This year, Cúirt International Festival of Literature and Portumna Arts Group will host two writing workshops in An Gáirdin, Portumna during the month of April as part of the Ar Chúirt Programme; an outreach strand of Cúirt which was initiated in 2011. The activities in Portumna will include creative writing workshops and a music/words event in Portumna Castle on Sunday 22nd April.

The workshops are themed around the natural environment around Portumna.

Pub Limerick Final
In a Pub Near You!
9.30pm

Final of Shorelines Pub Limerick Competition
Judges: The Kelly Brothers of BAFFLE Fame

Castle Shorelines
James Harpur Poet, Alan McMonagle writer, Darren deBurca singer, Muirne Hurley-Goode Harpist/Singer
Words and Song
Venue: Portumna Castle
Time: 5-6pm
Age: All Age Groups
Admission : €5/ (€8 for both 3pm and 5pm events

Whispers of Wood, Silence of Stone
With Portumna Pen Pushers & Friends
Time : 3-4pm
Venue: Portumna Workhouse Centre
Age: All Age Groups
Admission : €5/ (€8 for both 3pm and 5pm events)

This is a culmination of a project on July 2nd in Portumna Workhouse. Hear the words, listen to the songs and remember with us.

Lines Learned By Heart
Recitation Competition in memory of Nicholas Treacy
Perpetual award Sponsored by Maple Poetry Group and created by Brian Murray
Venue: Horan’s Bar
Time: 12-2pm

Poetry Workshop
With James Harpur
Venue: An Gairdin
Time: 3-5pm
Fee: €10
Age: Adult/Teenager/ Writers Groups
Numbers limited so book by phone to : Mary @ 086 366 3439

Join James on his talk :‘Poetry Journey’, which covers various aspects of writing poetry and the poetry business, the pitfalls of being a writer, as well as the idea that writers seek their identity through their writing, as well as a mysterious otherness.

Barbara Kennedy Writing Awards
Venue: Portumna Library
Time : 2-3pm
Admission free

Presentation of awards for “Anything Under The Sun” Writing Project for 4th class students from schools in Portumna Area, featuring readings and exhibition.

Anything Under The Sun Childrens' Writing
The Barbara Kennedy Memorial Writing Project
Featuring up to 15 local Primary School 4th class students
Venue: Portumna Library
Opening Hours- Library Opening Hours.

Portumna Pen Pushers and Arts Group

Venue: Portumna Workhouse Centre
Opening Hours - Workhouse Opening Hours
(Writings, Drawings & photographs from Portumna Great Outdoors Workshop)

As part of Shorelines Arts Festival, Sept 22-25th, a Pub Limerick competition will be launched in the coming weeks. Each local pub in Portumna will have entry forms on their counters with the first line of a Limerick, particular to that pub, already written for you.