8th, it is running a series of Thursday evenings focusing on Joyce's work, "aimed at anyone who is intimidated by tackling Joyce's works on their own and would like to do so with the support of a group". The course (from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.) will run until next May and, at £1 admission, sounds like the best-value evening-class in town. More information from 01-8788547 or joycecen@iol.ie