Seán Dunne Writers' Festival 2009
The Seán Dunne Writers' Festival 2009 ended on Saturday March 21. The organisers of the festival would like to say a Big Thank You to everyone who was involved be it on a professional, voluntary or participatory way. The good news is that plans are already underway for 2010 and we hope you will be there to join with us.

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The Young Writers’ Awards were presented on Thursday March 19 to Ciara Gorman, Luke Sheehan and Aisling Maire Finnegan.

The Mayor of Waterford Cllr. Jack Walsh presenting the 2009 Seán Dunne Young Writers' Award to Ciara Gorman of Castleknock in County Dublin.

This year’s festival featured poets, writers and journalists. Events ranged from a literary breakfast, comedy, poetry readings, workshops, and sports writing debate to performance poetry with jazz.

For more information on the festival programme contact Mary Conway.

For media enquiries contact Conor Nolan

About the Festival

Seán Dunne was a Waterford born writer. After graduating from U.C.C. he worked as a journalist with the Irish Examiner. A Literary editor and a poet, Sean had three collections of poems published. Sean passed away in 1995 at the age of 39. The Seán Dunne Writers' Festival and the Seán Dunne Young Writers' Awards are Waterford City Council's long term commemoration to one of its most creative sons.

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A Selection of events in focus...

- Friday 20th

City Archivist Donal Moore and Writer Declan Lynch at lunch discussing... You tell us! Email Conor with your caption and you could win a book token worth €25.

Siobhan Parkinson at the City Libray giving a workshop to school writers

Anthony Healy launches his new book of poetry The Sand Reckoner at Greyfriars Municipal Gallery

Sports Panal consisting of Conor O'Callaghan, Declan Lynch, Eamon Carr and Ulick O'Connor. The event was chaired by Matt Keane of WLRfm

 

Awards Night
- Thursday 19th

The Awards night was an evening of celebration with the overall Seán Dunne Award going to Ciara Gorman, a young writer from Dublin with a great future ahead of her.

Guest Speaker Celine Kiernan urged the writers to spend time honing their craft. She also said that an event, such as the Awards and the Seán Dunne Festival was a validation to the commitment of writers of all levels.

 

Luke Sheehan, National Category winner, Seán Dunne Young Writers' Awards 2009

The Mayor of Waterford Cllr. Jack Walsh presenting Aisling Maire Finnegan with the Junior 2009 Seán Dunne Young Writers' Award.

The Mayor of Waterford Cllr. Jack Walsh with the Scoil Lorcain Award Winners and headmaster Harry Flynn.

Exhibition Opening
- Wednesday 18^th

A crowd dominated by art students witnessed the first official event of the Seán Dunne Writers’ Festival in Greyfriars Municipal Gallery with the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the themes of Seán’s works.
Guest speaker – writer, poet and curator – Dennis Collins praised the artists (2^nd year graphic art students at W.I.T.) for their reading between the lines of Seán’s work so as to achieve in images an outcome representative of Seán’s thoughts.

Arts Officer for Waterford City Council Conor Nolan, Waterford City Librarian Jane Cantwell and Dennis Collins at the opening of the exhibition.