Welcome to the Munster
Literature Centre

Founded in 1993, the Munster Literature Centre (Ionad Litríochta an Deiscirt) is a non-profit arts organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of literature, especially that of Munster. To this end, we organise festivals, workshops, readings and competitions. Our publishing section, Southword Editions, publishes a biannual journal, poetry collections and short stories. We actively seek to support new and emerging writers and are assisted in our efforts through funding from Cork City Council, Cork County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.Originally located in Sullivan's Quay, the centre moved to its current premises in the Frank O'Connor House (the author's birthplace) at 84 Douglas Street, in 2003.

In 2000, the Munster Literature Centre organised the first Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival, an event dedicated to the celebration of the short story and named for one of Cork's most beloved authors. The festival showcases readings, literary forums and workshops. Following continued growth and additional funding, the Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award was introduced in 2005, coinciding with Cork's designation as that year's European Capital of Culture. The award is now recognised as the single biggest prize for a short story collection in the world and is presented at the end of the festival.In 2002, the Munster Literature Centre introduced the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Prize, an annual short story competition dedicated to one of Ireland's most accomplished story writers and theorists. This too is presented during the FOC festival. The centre also hosts the Cork Spring Literary Festival each year, at which the Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Prize is awarded (established 2010).

Workshops are held by featured authors in both autumn and spring, allowing the general public to receive creative guidance in an intimate setting for a minimal fee. In addition, the centre sponsors a Writer in Residence each year. We invite you to browse our website for further information regarding our events, Munster literature, and other literary information. Should you have any queries, we would be happy to hear from you.

LITERARY WATERFORD

Waterford is a maritime county located in southeast Ireland boasting a rich tapestry of landscapes. It’s historic port city, Waterford City, was established by the Vikings circa 914.  The city developed behind a stone wall until its capture by the Normans in 1170, after which it thrived and became one of the most prosperous cities in Ireland.  The medieval economy, based on shipbuilding and trade, bloomed despite a piracy problem in the 16th century. 

Waterford has a rich historical past reflected in both its architecture and literature.  Featuring novelists, poets, playwrights and travel writers, it boasts some of the finest names in Irish writing, notably Molly Keane, Sean Dunne, Tom McCarthy and Dervla Murphy, along with some lesser known gems such as the Gothic writer Maria Regina Roche and the glamorous Lady Blanche Girouard.

Waterford  boasts an impressive Arts Plan aimed at promoting and encouraging local talent, particularly writing. The County Arts Office regularly issues publications, most notably the highly successful The Turning Tide, edited by Tom McCarthy, a native of Cappoquin, Co. Waterford.  The Turning Tide contains contributions in both Irish and English from well known writers such as Dervla Murphy, Anthony Summers, George O'Brien, Pádraig J. Daly & Mai O'Higgins, together with new and upcoming writers.

Waterford sub-section authored by Susan Burke-Trehy. This subsection has been grant-aided by Waterford City Council Arts Office.

LITRÍOCHT AS
GHAEILGE

Waterford boasts one of the twelve remaining Gaeltacht areas in Ireland, An Rinn, and a strong tradition of Irish language writers including Riobard Bheldon  ‘File an Chomaraigh‘ (1836 - 1914), Sean Ó Cuirrin (1894-1980), Seamus Ó Caoimh (1889-1979) and Nioclás  Tobín (1890 - 1966).  This tradition is continued in the present day with Irish language poets such as Catherine Foley, Annraoi de Paor and Áine Uí Fhoghlu. 

DONNCHA RUA MAC CONAMARA (1715 - 1810).  A native of Co. Clare, this poet is associated with Waterford after spending most of his life teaching and working in the Slíabh gCua district.  His best known work is Eachtra Ghiolla an Amaráin, an account  of one of the many Waterford people who emigrated to Newfoundland during Penal times.  Written circa 1750, the poet includes comic references to Virgil’s Aenid.  Other works include “Banchnuic Eireann Oige” which was translated by James Clarence Mangan, a Latin elegy for fellow poet Tadhg Gaelach Ó Suilleabhain (d. 1795) and a song of repentance, “An Aithrighe”.  

TADHG RUA Ó SUILLEABHAIN (1715 - 1795).  Acclaimed poet, particularly for his religious verse.  Born in Limerick, he lived in various parts of  East Cork until he settled in Dungarvan and Waterford.  He wrote numerous secular poems, the most famous being “Cúrsa na Cleire”, a celebration of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, but he is best known for his religious compositions.  Indeed, so religious was he, it is said that he died while in prayer in a church in Waterford.  His poetry was so popular, he had several editions of his Pious Miscellany (1802) in print throughout Munster.  His poetry reveals impressive mastery of language, fluency and an awareness of rhythm and word-play. 

CATHERINE FOLEY. Born in Waterford City,  her family moved to the Irish-speaking area of Ring (An Rinn) in west County Waterford when she was still in primary school. Her novellas are Sorcha sa Ghailearaí (Baile Átha Cliath, Comhar, 2002), which won an Oireachtas Literary Award, and An Cailín Rua (Comhar, 2003), which won first prize in its category at the Oireachtas Literary Awards. She is also a staff journalist at the Irish Times, and for several years has written its On The Town column, which has covered many literary events. She lives in Dublin.

Frank O'Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork, Ireland.

Tel. (353) 021 4312955, Email: munsterlit(AT)eircom(DOT)net