You need no better reason to visit Carlow. In the town, we have a lively and brilliant writing group, the Carlow Co-op and a most excellent librarian, John Shorthall.
John is responsible for the creation of Penfest Carlow. It is for emerging writers though any type of writer would surely enjoy the buzz about the library and town!
This year, we have drawn in Kevin Barry(Yes, I am over excited-twice in 2 months!), Nuala Ni Chonchuir(brilliant teacher and writing encourager-is this a word?)Theo Dorgan (the poet and other creative jobs which are too long to list here), Christy Neary, Dave Lordan(lovely, lovely man who writes the way we hope to) and Niamh O Connor and Ruby Barnes.
John has pushed the programme this year and my name is down!
I think Nuala’s class is booked out but check the Penfest blog here http://www.carlowlibraries.ie/penfest.html and see if you can get your name down for something!
If you can’t get in, a visit to the Visual Space/GBS Theatre and Mimosa Tapas and Wine Bar are just around the corner from the library so you might just saunter with a glass of wine and bite to eat!