Munster Express Online

The programme for the Seán Dunne Writers Festival 2009 is now available and this year’s festival features an exciting line up of poets, writers and journalists. Events range from a literary breakfast, comedy, poetry readings, workshops, sports writing debate to performance poetry with jazz.
The festival runs from March 19th to the 21st and tickets are available from the Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford, contact 051 849975.
Events on Thursday 19th March include readings by best selling novelists Paul Carson and Tara Heaveyin Central and Ardkeen libraries . The Seán Dunne Young Writers Awards will be presented at the opening of the festival in City Hall where author Celine Kiernan will give a keynote speech.  Following the opening  Tramore Writers Group read from their work in the Tower Hotel  and an Open Mic session follows .
Friday 20th provides opportunities to hear poetry from Conor O’Callaghan, Macdara Woods, Anthony Healy in Greyfriars Gallery , Jim O’Donnell, Teri Flynn, and Anthony O’Neill in Central Library . The sports writing debate in the Tower Hotel  on Friday evening between Eamon Carr, Ulick O’Connor, Conor O’Callaghan, Declan Lynch chaired by WLR FM’s Matt Keane is an event not to be missed and the evening rounds off with a “stand up reading” session from comic and best selling author A.L. Kennedy.
The Literary Breakfast on Saturday 21st  gives  the opportunity to hear Peter Cunningham and Ellen McCarthy, two of Waterford’s best selling authors, read from their new works while enjoying a full Irish breakfast  in the Tower Hotel . Mid morning a celebration of Sean Dunne’s work takes place in Scoil Lorcain , St. Johns Park and also provides an opportunity to see the photographic exhibition created by local school children in conjunction with the festival. Poetry and creative writing workshops take place on Saturday afternoon and we also have a opportunity to hear some of the latest crop of young Waterford writers read from their work at Waterford Youth Arts in the Arch in the afternoon. Other events on Saturday include talks in the Central Library  from journalists Michael Kelly on sustainable living and Anthony Healy on the changes in journalism as we know it.
Poet Tom Paulin gives a rare reading of his work on Saturday evening and we finish off the festival with a lively performance poetry session from Eamon Carr and Raven accompanied on sax and guitar by Richie Buckley and Hugh Buckley.
Tickets are available for all events from Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford ,ph 051 849975 and further details are on www.seandunne.ie.
Brochures are available in Central, Ardkeen and Browns Road  libraries, City Hall, Greyfriars Gallery, Tower Hotel and other outlets around town.