Quite recently PEN International upgraded their website , with a new structure and media centre,   all the usual PEN  links for those who wish read on issues of advocacy and freedom of speech are carried on the new site. The whole encompasses a variety of interests for our Irish PEN members, who will be interested in [...]

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Irish PEN was delighted to host a reading by Hugo Hamilton last month. The renowned author read from his new book Hand in the Fire. He spoke of the challenges of fictionalising and noted the theme of the outsider and acceptance within a culture recurs in his work. We learned too that the wonderful photo [...]

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  Shane and Vanessa O’Loughlin Senator David Norris acclaiming Brendan Kennelly, before Anne Hartigan and Brendan Kennelly Brendan Kennelly Anne Hartigan, Brendan Kennelly and Senator David Norris Blessed is Brendan among women, at the Irish PEN dinner and award, January 2010

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Words by Joe Armstrong, Photo by Caroline Brady Brendan Kennelly is probably the best-loved figure in Irish public life, said Senator David Norris, speaking at the Irish PEN award ceremony on Friday 29th January 2010.  He described Kennelly as one of the world’s greatest teachers. In a funny and entertaining speech that had the captive audience [...]

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Last year, Roddy Doyle was the popular winner of the Irish PEN award for literature in January 2009.

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