Writer Máire reflects on a very different residency experience during COVID-19 times
HAVING been appointed as Kerry’s Writer in Residence back in February, only then to have the position curtailed just as quickly thanks to COVID-19 and the lock- down, it’s safe to say that Máire Holmes has not enjoyed the most traditional of residencies to date.
Thankfully, though, as of the Monday just gone, Máire is back doing what she does best as she resumes her residency duties.
Speaking to The Kerryman, she says that while she is delighted to finally get back to work, there are still many challenges ahead for her over the next few months.
“It’s definitely the safest thing for you to say that it has not been the most routine of residencies to date,” she laughed.
Máire was just a little under a month into her role when, suddenly, everything was shut down, and it has been all quiet on her residency front since then – save for her co- ordinating and editing of an e- book of poems by young people for Cruinniú na nÓg, entitled Present Day Poetry, Kerry.
“It’s going to be a lot more challenging for me, certainly. I will have to get all the work initially by e- mail, read all of it and respond then over Zoom and what not. Obviously you wouldn’t normally do that in a workshop; normally you would hear the work on location and you would be dealing with it in person,” said Máire.
“I will only have a certain amount of time with people on Zoom/ Microsoft Teams, and I will have to know their work before we speak so as not to waste any time,” she said.
Máire plans one- to- one remotementoring sessions.
“I want to give dedicated writers a performance platform,” she explained. “The solo writer is familiar with solitude and yet seeks some way to be heard, by sharing work that is not yet published.
“I get sent- in a lot of poems, novel chapters, short stories and, obviously, it is all welcome, but for me, I think, it will be the technology side of things that I will find the most challenging. I’m only learning the skills of technology now when it comes to Zoom and what not so it will certainly be challenging,” she said.
Staying on technology, it is not just to herself that she feels technology might be a barrier; she said that there might be older writers and poets out there who may have writing that they want to share but are put off by not being familiar with technology.
With this in mind, Máire says that she is in the process of seeing whether it’s possible for people to potentially post her their work to work so she can have a look.
“I don’t want to see anyone being left out for whatever reason. I want everyone to be able to send in their work for me to have a look at,” she said.
Despite all these challenges, though, Máire said that she is thrilled to be back at work and is ready to go with the flow over the next few months of her residency as she expresses her fond love of Kerry and its people.
“I love Kerry and I love its people. I have an association with the place for the last 50 years, I’d say. I just love Kerry and so, obviously, I will miss not being with the writers in person because you have that sense of warmth and connection with them when they’re sitting across from you,” she said.
Anyone who is interested in these initiatives should watch Kerry Arts Office’s social media for updates, sign up to the Arts Newsletter on the KCC website or contact the Arts Office on arts@ kerrycoco. ie or ( 066) 718 3541.