Author events &
2020 and Women Aloud NI!
An International Woman's Day like no other! I was Chairperson of Women Aloud NI and I managed to make it to Dublin for the annual XBorders event at the Irish Writer's Centre and to Waterstones in Coleraine on the cusp of a pandemic. Then we all went straight into lockdown! But look what we achieved in lockdown — a beautiful book! Thanks to Leschenault Press for supporting the North Star publication by Women Aloud NI.
Writing and Entrepreneurial Programme, Summer 2020
Bridging my writing and business background in a fun programme with Larne Football Club's Brighter Futures. The boys involved in Recreate Larne are an inspiration and I hope their ideas will become a reality some day. Special thanks goes to LFC's benefactor, Kenny Bruce, who popped by to see how the boys were doing!
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Shaped by the Sea, Creative Writing, January to March 2020
This Peace IV programme brought together some of Larne's writers to produce a little collection of historic writing and new writing. Thanks to to Mid and East Antrim Council, Cafe Seven and our wonderful writers!
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At home with Naturally North Coast & Glens market
Oh I do love a good market, but alas we haven't had any since Christmas! I wonder if I'll get to see Santa in 2020? Thank you to the Gobbins Centre in Islandmagee and Naturally North Coast and Glens for giving me some great silly pic opportunities!
Off to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Omagh, December 2019
Facilitating a shared culture workshop on the story of festival Irish dancing. These musicians are all ready for the Bunting Festival. Thank you to Karen D'Aoust from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the team at the Station Centre for the warm welcome.
Tales in the Trees, Autumn 2019
A storytelling course and #peaceiv initiative right on my doorstep! Thank you to Janice Weatherspoon & Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for allowing me to join in as a student of storytelling!
Larne Renovation Generation frolics, Hallowe'en 2019
As a volunteer for Larne Renovation Generation Team, you never know what they will ask you to do next — from writing historic panels to running around dressed up as an eejit. Well, I had the chance to try out some storytelling at The Big Chair and didn't turn it down! He he he he!
Antiques Road Trip, 23rd September 2019
When the story of Irish dancing reached several million viewers on national TV... On an snowy day in March 2019, I made my way to the stunning Lissanoure Castle to meet Roo Irvine and the crew from Antiques Road Trip. We were joined by the Loughgiel School of Irish Dance, who performed a dance narrative to the history of 'Irish Dancing: The Festival Story.' Click here to see what we got up to on this televised adventure.
Bangor Literary Journal launch, 18 August 2019
A great excuse to catch up with local poets at the Blackberry Path Art Studio in Bangor! The occasion was the launch of issue 9 of the Bangor Literary Journal. Thank you to the team for publishing my poem 'Hymn' and for the invitation to read.
Féile an Phobail with Women Aloud, 5 August 2019
Féile an Phobail in the west of Belfast was the setting for some beautiful readings in Irish and English form the Women Aloud NI crew! I read from my latest (unpublished) novel, Waterloo Road.
Women Aloud & Eastside Choir, 2nd August 2019
My eight year-old daughter did not like the idea of me going out without her, so I took her to St. Martin's Church in east Belfast to demonstrate that sitting through poetry readings would not be as much fun as staying at home to play with her Barbies. I miscalculated the outcome. She enjoyed the readings and loved the choir and now she wants to go everywhere with Women Aloud!
School at the Sea, Ballygally, June 2019
I was thrilled to take part in the School by the Sea's shared education fairy tales programme at the end of term in June 2019. Two bus loads of children filled the beach at Ballygally and each child wrote their very own fairy tale inspired by the landscape.
Tafelta Festival, 22nd June 2019, Magherafelt
Thank you to the organisers for inviting me to show my book babies off to the folk of Magherafelt.
Kintra, BBC Radio Ulster, 12 May 2019
The Kintra show is always an extra special treat for me. In this episode, a young girl did a quare and good job of reading from Children of Latharna.
Ulster University Paperclip launch, 8 May 2019
I had the chance to experiment a little more with poetry in 2019. I made my first submission, 'Harvest Home,' to Ulster University's Paperclip Publication and enjoyed a lovely afternoon surrounded by poets and writers at the Coleraine campus.
Thank you also to the Eden Project for selecting 'Latharna Danced' as winning poem in the Big Lunch competition.
Thank you also to the Eden Project for selecting 'Latharna Danced' as winning poem in the Big Lunch competition.
John Hewitt Festival of Literature and Ideas, Hillsborough, 26 April 2019
Women Aloud out in force again! So many great voices of literature in one large but humble group. It was a pleasure to read from A Belfast Tale and hear a few giggles at this event. Thanks to all involved!
Belfast Trad Irish Dancing Talk, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 29 March 2019
A fabulous evening talking about the history of the festival tradition of Irish dancing at the Crescent Arts Centre with Belfast Trad. Thank you to the beautiful dancers from the Knockagh School of Irish Dancing!
March Madness 2019 - International women's day & World Book Day
There is one week in March when female authors try to squeeze too much in. This year Women Aloud was particularly loud and I had the fortune to be involved in a fair at the Flowerfield Art Centre in Portstewart, readings in Waterstones in Belfast and the annual XBorders trip to Dublin. In between, there were the World Book Day school visits, including a trip down memory lane at Larne Grammar School and a whirlwind tour of all the classes at St. MacNassi's Primary School.
On tour with Libraries NI, October 2018 to January 2019
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A tour of Northern Ireland libraries was the perfect way to take 'Irish Dancing, the Festival Story' to the general public. I am grateful to the Reilly School of Irish Dancing for making the event in the Bangor Library on 24 January 2019 so memorable.
We are Larne with Larne Football Club, 8 December 2018
When your publisher is a football fan! Yes, Leschenault Press may be based in Australia, but owner, Ian Hooper, has never lost his love for Larne. When he sponsored a ball in the Dundela match and sent me along to present it, the male family members all volunteered to come along to help me, including my son, my dad and my husband. Here they are with Gareth Clements, Chairman of Larne F.C.
The John Toal Show, Saturday 3rd November 2018
One highlight of the Irish Dancing book promotion was the BBC Radio Ulster John Toal show. You can catch the interview here. The interview begins 18:21 minutes in.
Some of my favourite quotes from John Toal about Irish Dancing: The Festival Story:
*Beautiful* It’s brilliant * You’ve done an awful lot of research. *I imagine this will fly off the shelves * Great book and anyone with a passing interest in Irish dancing should read it.* John was delighted to see his dance teacher from Newry, Arthur Burns, in the Newry chapter. Thanks for having me John and team!
Some of my favourite quotes from John Toal about Irish Dancing: The Festival Story:
*Beautiful* It’s brilliant * You’ve done an awful lot of research. *I imagine this will fly off the shelves * Great book and anyone with a passing interest in Irish dancing should read it.* John was delighted to see his dance teacher from Newry, Arthur Burns, in the Newry chapter. Thanks for having me John and team!
Larne Book Launch, Thursday 25th October 2018
It was almost the book launch that didn't happen when a power cut hit Larne Library, but my brother Andrew and my old school saved the day. A lovely evening was had by all and it was special to see so many characters from the book, Irish Dancing: The Festival Story in the room. I finally got to meet the lovely Violet McConnell, whose aunt Agnes is considered to be the mother of Irish dancing in Ballymena. Thank you to Larne Library, the Lisa Dempsey School of Irish Dancing, Larne Grammar School and all my helpers. What a day!
Irish Dance Podcast 22nd October 2018
A quare oul yarn with Martin Percival, who danced on 'Riverdance' and 'Dancing on Dangerous Ground' and who was the principal dancer with Michael Flatley's 'Lord of the Dance.' Martin is passionate about Irish Dancing and incredibly enthusiastic about the festival story. Check out Episode 24 of the Irish Dance Podcast by clicking here. Martin, it was a absolute pleasure. Thank you!
Irish Dancing at the Ulster-American Folk Park in Omagh, 20 October 2018
The Mellon Centre, part of Libraries NI, is attached to the Ulster-American Folk Park in Omagh, and it was there that I launched Irish Dancing: The Festival Story. What a great place to launch the book! We truly stepped back in time with readings from transatlantic letters in thatched cottages redolent with the scent of the past and turf fires. My favourite moment was when Paddy McCoy began to tell a story about his sister, Anna McCoy. The very same story about the young boy wanting to wear his dancing costume in the Twelfth parade is in the book! I also learned lots from Valerie Wilson, Curator of Costumes and Textiles.
The Irish Dancing exhibition at the museum is well worth a visit! Thank you for the warm welcome to all involved from the National Museums NI and Libraries NI.
The Irish Dancing exhibition at the museum is well worth a visit! Thank you for the warm welcome to all involved from the National Museums NI and Libraries NI.
Irish Dancing Exhibition, Larne Museum, April-May 2018
The Irish Dancing Story Exhibition at Larne Museum in April and May was not so much a dream come true as something that I had never imagined initiating. I had a lot of fun researching, writing panels and gathering memorabilia. I am very grateful Marian Kelso, who bravely took on the project on behalf of Mid and East Antrim Council. It was fitting in this special year for women that we both had the opportunity to celebrate some of the greatest champions of peace in Northern Ireland, those stoic matriarchs of the festival tradition of Irish dancing who crossed cultural barriers with a light double heart.
The year 2018 is the ninetieth anniversary of the Larne Irish Folk Dancing Association. Ninety years have passed since Irish folk dancing was added to the syllabus of the Larne Musical Festival for the first time. As society has changed, it's a remarkable achievement that those involved in the community of Festival Irish dancing have been able to keep the festival tradition alive.
One of the main attractions was the costume exhibition by Leslie Baird, who has collected dozens of festival dresses from the 1930s to today. He was missing the Ashley Dancing Club dress from Ballyclare, and as a result of the community created around this exhibition, he was able to locate a donation. Thank you to all involved. The exhibition will be moving to Ballymena in 2019 and Carrickfergus in 2020.
The year 2018 is the ninetieth anniversary of the Larne Irish Folk Dancing Association. Ninety years have passed since Irish folk dancing was added to the syllabus of the Larne Musical Festival for the first time. As society has changed, it's a remarkable achievement that those involved in the community of Festival Irish dancing have been able to keep the festival tradition alive.
One of the main attractions was the costume exhibition by Leslie Baird, who has collected dozens of festival dresses from the 1930s to today. He was missing the Ashley Dancing Club dress from Ballyclare, and as a result of the community created around this exhibition, he was able to locate a donation. Thank you to all involved. The exhibition will be moving to Ballymena in 2019 and Carrickfergus in 2020.
History of Irish dancing in Ballymena, November 2017
Thank you to Elaine Hill from the Braid Arts Centre for organising the Irish dancing talk on Tuesday 28th November. I think everyone present would agree that the star of the evening was Rose Murray, veteran dancing pianist. Rose was only a toddler when she danced in a 1942 variety show in Ballymena and she stole the show that night as well! Rose's big sister was Lily Agnew, Irish dancing champion of the festival tradition.
From Larne to Lorne in October 2017
When Iris from Cairncastle Girls Brigade heard some of her juniors talking about a certain book they had read in school, she got in touch and invited me in to speak to the girls and help them with their scrapbooks. What a lovely trip down memory lane for a former GB girl. Good luck with your badges, girls!
Then it was off to Lorne, a baronial style house situated between Holywood and Bangor. The Friends of Lorne is a group of former Girl Guides and I attended their meeting as a guest speaker to talk about my upcoming Irish dancing book. The Girl Guides used to have a very strong connection to Irish folk dancing and it was fascinating to speak to so many dancers from the 1940s and 1950s.
Then it was off to Lorne, a baronial style house situated between Holywood and Bangor. The Friends of Lorne is a group of former Girl Guides and I attended their meeting as a guest speaker to talk about my upcoming Irish dancing book. The Girl Guides used to have a very strong connection to Irish folk dancing and it was fascinating to speak to so many dancers from the 1940s and 1950s.
Broadisland Gathering 2017
The end of summer is never dull when it's marked by the Broadisland Gathering. I love Ballycarry for all its sense of history and poetry, and as I practised reading some poems in St.John's church overlooking the lough, I thought about my own ancestors, my great grandmother Eliza Rossborough (nee Templeton) and my great great grandmother Isabella Templeton (nee Kane.) They were from that triangle of bounteous scenery that includes Magheramorne, Islandmagee and Ballycarry. Cannae wait for next year!
Lads & Lassies of Ballymoney
An after schools club filled with weans learning traditional music! Every town should have a Lads and Lassies club. I loved spending time with these children at their summer scheme on Tuesday 25th July 2017. The volunteers from the Ullans centre in Ballymoney are the most committed people I've ever seen. As for the weans - this picture says it all :)
Footerin and fisslin in prose
Thank you to the Discover Ulster-Scots centre for hosting an author night for me on 29th March. I love seeing the smiles on faces when I read from Children of Latharna to the "big weans!"
March 2017 was wile busy!
Library NI events, a fun-packed Women Aloud NI schedule & launch activities for my new book, Children of Latharna! It's was wile busy! See more below!
Friday 3rd March: Children of Latharna was lifted fresh from the press and taken to Moyle Primary School for their World Book Day celebrations. Thanks for having me Moyle Primary School P6s and P7s!
Friday 3rd March: Thanks to Jenni Mac on Larne Main Street for facilitating a book signing for Children of Latharna!
Saturday 4th March: Thanks to The Aroma Coffee House in Larne for the book signing opportunity and to all the youngsters who enjoyed a reading of Children of Latharna with their ice-cream!
Monday 7th March: What a great night reading from Snugville Street at Newtonbreda Library, Belfast for the Libraries NI Emerging Authors event! Thanks to the library and the other authors Lesley Allen and Helen Nicholl.
Tuesday 7th March: Thanks to Banbridge Library for the warm welcome on the Libraries NI Emerging Authors tour.
Wednesday 8th March: Did you spot any multi-talented Women Aloud NI authors in Belfast city centre? Thanks to Jane Talbot, author of The Faerie Thorn & other stories and all the other Women Aloud NI authors for a great day of readings around the city.
Thursday 9th March: It was a short walk to Larne Library for the Libraries NI Emerging Authors event with authors Lesley Allen and Helen Nicholl. Thank you to the team at Larne Library for a lovely evening.
Saturday 11th March: A fun packed day with Women Aloud NI, including readings on the Enterprise train to Dublin (and a good giggle) and a day with Dublin's literati at the Irish Writer's centre. Loved reading Snugville Street in Dublin.Thanks to all involved!
Friday 3rd March: Thanks to Jenni Mac on Larne Main Street for facilitating a book signing for Children of Latharna!
Saturday 4th March: Thanks to The Aroma Coffee House in Larne for the book signing opportunity and to all the youngsters who enjoyed a reading of Children of Latharna with their ice-cream!
Monday 7th March: What a great night reading from Snugville Street at Newtonbreda Library, Belfast for the Libraries NI Emerging Authors event! Thanks to the library and the other authors Lesley Allen and Helen Nicholl.
Tuesday 7th March: Thanks to Banbridge Library for the warm welcome on the Libraries NI Emerging Authors tour.
Wednesday 8th March: Did you spot any multi-talented Women Aloud NI authors in Belfast city centre? Thanks to Jane Talbot, author of The Faerie Thorn & other stories and all the other Women Aloud NI authors for a great day of readings around the city.
Thursday 9th March: It was a short walk to Larne Library for the Libraries NI Emerging Authors event with authors Lesley Allen and Helen Nicholl. Thank you to the team at Larne Library for a lovely evening.
Saturday 11th March: A fun packed day with Women Aloud NI, including readings on the Enterprise train to Dublin (and a good giggle) and a day with Dublin's literati at the Irish Writer's centre. Loved reading Snugville Street in Dublin.Thanks to all involved!
The first John O'Connor School, November 2016
From 6th- 9th November 2016, I had the great fortune to take part in the inaugural John O’Connor Writing School and literary arts festival, a three-day festival hosted in some of Armagh’s most historic, graceful and inspiring buildings.
The festival in John O’Connor’s name is intended to celebrate, Come Day Go Day, a novel filled with beautiful Ulster dialect and close up stills of Armagh life. Thank you to the organisers for including me and to all those who made me laugh as I read from Snugville Street.
The festival in John O’Connor’s name is intended to celebrate, Come Day Go Day, a novel filled with beautiful Ulster dialect and close up stills of Armagh life. Thank you to the organisers for including me and to all those who made me laugh as I read from Snugville Street.
Broadisland Gatherin, Ballycarry, Tuesday 30th August 2016
A fantastic evening of song and literature to mark the creativity, past and present, in Ballycarry.
Lots of laughs from presenter, Jim McGarry, readings from local writers, readings from the great works of "the Bard of Ballycarry", James Orr, and Ulster Scots music and song. Reading Snugville Street and Bully up the Brae to this audience was a pleasure!
Lots of laughs from presenter, Jim McGarry, readings from local writers, readings from the great works of "the Bard of Ballycarry", James Orr, and Ulster Scots music and song. Reading Snugville Street and Bully up the Brae to this audience was a pleasure!
Scribes at the Duncairn, August 2016
Duncairn Arts Centre sure is Belfast's spiritual centre for the arts. I would encourage anyone who hasn't been there to have a look around. It was a pleasure to meet Glen Patterson and Kevin Higgins in this Féile an Phobail event, to read a comical passage from Snugville Street and to hear about all the schemes to encourage people in marginalised areas to engage in reading and writing.
The Protestant in Irish Fiction, Shankill Road Library, 23rd June 2016
This seminar revolving around the portrayal of Ulster Protestant in Irish Literature raised some interesting questions in the Shankill area of Belfast, where guests discussed how difficult it is to find positive role models in fiction from their community and how hard it is to encourage young men from the Shankill to read and write. Thank you to Tony Macaulay for reading from Paperboy and Breadboy.
The Protestant in Irish Literature, Linen Hall Library, 7th July 2016
Protestant shame in Irish literature was a theme of this thought-provoking evening. Great readings from Tony Macaulay and a chance to showcase my own novel, Snugville Street.
The Latharna Creative Collective, May 2014
The Latharna Creative Collective is a collective of Arts professionals in the Larne area. On Saturday 14th May, an array work from many creative people was on display, from top fashion designers through to new fiction authors. There was a hearty Larne welcome for visitors to the beautifully renovated Market Yard. All in all, a fitting occasion to launch my new novel, A Belfast Tale.
Thank you to Women Aloud NI
Tuesday 8 March was truly a date to remember for Northern women, as authors and poets gathered together under the umbrella of Women Aloud NI to celebrate their literary endeavours and to raise the profile of female writers. There were tears of laughter (from me!) as I read from Snugville Street to a lively and welcoming audience in to The Playhouse. Thank you to all the organisers.