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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.
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.
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FRANK MCCOURT

Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Limerick. He emigrated back to the United States to study at New York University. After graduating with a masters from Brooklyn College, he taught high school English. McCourt was awarded the a Teacher of the Year Prize in 1976. He received the 1997 Pulitzer Prize and 1996 National Book Critics Circle Award for his memoir Angela’s Ashes (1996, Scribner). His other books include ‘Tis (1999, Scribner) and Teacher Man (2005, Scribner). The University of Western Ontario awarded him an honorary degree in 2002. He co-authored the stage play A Couple of Blaggards with his brother, Malachy McCourt. Frank McCourt was a member of the National Arts Club. He passed away at the age of 78 in New York, where he had been living and working for many years.
Author Links
Interview: Joseph Krutov and Frank McCourt (about Teacher Man)
Frank McCourt Biography (Wikipedia)
Interview: Jay MacDonald and Frank McCourt, Hard Lessons
Frank McCourt (Google Books)
YouTube: Frank McCourt talks to Charlie Rose's guest host Calvin Trillin
Irish Examiner Obituary
Guardian Obituary |
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Read Southword Journal

Issue 21A now online!
Seán Ó Faoláin
Short Story
Competition

Now open!
Pre-book Festival
Writing
Workshops
at the MLC

4 Day Story
Workshops Coming
This September
Poetry International.org
 
MLC produces the Irish section of this prestigious poetry site.
Current poets: John F. Deane & Michael D. Higgins
www.poetryinternational.org
Best Irish Poetry in English 2010

Visit our bookstore here.
Festivals

The Munster Literature Centre hosts two annual festivals. The larger Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival takes place each September, while the Cork Spring Literary Festival, with varying themes, is presented each spring. Further information is available on our drop down menus.
Munster Literature Centre
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