Write by the Sea is cancelled

Plans for this year’s Write by the Sea literary festival in Kilmore Quay, have been cancelled due to Covid-19 but the annual writing competition with a prize fund of €1,000 is going ahead.

The festival involves writers, workshop facilitators and volunteers attending in close contact at reading, talks, interviews and workshops in an intimate village setting.

‘The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone involved, as well as full compliance with Government guidelines must take priority over everything else at this difficult time’, said a spokesperson.

The programme planned for this year has been rescheduled to September 24 to 26 2021 with the previously announced Irish and international writers, including Colm Tóibín now due to attend next year.

‘Save the dates in your diary and come and enjoy drama, crime writing, short stories, storytelling, poetry, memoir writing and much more. We look forward to seeing you next year in Kilmore Quay’, said the spokesperson.

The Write by the Sea Writing Competition is attracting a record number of entries. Two category winners will be presented with a cash prize of €250 and the overall winner will receive a cash prize of €500. All three winners will receive a hand-crafted WBTS trophy and the three winning pieces will be published on the Write by the Sea website.

The competition is open for submissions now. The closing date is Friday, July 10. More details can be found on writebythesea.ie.