Annmarie reflects on a job well done

Fergus Dennehy spoke to the Kerry’s writer-in-residence Annemarie Ní Churreáin about her time in the role, the projects that she’s undertaken and why Kerry is in rude health when it comes to up and coming writing talent in the county.

AS Annemarie Ní Churreáin’s year as Kerry’s writer-in-residence comes to an end later this month, she was in a reflective mood when she spoke to The Kerryman last week about her time in the role.

Firstly though, for those out there who might not be familiar with what the role of writer-in-residence entails, I’ll leave the expert in Annmarie herself explain:

“The role of the writer-in-residence is to promote writing, literature book and creativity in the community,” she said, speaking to us last week.

“I would do creative writing and group workshops, readings from my own book and then I would do one-to-one mentoring as well, this would be with people who are preparing their manuscript for publication or for submission to publishers,” she continued.

““Really though, it all boils down to promoting writing and supporting writers at all levels.”

“So, whether you are an emerging writer or whether you are somebody who has already been published, it’s important that you have a writer in the community who can give you advice, tips and who can steer you in the right direction,” she said.

Originally from the Donegal Gaeltacht area, Annemarie has been a regular fixture down in Kerry for the past 12 months but now, she is preparing to leave her role, but she does so with fond memories and Kerry’s writing future safely ensured.

Having started her role back in September 2017, it’s hard for Annmarie to believe that her year long tenure is almost already finished, but far from feeling nostalgic, she is basking in a job well done after a year of many highs and cherished memories.

“It’s been a really exciting year and there’s been lots of highlights, including curating a salon for Listowel Writers’ Week, being part of the Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival up in North Kerry.

Finally, a special mention must go to the Dingle Book Shop for all the readings I did there, those readings are particularly fond memories for me.”

A large part of her role was the cultivation and growth of the writing talent here in Kerry - a role that Annemarie undertook with much gusto.

A year of examining some of the best up and coming writers that Kerry has to offer later, the question is - do we have budding John B Keane’s amongst us?

In short, we’re in rude health with our young writers, Annemarie said.

“There’s a particular love of oral storytelling in Kerry, of humour in writing and of musicality of the words. All of that translates really well to writing on the page as well. I think that there’s a strong tradition of sharing stories and having fun through stories,” she said.

“I think that there is a great confidence in people who are coming newly to writing in Kerry, there is a great willingness by people of all ages and all backgrounds to give it a try.”

“I’ve worked with hundreds of people throughout the county from primary school age right up to people in their 80’s – Kerry is in a good place when it comes to writing.”

To prove her point, Annemarie goes on to talk about one of the biggest projects that she has been involved in during her year as writer-in-residence - the annual anthology of Kerry’s writers.

“This years anthology is called

‘Still in the dreaming’ and that is due to launch very soon. I think we have a September launch date in mind; the title of the book is inspired by a quote from John Moriarty.

The book will bring together work by 15 Kerry writers and there will be live readings from the anthology for Culture Night on September 21 which we’re very excited about,” she said.

Outside of her role, Annemarie is already an established writer and poet; she has been awarded literary fellowships by the Akademie Schloss Solitude (Germany), the Jack Kerouac House (Florida) and Hawthornden Castle (Scotland).

In 2016, she was recipient of a Next Generation Artists Award from the Arts Council of Ireland

Her debut collection of works is called ‘Bloodroot’ and is available to buy from the doirepress.com website

She is also working on a second, as of now untitled collection of poetry and also the text for an opera.

A huge thank you from all of here in Kerry to Annmarie for all her work this past year.

I think that there is a great confidence in all people who are coming newly to writing in Kerry. There is a great willingness by people of all ages and all backgrounds to give it a try.