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April and May Course Dates for Writing for Publishing, taking place in Roscommon
Writing for Publishing is the title of a course which is taking place in Roscommon over eight weeks in April and May. It will appeal especially to authors and writers ...
Posted 20 May 2013 13:56 by Gwen Bond
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The Gathering 2013: boldly going where no gathering has gone before!
We recently received the following from Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork. They are asking all those taking part in The Gathering 2013 to upload a few photographs or short film ...
Posted 9 Feb 2013 17:04 by Gwen Bond
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Roscommon in Reflection: SiarScéal Anthology 2012 now available in all common e-book formats
SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection, which was published last year and launched at the SiarScéal Festival back in March, is now available in all common e-book formats, in ...
Posted 9 Feb 2013 17:05 by Gwen Bond
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SiarScéal Festival 2013 Programme of Events Announced
The programme of events for the seventh annual SiarScéal Festival has just been announced. The festival opens on Thursday, March 7th, 2013. The full programme details are available to download ...
Posted 1 Nov 2012 11:00 by Gwen Bond
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Roscommon in Reflection - now available in Kindle
The county of Roscommon is as good a place as any to spend a warm June bank holiday weekend. A place known for its gentle natural beauty - including the longest ...
Posted 20 May 2013 14:02 by Gwen Bond
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Mayor of Roscommon, Cllr Eugene Murphy Launches Festival and Anthology
Siarsceal Festival Launch: Roscommon County Library, Saturday 24th MarchOn behalf of the members of Roscommon County Council, I am delighted to officiate at this prestigious SiarScéal Festival and Productions ...
Posted 10 Apr 2012 15:25 by Gwen Bond
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County Librarian, Richie Farrell Welcomes All to the SiarScéal Festival 2012
County Library, Abbey Street, 24th March 2012Ladies and Gentlemen, TDs, Senator, Councillors, Colleagues, invited guests, I would like to welcome you all here this morning on behalf of Roscommon ...
Posted 10 Apr 2012 15:24 by Gwen Bond
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Sixth Annual SiarScéal Festival a Great Success
The annual SiarScéal Festival, now in its sixth year, took place over four days from 22-24th March. Even the sun came out for the proceedings which included poetry readings ...
Posted 12 Apr 2012 04:39 by Gwen McNamara Bond
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Announcing Special Offer for SiarScéal Anthology 2012
The SiarScéal Anthology is on special offer price of €10 plus P&P (€2.40 within Ireland, €4.10 overseas delivery) until the festival closing date of Sunday 25th March ...
Posted 6 Feb 2012 15:59 by Oscar Duggan
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SiarScéal Festival Weekend
All Writers taking part in the SiarScéal Festival Weekend events especially Saturday 24th March all day event, we would appreciate knowing how many people wish to attend, and are participating ...
Posted 13 Mar 2012 02:59 by Gwen McNamara Bond
posted 7 Mar 2013 05:42 by Gwen Bond
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updated 20 May 2013 13:56
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Writing for Publishing is the title of a course which is taking place in Roscommon over eight weeks in April and May. It will appeal especially to authors and writers interested in writing to and for a public audience. Roscommon County Library, Abbey Street, Roscommon Town is the venue. Commencing Thursday, 4th April the course will run every Thursday (6pm to 8pm) until 23rd May.
The aim of the course is to help prospective authors to develop their writing and presentation skills, with a view to finding publishing platforms and reaching a public audience for your work. If you are contemplating a career in writing and/or publishing this is the programme that will help you to chart your future path. But even the hobbyist writer and people who write purely for personal enjoyment will learn and gain much from this course. It may even provide an incentive to develop your skills in new directions. The course content is suitable for all ages, backgrounds, interests and specialities, experience in the related fields of writing and publishing.
In introducing course participants to both the creative and publishing aspects of the writing and literary process, we treat each as aspects of the same continuum, whose purpose is to bring authors to the attention their audience and readership. Course topics include: - Why Do We Write?
- Writing - Creativity with a Purpose
- Presentation and Design Tips
- Writing as a Career/Getting Paid to Write
- Overview of the Publishing Process
- Self-Publishing
- E-Publishing and the Rise of the E-Book
- Building and Managing your Web Presence as an author, writer, independent publisher
Full details, including course outline, times, dates and venues are available from the Writing for Publishing website (see Calendar of Events) where it is also possible to reserve a place. There is a small fee of €5 (€3 concessionary rate for students, unwaged, OAPs) for each night of the course which is payable on the door. You can also avail of an early booking discount when you pay in advance.
Run by The Manuscript Publisher, a provider of publishing services for authors, writers, independent publisher, this course is being organised with the assistance of SiarScéal, Roscommon County Library and Roscommon VEC.
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posted 9 Feb 2013 17:02 by Gwen Bond
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updated 9 Feb 2013 17:04
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We recently received the following from Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork. They are asking all those taking part in The Gathering 2013 to upload a few photographs or short film clips (2min approx.) of their respective events so that they can (and here’s the cool bit) send them into space!
‘Gathering the Gathering’, as part of The Gathering initiative Be part of the largest effort to record the pulse of a nation and leave your Gathering legacy. At the end of 2013 all of the messages will be sent into space! Gathering the Gathering is a special initiative as a way to remember the Ireland of today. We’re sending the spirit of The Gathering and Ireland into space and you can send yours too.
All you have to do to be involved is to upload a short video of your event, pictures or a message for free on www.gatheringthegathering.com at any time from the first to the last minute of 2013. Over 1700 have been uploaded so far since January 1st!
It’s far from snail mail but these postcards will take 10 years to reach their destination, an extrasolar planet called Epsilon Eridani b. As your event message and thousands of others travel through the empty depths of space you will be able to visit our website at any time from the first minute of January 2014 and track it on its journey. In 2023 the digital time capsule that stored all of the messages will be opened to reveal its contents to the world and all who participated will get a unique look back into their past and the lives of the people around them in 2013.
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posted 9 Feb 2013 16:36 by Gwen Bond
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updated 9 Feb 2013 17:05
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SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection, which was published last year and launched at the SiarScéal Festival back in March, is now available in all common e-book formats, in addition to paperback and Kindle editions which have been available until now.
The Kindle edition is on sale through Amazon ( US store and UK store as well as other Amazon sites). If you don't own a Kindle device you can purchase all the latest models through Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, or you can simply download one of the many free Kindle Apps, which make it possible to read Kindle books on your phone, laptop, PC, tablet, etc.
For other e-book formats please refer to Smashwords who distribute through all the major online retailers. Titles published on Smashwords are available to sample, download and buy in a range of common e-book formats, which can read on Kindle devices and Kindle apps but also Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, among others.
Of course the paperback edition of the anthology is still in print and available to buy online as well as in all good bookshops. RRP €12.99 plus P&P.
Both the paperback and e-book editions have been produced and made available for distribution with the assistance of The Manuscript Publisher, provider of assisted publishing services for the digital age. More information about e-publishing options for authors, writers, independent publisher is available from their website - www.TheManuscriptPublisher.com.
SiarScéal Anthology 2012:Roscommon in Reflection represents the cream of five years of submission to the Hanna Greally Literary Awards, which takes place annually in conjunction with the SiarScéal Festival. Entries are currently being accepted for this year's competition but you only have a few more days - closing date is Friday, February 15th. |
posted 25 Jul 2012 16:51 by Gwen Bond
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updated 1 Nov 2012 11:00
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The programme of events for the seventh annual SiarScéal Festival has just been announced. The festival opens on Thursday, March 7th, 2013. The full programme details are available to download here.
SiarScéal celebrates the culture and heritage of Roscommon. The Gathering is the theme for the 2013 festival: recognising and reaching out to the Irish diaspora, particularly those who originate from Roscommon.
Submissions are also being accepted for the annual Hanna Greally Literary Awards, which takes place in conjunction with the Festival. The closing date for entries is Friday, 15th February, 2013.
The full programme of events runs from March 7th - 9th (Thursday through to Sunday). It includes exhibitions that will be on display until the end of the month at Roscommon County Library, which also serves as the headquarters for the festival.
A special screening of Kanata an Irish Story will take place at the library on Friday, March 8th. It follows the lives of the Irish emigrants to Canada. Director and author, Eleanor McGrath will be present.
The formal launch of the festival will take place at 10am on Saturday, March 9th in Roscommon County Library. Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Loyola Hearn will provide the keynote address. This will be followed by the presentation of the Hanna Greally Literary Awards and the Ger Hanily Memorial Cup. The Mayor of Roscommon, Cllr. Tom Crosby will also be attending. Festival patron and Roscommon County Librarian, Richie Farrell will officiate over proceedings.
The rest of the afternoon's programme (the Roscommon Samba, starting 2pm) will consist of a lively session of open mic readings, music, dance.
Later that evening, at Gleeson's Townhouse, The Square in Roscommon, the SiarScéal International Gathering will take place consisting of a Canadian/Irish collaborative concert. Tickets for this event, which starts at 7pm, are now on sale and can be booked from this website - more information.
At last year's festival a SiarScéal anthology, Roscommon in Reflection, was launched bringing together the best in the previous five years of work submitted. Copies of this anthology are available to buy online from this website. A Kindle edition has also been produced and is available to buy on Amazon.
You can download details of the festival programme and competition guidelines for the Hanna Greally Literary Awards here.
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posted 27 May 2012 10:16 by Gwen Bond
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updated 20 May 2013 14:02
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The county of Roscommon is as good a place as any to spend a warm June bank holiday weekend. A place known for its gentle natural beauty - including the longest stretch of the River Shannon of any of the counties that it passes through - makes it a favourite destination for anglers, ramblers, outdoor enthusiasts generally.
It is not difficult to appreciate how the culture and heritage of the county is inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds, including the two majestic rivers of the Shannon and the Suck. It is after all, the birthplace of Douglas Hyde, Ireland's first president who was also a noted scholar, folklorist, linguist. Further testimony to Roscommon's fine literary calibre is contained in the SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection. A collection of writing which "emanates from Roscommon and resonates with the landscape and varied stories of Roscommon, but, like all good writing, it slips free of all boundaries and borders to speak directly to the human heart about the human condition" is how Dermot Bolger describes it. The anthology has been on sale since its launch at the sixth annual SiarScéal Festival back in March of this year. Now, in response to popular demand, a Kindle edition has been released and is available to buy on Amazon. It is priced at US$6.99 (or local currency equivalent) but as a special offer, you can download it for free over the June bank holiday weekend, from 31st May to 4th June only.
This is a special offer, unlikely to be repeated. You can download it to your Kindle, laptop, phone, e-reading device or any number of free reading apps that Amazon provide. Make sure to tell others too. This is offer is entirely without obligation. For those who do choose to avail of it, we would hope that some of you might feel inclined to Leave a Review on Amazon. We are only seeking honest reviews mind you. For better or worse, we want to know what you thought about SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection.
The Kindle edition of the SiarScéal Anthology has been published and prepared with the assistance of The Manuscript Publisher, provider of publishing solutions for print and digital media. For more about the range of services that they provide to authors, writers, independent publishers, please see their website.
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posted 10 Apr 2012 15:25 by Gwen Bond
Siarsceal Festival Launch: Roscommon County Library, Saturday 24th March On behalf of the members of Roscommon County Council, I am delighted to officiate at this prestigious SiarScéal Festival and Productions here this morning in the County Library Roscommon. This festival is now into its 6th year and it is wonderful opportunity and occasion for all involved to come together in a cultural and learning environment.
The SiarScéal collaborative is a historical, literary, bilingual festival hosted annually in County Roscommon, inspired by the culture and heritage of the county's environs, river and lakes, most notable of which are the Suck and the Shannon.
SiarScéal creates a space where each community living in and around the region can celebrate their town-land and environs through the medium of poetry, art, photography and social history. The SiarScéal Festival’s themed exhibitions, productions, and the Hanna Greally Literary Awards Competition are now an integral part of the programme and I would like to congratulate all for their entries from both the national and local level.
Participating schools and groups return annually to take an active part in the Festival’s proceedings and workshops. SiarScéal has produced to-date a Choral Cd, SiarScéal Festival Collection 08 and the Home Place in Translation in conjunction with the Irish Wheelchair Association.
This year we are proud to be associated and involved with Roscommon in Reflection, SiarScéal Anthology 2012 publication which I will launch today. This production is a living testimony and representation of the lives and history of the people of Roscommon and National writers through the medium of poetry, prose and short stories illustrated by Glinsk Artist Tom Barlow.
In his Foreword to this anthology, well-known poet, playwright, novelist, Dermot Bolger says:
"This is a book that emanates from Roscommon and resonates with the landscape and varied stories of Roscommon, but, like all good writing, it slips free of all boundaries and borders to speak directly to the human heart about the human condition."
SiarScéal is the ShannonSide Northern Sound overall Arts and Entertainment Award Winning Festival for the Shannonside region for 2010, and this honour can be contributed to the support and funding of Roscommon County Council: Library Services and SiarScéal Founder Gwen Bond. SiarScéal is sponsored also by Poetry Ireland and the Lions Club.
I would like to extend a special thanks to the SiarScéal Team: Abbey Music Director Sean Hanily, Ger Corr, and, Mary Conry Candler, in association with An Cruachán Aí, U.C.G. Orchestra, and all collaborating community groups, writers, schools, nationally and locally which continually take part in the SiarScéal annual events. I wish you all an enjoyable day.
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posted 10 Apr 2012 15:24 by Gwen Bond
County Library, Abbey Street, 24th March 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen, TDs, Senator, Councillors, Colleagues, invited guests, I would like to welcome you all here this morning on behalf of Roscommon County Council to the County Library for this the sixth incarnation of the SiarScéal Festival. I would like to extend a special welcome to the Mayor, Cllr Eugene Murphy for accepting our invitation to officially launch this Festival programme. I would like also on behalf the County Manager, Mr Frank Dawson and Director of Services, Kathleen Martin of Roscommon County Council to offer their congratulations to all involved in bringing this festival to fruition.
When we set out a few years ago to build on the further development of the Library Services one of the primary objectives was to place the service as key supporting component and an equal pillar with the economic and social and cultural planning within the County. With the further alignment of our Community, Libraries, Arts, Culture, Heritage and Tourism in the local authority environment we are bringing an ever increasing focus, direction and development to these broad cultural services. This Festival is an integral part of that programme.
Public Libraries contribute significantly to the quality of life of their communities and are a means of enrichment both through the material and information they provide and the space they make available for cultural activities of all kinds. Today’s event is a great example of that policy, which nourishes cultural expression in a local area and builds on the libraries’ core strategies in promoting reading, fostering intellectual freedom and enabling independent and lifelong learning.
Not just words but something we believe very strongly in so that the Library is not just seen as a facilitator and space for cultural activity but performs a more proactive approach in putting forward and furthering its own vital cultural agenda. This is something that is now more important than ever as we must remain resilient in our commitment to these values and finds means and methods of delivering services during a changing and difficult climate for Public Libraries.
This particular festival is testimony to that approach in that it set out to engage with and encourage participation beyond our traditional association of what the Library Service role is. This is in order to keep it alive, relevant and meaningful and that it has a place and fulfils a function.
It was established initially as part of Poetry in the Library activity and I am delighted to see that such a strong poetry influence remains part of the programme. It is important in order for a festival/event to remain vibrant and relevant that it moves on each year, adding value to its programme, embracing new concepts and trying different approaches. Support is contingent upon the capacity of people and groups to organise such events and get people involved and engaged and in that regard we have to pay recognition and to organisers and in particular Gwen Bond for her unstinting and dedication to the festival delivery.
The local authority and the Library Services are therefore pleased to be in a position to support this annual event again this year and we are equally delighted to support and see the publication of the Siarsceal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection. We considered it important to record some of the new writing that has emerged.
It is also an essential and key occasion within the calendar in providing an informal platform to showcase, energise, nurture and broaden the arena in which greater participation in the arts in all its formats can occur.
It is though your participation, interest and support that these events and programmes survive and remain relevant. I hope you all can take something from today and wish you well in the future. Richie Farrell, County Librarian Roscommon County Council
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posted 10 Apr 2012 15:21 by Gwen Bond
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updated 12 Apr 2012 04:39 by Gwen McNamara Bond
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The annual SiarScéal Festival, now in its sixth year, took place over four days from 22-24th March. Even the sun came out for the proceedings which included poetry readings, music, art, cinema, workshops and much more.
Part of the Festival proceedings include the annual Hanna Greally Literary Awards. Richie Farrell and Cllr Eugene Murphy, Roscommon's County Librarian and Mayor respectively presided over the award-giving ceremonies.
Also included in the programme was the launch of the SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection which celebrates five years of work submitted to the Hanna Greally awards. The Mayor paid tribute to the anthology and congratulated all involved, describing it as a work of great literary merit and also an endorsement of Roscommon's standing as a leading heritage county. The anthology is available to buy online.
SiarScéal founder Gwen Bond officiated over ceremonies with Sean Hanily MC, Director of Abbey Music, managing the days events. The formal part of the Festival was bought to a conclusion on Saturday night with a concert recital by NUI Galway Chamber Orchestra. Those not exhausted by the proceedings took part in an early morning heritage tour the following day, starting out at the Cruachan Aí Centre.
A short video by Oscar Duggan of The Manuscript Publisher, showcases the rich diversity of talent that was on display over the four days.
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posted 3 Feb 2012 06:31 by Oscar Duggan
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updated 6 Feb 2012 15:59
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The SiarScéal Anthology is on special offer price of €10 plus P&P (€2.40 within Ireland, €4.10 overseas delivery) until the festival closing date of Sunday 25th March. Order here.
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posted 2 Feb 2012 09:54 by Oscar Duggan
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updated 13 Mar 2012 02:59 by Gwen McNamara Bond
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All Writers taking part in the SiarScéal Festival Weekend events especially Saturday 24th March all day event, we would appreciate knowing how many people wish to attend, and are participating in the SiarScéal Choral Recital and Readings. You can confirm by calling The SiarScéal committee box number 0872628191, or emailing us at:siarsceal@live.ie: Library Events are free. UCI-GALWAY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT KING HOUSE BOYLE MARCH 24TH 8PM The evening Concert which was to be held in St. Comans Church, Roscommon has changed venue: The Concert will take place in King House Boyle featuring UCI-Galway Chamber Orchestra and a Choral Recital with local writers and CBS students. Admission Fee is €10. Tickets are for sale at: Unabhan Craft Shop, Ph: 071-966-3033. by emaling siarsceal@live.ie. Remaining Tickets will be sold at King House on the night of the performance from 7.30pm at the door.
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