The Frances Browne Literary Festival is unique in celebrating the three cultural and linguistic traditions of East Donegal. Every year our programme encapsulates elements of English, Irish and Ulster Scots. In the run up to our festival we’re highlighting events in each of the traditions, to help you find the events that interest you most. Next we’re looking at our Irish language programme.
Festival Launch Gala Event - 8pm Thursday 12th, Letterkenny
Join us at An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny for the most culturally unique event in the North West each year, featuring performers of song, drama and poetry in English, Irish and Ulster Scots. We have lots of great performances lined up for you!
Premiere: We’re very excited to present the first ever performance of work by Frances Browne spoken in Donegal Irish. Michael Doherty will read an excerpt from Frances Browne’s ‘Granny’s Wonderful Chair’ in a new translation. Frances grew up in the heart of Stranorlar surrounded by people speaking this dialect, so we’re delighted to be able to bring her most famous work to life in a language she was very familiar with and very likely spoke.
Book here
Poetry Competition Awards Evening – 8pm, Friday 13th - Stranorlar
This free event offers the chance to hear emerging voices and experienced poets all in a room together for a literary event like no other. Listen to live readings of poems in all three languages by their authors.
Book here
Ceardlann ar scíbhnoeoireacht chruthaiheach – Saturday 14th, 10am – Cloghan
Creative Writing in Irish
Presented in Irish and English. Beginners welcome. Whether you have a cúpla focail or none at all everybody is céad míle fáilte here. For our creative writing in Irish workshop we take a trip to the Donegal Gaeltacht as we join Dubhán Ó Longáin in Cloghan, just 10 minutes from Ballybofey.
As well as being a published poet and short storyist, Dubhán is an experienced Irish language teacher, leading classes in person and online with global students.
Join the discussion and learn about Irish-language poetry and Irish-language writing from last century onwards. We’ll talk about how to compose and publish Irish-language poetry (or any form of writing). Participants will have a chance to compose their own piece of work based on prompts given on the day.
Book here
Pop up Gaeltacht – 3pm, Sunday 15th - Stranorlar
Come and use your cúpla focal. Fáilte roimh gach duine. Everyone welcome! Pop up Gaeltachts are a brand new trend and offer everyone from fluent Gaeilgeorí to new learners the chance to the language in an informal and friendly social event. This is a free event. Booking not required.
More details here
Full details of our programme and how to book can be found on our website, or send us an email at info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com
About Dubhán Ó Longáin (Duane Long)
Dubhán obtained both his undergraduate and master’s degree at Ulster University, Magee Campus, before completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Belfast. He is now working towards his PhD on the Laoithe Fiannaíochta (Ossianic Lays) and specifically the orality of the lays and their role in society. His research interests include Irish folklore (particularly the Ossianic tales), the manuscript tradition and modern Irish literature.He is also a creative writer and his first collection of poetry, entitled IDEO Locator, was published by Coiscéim in 2020. He is also a writer of short stories and has contributed to the recently published, award winning anthology 'Bláth na dTulach'.
