The Western Writers Centre

Our Manager is poet, critic and fiction writer Fred Johnston. Fred founded Galway’s annual Cúirt festival in 1986 and initiated the Writers’ Centre. He has published eight collections of poetry, two novels and a collection of short stories. His New and Selected Poems: Being Anywhere was recently published by Lagan Press. He has reviewed poetry for Poetry Ireland and The Irish Times and taught creative writing at NUIG. He has lectured and read widely, in this country and in France; his newest novel is published in both English and French, ‘Mapping God/Tracé de Dieu’. He has given papers at the university of Poitiers and to the John Hewitt School, Armagh, on the development and engagement of contemporary Irish literature. He has written extensively for radio. Translations from the French of Babacar Sall and Michel Martin have appeared in the Irish Translator’s Association magazine and The Shop. He received a Prix de l’Ambassade in 2000 and is the recipient of bursaries from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council of the Republic. Most recently, he was the 2004 Writer-in-Residence to the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco.
Marvelle Maguire is the Centre’s Public Relations and Promotions Officer. She is responsible for press and media relations and information on activities at the Centre.

The Western Writers’ Centre - Ionad Scribhneoiri Chaitlin Maude - Galway, Rep. of Ireland.

Among our various literary events has been the staging of a weekend winter school, Scoil Gheimridh Chaitlín Maude, during the last weekend in November to commemorate Galway poet Caitlín Maude after whom the centre is named.

We have run a Literature In The Workplace programme in workplaces around Galway City. (Taken up by employees of Galway County Council at prospect Hill, Galway)

Our outreach work has included running a poetry workshop with the National Training and Development Institute and a Folklore and Writing Group with the Galway Travellers’ Support Group

We facilitate a free daytime Diverse Writers Group every Thursday afternoon (starting at 2pm) here at 34 Nuns Island, Galway. We also run a general Writers’ Group each Wednesday at the same time.

We have organised workshops in Scriptwriting, Short Story Writing and Publishing Your Poetry and plan to organise workshops in every aspect of fiction and poetry writing. New workshops and courses are planned continually.

We run a manuscript service for poets and fiction writers, including constructive criticism and advice on publication in a detailed written report delivered confidentially.

We offer a wide variety of information for writers seeking publication, including a list of all the main Irish magazines publishing poetry and fiction.

We have modest library of literary magazines here at 34 Nuns Island, from which writers are welcome to borrow.