The Western Writers Centre

At Teach an Phiarsaigh, Rosmuc, Connemara, a modest but interested group assembled to hear Carna poet Seosaimh O Guairim and poet Dairena Ni Chinnéide, from Corca Dhuibhne, read from their work. It was a warm and overcast afternoon, with a hint of damp in the bushes. Pádraig Pearse’s one-time cottage gleamed whitely against the gorse and rocks. The readings were introduced by Western Writers’ Centre Chairperson, Aoife Nic Fhearghusa and recorded for Riadio na Gaeltachta, under the Writers’ Centre banner, were part of the Cúirt Literature Festival.

- poetry and revolution: Pearse’s Cottage, Rosmuc, Connemara.

- Seosaimh O Guairim introduced by Aoife Nic Fhearghusa; (below) poets in waiting: Seosaimh O Guairim (left) with actor and writer Diarmuid de Faoite;

- visionary: Dairena Ni Chinnéide: (last photo): Dairena Ni Chinnéide with Galway Arts Centre Director Pádraic Breathnach -

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Literary life seems to have come to an abundance in Kinvara, Co. Galway, where novelist Jennifer Johnston read recently and now American poet and literary scholar, Richard Tillinghast has just launched a new collection of poems, The New Life, which takes its title from Dante’s commemoration of courtly love, La Vita Nuova. Johnston’s Hostel, in Kinvara’s climbing main street, hosted the evening, which was sponsored by Galway County Council.

- the music of poetry: Clare Sawtell (left) with Mary O’Sullivan, marking the event with music and song.

Richard Tillinghast is no stranger to Kinvara and lived there for some time. He remarked that music with poetry made a space in which one could enhance the listening to the other. Musicians Mary O’Sullivan and Clare Sawtell played for the evening. An old friend, historian and writer Jeff O’Connell, launched the new collection and spoke of knowing Tillinghast in the village over the years.

- remembering things passed: Galway Advertiser columnist and historian Jeff O’Connell

Poets, musicians and visual artists turned up to hear a reading of a selection of poems. Our thanks to the proprietors of Johnston’s Hostel, Kinvara, and to Arts Officer Marilyn Gaughan at Galway County Council.

Of things new and musical: Richard Tillinghast reading from his new collection of poems, The New Life, at Kinvara, Co. Galway. A review of his new collection will appear shortly in ‘Kiosque!’ -

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It is with sorrow that we learned today of the death on Sunday of poet and writer, Robert Greacen, aged 87. The Western Writers’ Centre wishes to extend our condolences to his relatives and friends.

        For my own part, I knew Robert over a period of years and read with him in Poitiers and in Paris. He was a gentleman of the old school, wearing a scholarly elegance and sense of ordinary manners. He had known great writers in his time, yet he remained modest, even, perhaps, shy. At his neat apartment in Sandymount, he would entertain in lively fashion with tea, conversation, literary news. And he was also witty, a sharp observer of human nature. We talked about books and occasionally exchanged books; he was an insightful and fair reviewer. With his passing goes yet another living connection to a very different, and arguably more discerning, literary age. Anyone who knew him came away the richer; by anyone who knew him, he will be missed deeply.

- Fred Johnston.

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