Carlow Libraries: Pen Fest Report

Carlow County Library

Carlow Library's writing and literary festival

Pen Fest Poster

From humble beginnings in 2010, Pen Fest, Carlow Library's writing and literary festival has grown year on year to become a weekend full of promise and reward for those interested in the art of creative writing. This year's festival strove to build on the success of previous years and fulfilled expectations with a weekend of song, fun, expression and of course some serious writing. Since its inception, Carlow Central Library has hosted many leading lights in Ireland's literary world as part of the festival including screenwriter Ferdia MacAnna, journalist Sue Leonard, Impac winner Kevin Barry and poet and social commentator Theo Dorgan among many other experts in the field. Pen Fest 2014 proved to be no different.

The festival opened with a sublime evening of music and song with The Bookshop Band. Band members Ben, Beth and Poppy who all hail from Bath and are attached to Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights, enthralled their audience with songs inspired and written about books. The band's unique and novel way of presenting literature was complemented by a beautiful, vibrant and colourful exhibition of paintings in the George Bernard Shaw Room by self taught artist Tony Oakey. Fresh from exhibitions in Clonmel and the Kilkenny Arts Festival, Tony's work provided the perfect backdrop and inspiration for the writing workshops which took place over the festival weekend.

Pen Fest 2014 was slightly different than previous years. For the first time, a full day workshop for teenagers was provided in Carlow Library with dynamic poet, author and creative writing tutor Dave Lordan. Dave who featured in last years festival gave an engaging, challenging and energetic class on creative writing to a group of enthusiastic young people, some of whom completed a writing programme during the year with The Vault and Carlow Youth Services.

The weekend workshops for emerging adult writers were also a huge success. Karl Parkinson, a writer and poet from Dublin guided beginners in creative writing towards find their 'voice' and Jessica Traynor, poet, dramaturg and teacher encouraged emerging authors to 'get writing' in her workshop on the final day of the festival.

To find our more about Carlow Libraries Pen Fest, please see the Carlow Libraries website.