Spoken Word - Frances Browne Literary Festival

The 2024 Frances Browne Literary Festival launch

Join us as we celebrate the launch of the 2024 Frances Browne Literary Festival. With another packed programme, the 2024 event promises to be a year to remember. At the launch, we extend a special welcome to visiting professor Thomas McClean, from the University of Otago, New Zealand to open the festival and share a short talk on Frances. This is a free event and we welcome everyone to come and join us. Venue: Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar 3.00pm to 3.45pm With thanks to Donegal County Council for their continued support.

Frances Browne Art Exhibiton - Fiach Arts Circle

Local artist group, the Fiach Arts Circle, will mount its annual exhibition at the Frances Browne Literary Festival. The exhibition will run for the duration of the festival and is free to enter. Exhibition Launch at 7pm on Thursday 10th October - Free Entry Exhibition open Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th Location: Old Parish Centre, Main Street, Stranorlar - Beside St Mary's Chapel, Stranorlar.

Cheolchoirm Gaeilge/Gàidhlig - A night of song in Irish, English & Gáidhlig

Bí linn don cheolchoirm Gaeilge/Gàidhlig a chuirfidh tús le himeachtaí oíche na féile i mbliana. Is fada daoine sa cheantar seo i lár Dhún na nGall ag imeacht go, agus ag pilleadh ó, Albain agus déanfaidh Geneviève Galarneau agus aoi eile an nasc sin a cheiliúradh trí cheol as an dá thír (agus an dá theanga) a cheol ar an oíche. Join us for the Gaeilge/Gàidhlig concert that will kick off the nighttime events of this year’s festival. People in this area around Central Donegal have a long tradition of travelling to, and returning from, Scotland because of seasonal labour. Geneviève Galarneau and Róise Ní Mhurchú will celebrate this link through performing songs from both countries (and both languages) on the night. Come along and experience the music whatever your level of Irish. Venue: Balor Arts Centre, 8pm. This event will be seated cabaret style at tables.

Oil Painting Masterclass with Cornelius Browne

We're delighted to welcome painter and writer, Cornelius Browne to the 2024 Frances Browne Literary Festival When: Friday11th October, 11am to 4pm Venue: Men's Shed, Ballybofey - beside eircode F93 YV9R Tickets: available through Eventbrite link below. Limited availability - book early to avoid disappointment. Note: there will be a short break for lunch. You may bring your own or pop out to a variety of eateries and shops close by. Tea & Coffee will be provided.

Pop Up Poetry / Pop Up Litríocht

Bí le Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, agus le Dubhán Ó Longáin agus iad ag léamh dánta nuachumtha, coimisiúnaithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge, bunaithe ar chearta ainmneacha. Seo an dara huair a bheas an triúr le chéile chun na dánta a léamh. Join Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, and Dubhán Ó Longáin as they read newly composed poems, commissioned by Conradh na Gaeilge, based on language rights. This will be just the second time that the three come together to read their work. Event supported by Donegal County Council Venue: Twin Towns Community Library, The BASE, Railway Road, Stranorlar 1:30pm

Panel Discussion

Book Launch: The Risen Tree by Bernadette Gallagher

Presented in association with Poetry Ireland “The Risen Tree” is Bernadette Gallagher's debut poetry collection. It is thought-provoking contemplative poetry that touches upon themes of nature, growth, and human connection. The poems are inspired by and reference psalm verses from the Bible, giving them a devotional style. The language is simple yet evocative giving them an intimate, conversational voice. Gallagher has a strong observant eye for small details of nature, which she uses to reflect on humanity. Bernadette's collection with be introduced by friend of the Frances Browne Literary Festival, Annemarie Ní Churreáin Time: Friday 11th October, 6.30pm Venue: Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar

Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition - Awards Event, featuring Nessa O'Mahony

Renowned poet and editor Nessa O’Mahony will be the distinguished guest at the 2024 Frances Browne Literary Festival, delivering the keynote speech at the Frances Browne Poetry Awards ceremony. In her keynote address, titled "Translating Achievement into Legacy – Women Writers from the 1800s to the 2020s," O’Mahony will explore the often overlooked contributions of women writers, including Frances Browne and Margaret King Moore, and reflect on the ways we honour contemporary women writers in today’s literary landscape. Join us as we announce the winners of, and hear readings from, the winning poets in this year's multilingual poetry competition. When: Friday 11th October: 7.30pm Venue: Kee's Hotel, Main Street, Stranorlar, F93 FR9K This is a free event, but seat reservation is required as space is limited.

Creating Lives from Letters

Creative Writing Masterclass

Nature writing masterclass with Averil Meehan

The 2024 Frances Browne Lecture

Hosted by the Ballybofey, Stranorlar & District Historical Society This fascinating evening will kick off with a short talk by Douglas Bartlett, Chair, The Steinbeck Festival on "John Steinbeck's connection with the Roe Valley" Then visiting Frances Browne expert, Professor Thomas McLean, from the University of Otago in New Zealand will deliver the Frances Browne Lecture 2024, which will focus on Browne's ‘Legends of Ulster; both the legends themselves and their publication history, as well as some of the challenges of preparing a new edition of the Legends of Ulster. When: Saturday 12th October, 7.30pm Venue: Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar. Refeshments provided.

Ten9

We are delighted to welcome outstanding Tenx9 event to Donegal for the first time in 2024 as part of the Frances Browne Literary Festival. Everybody has a story. ordinary stories, extraordinary stories, stories that delight, entertain, educate, stories that make you laugh, think, hope and cry. stories are the raw material from which we live our lives. fiction is great, but tenx9 is not for fiction stories. our events are for telling real stories only. Tenx9 is a storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their own life. Venue: Balor Arts Centre, Main Street, Ballybofey Time: 8pm This is a free event, but seats must be reserved via The Balor Arts Centre website to ensure your place.

Frances Browne's Stranorlar - A walking tour

The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan

Pop Up Gaeltacht

FREE - Children's Fun Day