Library links up with BA course

WRITERS, literary enthusiasts and musicians braved the elements on Wednesday evening last to attend the launch of The Word, a collaboration between Sligo Central Library and the new BA in Writing and Literature at IT Sligo.

The Word is a monthly event, taking place on the last Wednesday of each month at 6.30pm. On Wednesday 28th February, The Word will host Galway based writer Lisa McInerney. Her novel The Glorious Heresies won the 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and was named as book of the year by The Irish Times, Sunday Independent and Sunday Business Post. This event is free and all are welcome to attend, with no booking necessary. Those who wish to participate in the openmic can sign up on the night.

Last Wednesday’s launch saw writers Eoin McNamee and Sligo based Louise Kennedy read from their work to a full house in Central Library. Their readings were followed by an open-mic with ten writers, including several students on the new writing programme at IT Sligo, and two musicians sharing their work.

Eoin McNamee has written 18 novels, numerous screenplays, radio plays, and short story and poetry collections. His work has won the Kerry group Irish novel of the year and has been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize.

As writer Liam McIlvanney has said, ‘McNamee’s prose –with its chilly precision and desolate grace – is one of the glories of contemporary fiction.’ Eoin read from his forthcoming novel The Vogue.

Louise Kennedy has published in the Stinging Fly, The Tangerine and Ambit has read her work on Arena and Sunday Miscellany on RTE Radio 1.

She is currently working on a collection of short stories and read from one of these on the night.