Dingle Writing Courses

Tutor: Kate Thompson

There must be something in the water in West Kerry. The Dingle peninsula has long been associated with great writers from the famous Blasket Islanders, Peig Sawyers and Tomas O Criomhthain, to lesser known mainland writers and building on that fine history Dingle Writing Courses, which has been running writing workshops for the past twelve years, has just announced its line-up of Autumn classes.

The courses are weekend long, intense literary experiences that bring aspiring writers together in one of the most inspiring places in Ireland. Because the writers spend the weekend with one another the group becomes a resource for learning, almost as much as the tutors.

Says Nicholas MacLachlan, of Dingle Writing Courses, "We offer aspiring writers a rare experience that they seldom get in today's busy world - the chance to devote time to their writing with the help and guidance of a professional writer in one of the most beautiful locations in Ireland."

Dingle Writing Courses offers four distinctive courses:
Starting to Write, taught by Mary O Donnell, which runs from the 21st to the 23rd of September, is a beginners' course teaching how to start, stay motivated and keep going in fiction and poetry. Attendees do not need to have written before but a genuine interest and curiosity for the writing process is absolutely essential.

Fiction, taught by Evelyn Conlon, which runs from the 28th to the 30th of September, is a more advanced course for those ready to take the plunge or test the temperature with old or new work. Attendees will be asked to put their work practice under private scrutiny and examine what it takes to be a writer.

Poetry, taught by Mary O Malley, which runs from the 12th to the 14th of October, is an intensive poetry writing course focusing on energy and fun with practical exercise to generate new work and directions, as well as an emphasis on how to read ones own work with a view to improving it technically.

Writing Children's Fiction, taught by Kate Thompson, which runs from the 19th to the 21st of October, is designed to help attendees access ideas and to present them in dynamic and engaging forms.

The workshops will all take place in Tig Aine, a mile from Clogher Head on the Slea Head road, the home of Aine and her husband, Micheal O Dubhshlaine, author of A Dark Day on the Blaskets and Are You Going Home Now? Memories of Old Kilkea and it is hard to imagine a more inspiring writer's paradise.

Course fees are priced reasonably at 400 euro given that fees include all tuition, meals and accommodation. However, Kerry County Council Arts Office offers a bursary to aspiring writers who wish to do the program but would find it a financial burden. Please contact the Kerry Arts Office for a bursary form which must be returned before July 27th.

Explains Nicholas, "We've very keen to work with the people that benefit the most from the course and it's fantastic that the County's Arts Office can help aspiring writers take the first steps to becoming writers."

For further information on the Dingle Writing Courses please contact Nicholas on 066 915 9815 or log on at www.dinglewritingcourses.ie