Creative writing classes in Clare during May

A NUMBER OF free creative writing classes across Clare will take place in May to mark Ireland's national celebration of the arts, Bealtaine.

Supported by Creative Ireland, Kilrush Library will play host to a creative writing course on Wednesday, May 10 and the following Wednesday, May 17.

These will take place between 11am and 1.30pm.

A memoir writing course, meanwhile, is being hosted in Ennis library on every Monday morning in May, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Author Dermot Hayes, whose memoir The Road that Rises - a Boy from Kels was just released will read excerpts from his book.

It will be followed by a talk on memoir writing, where he will be joined by Breda Shannon.

Three Clare libraries will play host to this: Ennis Library on Thursday, May 18, Scariff Library on Thursday, May 25 and Ennistymon Library on Tuesday, May 30.

All these sessions will take place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

Another author, Colm Liddy, will host a talk in Shannon Library on Tuesday, May 9 at 6.30pm.

He'll talk about the life and times of Clare native and Cumann an mBan member, Nan Hogan.

And there is an intergenerational art exhibition created by students of St Joseph's Secondary School in Tulla, alongside members of the town's older community in its library throughout the month.

Clare County librarian, Helen Walsh, said: “We are delighted to participate in the Bealtaine Festival each year and provide opportunities to create meaningful participation for older people in cultural and creative life. We also welcome the opportunity to support the careers of older professional artists and authors and offer them more opportunities to develop and showcase their work.”