There was much muttering when a significant literary festival didn't materialise in the capital last year: it was easier to spot a be-plaited teenybopper MTV star than the Lesser Spotted Famous Author. But Sadbh hears on the grapevine that there will be a four-day International Writers' Festival in Dublin this year, organised by Dublin Corporation. Sadbh's source was a bit coy about revealing much of the menu at this stage, but confirmed that "fairly big names" will be flying in for the mid-June hooley, among them Doris Lessing and A.S. Byatt. More anon.
Running before that, however - from April 6th to 8th - is a major festival, Etonnants Voyageurs. This event is akin to the French version of Galway's wonderful Cuirt, and has been taking place in SaintMalo for the past 10 years. It's now established as one of the leading literary events on the French calendar. This year, it's coming to Dublin, in association with the Alliance Francaise. The final line-up is still to be confirmed, but there will be some 15 French writers and the same number of Irish writers reading over the three days.
Among the French writers who have confirmed attendance are Michel Deon, author of Un Taxi Mauve; J.M.G. Le Clezio, author of Desert; Pierre Joannon, who has just written a book on John Hume; and Erik Orsenna, who won the Prix Goncourt in 1988 with L'Exposition Coloniale.
What do you call a collection of literary critics? A tome of critics? A ream of critics? Whatever it is, quite a large group of them will be gathering in Belfast later this month for a conference called New Voices in Irish Criticism 2000. To be held at Queen's University from February 25th to 27th, it's sponsored by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Over the weekend, speakers from Irish, US, Scottish and English universities will give papers, including: Nicholas Allen of TCD on "Political Visions; George Russell, 1913-1930"; Gareth Joseph Downes of the University of St Andrews on " `A Terrible Heretic'; Joyce and Catholicism"; Robbie Meredith of Queen's on "The Shan Van Vocht; Notes from the North"; R.B. Tobin of Merton College, Oxford on "
`To do Some Good for Ireland': From Noblesse Oblige to Co-operation in the Career of Sir Horace Plunkett"; John Kenny of UCG on "The Theory and Practice of Literary Reviewing"; poet David Wheatley, now based in Hull, a co-editor of the literary journal Metre, on "Experiences in the Literary Press"; and Aaron Kelly of Queen's on "Reproblematising the Irish Text". Karen Vandervelde of UCG 's talk on "How the Irish National Ideal of the Irish National Theatre was Abandoned in Favour of a Corporate Trademark" should spark good debate, and lively exchanges are expected as discussion opens to the floor after the various sessions. There is no conference fee, and the organisers are hoping those interested in "the future state of intellectual debate in Ireland" will attend in large numbers. More information from the English Department at QUB, 0801232-335103.
On Monday, a day when our national museums are usually closed, the big fella of them all, the National Museum, will open at 6 p.m. for a book launch. Seanchas; Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis c J. Byrne is the impressively lengthy title of this Four Courts Press book. Byrne is one of Ireland's senior historians, who now divides his time between Cyprus and our own, slightly less warm country. The book, explains Ronan Gallagher of Four Courts, is a Festschrift in his honour. More than 40 people have contributed to the collection of essays, which is edited by Prof A.P. Smyth.
News from Listowel comes this way that John B. Keane is stepping down as president of Listowel Writers' Week. Taking over, with immediate effect, will be David Marcus, long-time stalwart supporter of emerging Irish writers. Mary Kennelly of Writer's Week assures Sadbh that "John B. is grand, he's just taking a back seat now".
Blianiris 2000 is the title of a very fine Irish-language anthology of essays, poetry, and artwork, from Carbad at £10. Among the distinguished list of contributors are Sean Mac Mathuna, composer Micheal O Suilleabhain; long time Arts Council member, Proinsias Mac Aonghusa; journalists, writers and critics Sean Mac Reamoinn and Liam Mac Coil; and politicians Alan Dukes and Eamon O Cuiv. Three generations of Irish-language women poets are represented by Aifric Mac Aodha, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, and Maire Mhac an tSaoi. This is the first anthology to appear, but Liam Mac Coil, who has co-edited the book, hopes that it will now be an annual event.
The first Kavanagh Fellowship has been awarded to the Limerick-based poet Ciaran O'Driscoll. The fellowship is in the name of both Patrick and his wife Katherine, and is funded by the royalties from Patrick Kavanagh's work.
Katherine Kavanagh left the royalties to be given to Irish poets in their middle age, to support them as they work towards their next book. O'Driscoll received £5,000, and the trustees hope there will be sufficient funds to make the award an annual event.
Sadbh