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SiarScéal Festival 2016

- programme of events, including book launch -

Posted 22 Sep 2016, 19:01

SiarScéal Festival 2016 will take place on Friday and Saturday 7-8 October, in Roscommon Town. The late Hanna Greally, author of Bird's Nest Soup, will be honoured at this year's festival, which will also see the launch of a new anthology, Centenary in Reflection, produced by SiarScéal writers from Ireland and abroad.

The official launch of the two-day event will be presided over by Cllr Tony Ward, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council. This will take place in the Fortfield Suite of the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon Town and will include readings from winners and participating schools in the Hanna Greally Literary Awards, which were adjudicated by Ann Joyce.

In the afternoon, Lunatic There I Go, a Floating World Theatre Company presentation will offer a dramatic and spoken word interpretation of the world of Hanna Greally - a story that is guaranteed to spark an response in every audience.

The following day, Saturday 8 October, Roscommon County Library HQ provides the venue for the launch of Centenary in Reflection, an anthology of poetry, prose, short stories, charting and celebrating the events that have made up the last 100 years, following the journey of a nation re-birthed through rebellion.

Roscommon County Council Arts Officer, Mary Mullins and acting County Librarian, Mary Butler will formally launch the anthology. The evening will also see the presentation of the Ger Hanily Memorial Cup, an annual award for literary achievement that forms part of the festival. Recitals from guest authors - including Ann Joyce, Mary Branley, Mary Melvin Geoghegan, Mary Guckian, Kieran Furey - will round off the evening that will also feature an Open Mike session, for anyone else who would like to take part. Refereshments will also be provided.

Further information about SiarScéal, including the festival programme of events, is available from their website, where copies of Centenary in Reflection, along with other SiarScéal publications, are available to buy online, in print and e-book editions.