Liam Horan wins Gerald Griffin Literary Award
The Limerick Writers' Centre is proud to announce that Co Mayo native Liam Horan has been named the winner of the 2025 Gerald Griffin Competition for First Original Adult Fiction with his manuscript novel submission "On the Way Out”
[caption id="attachment_955" align="alignleft" width="411"] (Left to right): Ciaran O'Dirscoll, judge; Liam Horan, winner; Dominic Taylor, organiser, Limerick Writers Centre[/caption]
The official announcement took place on Thurs, September 18th at Dríacht Art Gallery, Adare, Co. Limerick, where the author was recognised for his outstanding submission to Ireland’s newest literary prize.
"We are thrilled to recognise Liam Horan’s exceptional talent," said Dominic Taylor, Director of the Limerick Writers' Centre. “His manuscript distinguished itself among a strong collection of submissions, reflecting the rich diversity and creative energy that characterises contemporary Irish fiction writing. The quality of entries demonstrated how Irish authors continue to explore fresh narrative territories while drawing on the country's deep literary traditions.”
A Spinning Tyre brings together work of young writers from Ballinrobe, Gaza and Cairo
Sixteen young writers from Ballinrobe, Gaza and Cairo have come together to launch A Spinning Tyre, an anthology of work celebrating youth voices, international connection and the power of creative expression.
The book emerged from a series of online and in-person writing workshops led by Liam Horan as part of the University of Limerick’s Creative Writers in the Community (CWIC) programme. Developed in partnership with the Hands Up Project – a UK-based charity that promotes connection through storytelling between young people worldwide and those in Palestine – the project sparked a collaboration across three communities.
48 artists and writers to participate in Ballinrobe Culture Night event
A Culture Night event in Ballinrobe is set to be a major celebration of creativity, with 48 confirmed participants for a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the dynamic relationship between words and images.
This collaborative project will showcase the talents of 24 visual artists and 24 writers, coming together to create something truly original. The event will take place on Friday, 20 September, in Ballinrobe Community School from 7-9pm, in a room adjacent to the school’s main auditorium, where the town’s annual Culture Night celebration of music, song, dance, and food will also be held.
Bursary award from Mayo County Council Arts Service
What's these days called 'some personal news' - I was delighted to have been chosen for a Mayo County Council Arts Service Artist Bursary Award for 2023. This bursary allowed me to avail of some mentoring from the Irish Writers Centre.
Getting to know…
Thanks to Joan Geraghty and the team at The Mayo Advertiser for featuring me - and plugging my book-signings on Dec. 22 and 23 - in this week's edition.
Deeply personal read reflecting many people’s circumstances – Connaught Telegraph
“One theme commonly recurs through this fine collection of work: that of seeing beyond the present and into the weeks and years ahead. We all suffer knockdowns, none more than through the last few difficult years. At times it takes
‘A story takes on its own life when it’s published’ – Western People
“Each story is a delightful read that immerses you and leaves you wanting more, before plunging you into the next one. The book deals with loss to central figures in your life, nostalgia, battles with existential crisis and our mortality” – Tomás
Book signings
I'm doing two book signings in the run-up to Christmas 2022: Castle Books, Main St (i.e., not their sister store on Castle St), Castlebar, Co. Mayo - Thursday, December 22, 2-4pm Martin Murphy's Newsagency & Book Shop, Main St, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
Getting published
Mayo Arts Service hosted a talk on publishing in Breaffy House Resort on Saturday last (November 26). There was a good turnout including would-be and already-are novelists, poets, short story writers, memoirists.
[caption id="attachment_471" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Matthew Parkinson-Bennett, Little Island, addressing Mayo Arts Service's talk on publishing[/caption]
The four speakers were Mariel Deegan of New Island Books, Matthew Parkinson-Bennett of Little Island and Lisa Frank and John Walsh of Doire Press. All four were remarkably open and honest in their contributions. Orlagh Heverin and her colleagues in the Mayo Arts Service deserve great credit for organising the event - saved us all travelling to the larger urban centres.
