Irish Pen.com

Calling a halt to the killings in Syria, letter to the Irish Times.

Christine Murray — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:13:17 +0000

The following letter was published in the Irish Times on the 28th of April 2012.

Sir, – Credible reports that Syrian security forces have murdered people who have had contact with UN monitors represent a challenge to all of us. The United Nations acts in our name. If silence represents complicity in the face of crimes against humanity, allowing the UN to be used to select people for summary execution makes us even more culpable, unless we take action to stop the killing.The UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, even before these most recent crimes, had called for the referral of the Assad regime to theInternational Criminal Court.

In the light of the string of recent atrocities, that makes a mockery of efforts to secure peace in Syria, surely the Dáil and Seanad will demand such action in an urgent resolution, and request the Minister for Foreign Affairs to seek to lobby the Security Council to act.

Thousands have died as tanks and artillery have indiscriminately shelled besieged cities and snipers have targeted peaceful protesters. But the most egregious aspect of the Assad regime’s response has been the callous and indiscriminate targeting of children.

Lois Whitman, children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch, has stated: “Syrian security forces have killed, arrested, and tortured children in their homes, their schools, or on the streets. In many cases, security forces have targeted children just as they have targeted adults.. It’s clear from the brutal methods used against children that Syrian security forces show child detainees no mercy . . . We fear that children will continue to face horrendous punishment in detention until Syrian officials understand they will pay a price for such abuse.”

If we fail to act, we may condemn thousands, including who knows how many children, to torture and death. The heart-rending memorial on April 6th in Sarajevo commemorating the outbreak of war, and which highlighted the deaths of more than 1,000 children in the indiscriminate slaughter of the siege, is a compelling reminder of how real that threat is in Syria. – Yours, etc,

RONAN TYNAN; RANA KABBANI (Syrian Writer Broadcaster); CHRISTINE MURRAY (Web Master – Irish Pen); VALERIE HUGHES; Dr BRONAGH CATIBUSIC; MIRZA CATIBUSIC; BRENDAN SIMMS, (Author, Unfinest Hour: Britain and the Destruction of Bosnia); GERALDINE MITCHELL; MICHAEL McLOUGHLIN (International Sec., Labour Party); GARRET TANKOSIC-KELLY (Former UN Resident Representative); FARUK KLEPO; PETER WALSH; ELVEDINA DIZDAREVIC and JOHN FEIGHERY.

(from , The Irish Times , 28/04/2012)

A letter from our membership secretary.

Christine Murray — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:24:38 +0000

- The Irish PEN AGM takes place at the UAC at 7p.m., Thursday May 10th -
– Members’ news – send us news of this year’s publications, launches and events -
– Writing Memoir event: 8p.m. at the UAC on Thursday, May 10th -

Emer Liston , Irish PEN Membership Secretary

” We have had a very eventful and successful year at Irish PEN. From our first event after the summer, Writing for children and young people, through to our Annual PEN Award Dinner at which Joseph O’Connor’s outstanding achievement in literature was marked by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, we’ve enjoyed great company and rich discussion about the work of writing in Ireland today.

At our most recent event, we enjoyed the company of Morgan Llewellyn and Orna Ross in an evening of stories and insight into Historical Fiction and a feast of talent is in store on the 10th of this month, when we look at Writing Memoir, with Molly McCloskey, Lia Mills, Sheila Maher and John MacKenna. This event is proving very popular, and you can conveniently book your place online by clicking here.

Our news section in www.irishpen.com will keep you up to date on our participation in campaigns and letters to publications here in Ireland, including our campaign on blasphemy, and correspondence calling for action in Syria, published in last weekend’s Irish Times. Meanwhile, please let us know about your news this year – we are compiling our latest newsletter and wish to feature and promote new publications, launches and the successes of all members and associates of PEN.

Finally, and most importantly, our AGM takes place immediately before our Writing Memoir event, at 7 p.m. on May 10th, at the United Arts Club. All members are most welcome to attend.

We look forward to meeting you next Thursday, and hearing your news.”

Warmest regards,
Emer Liston, Membership Secretary at Irish PEN.

Details of our Next Event are carried on our homepage and at this link http://www.irishpen.com/wordpress/our-next-irish-pen-event/

Irish PEN membership and renewal details are available here

European Writers’ Meeting in Wroclaw , April 20th to 22nd 2012.

Christine Murray — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:38:24 +0000

Port Literary Festival logo and site

The Port Literary Festival 2012 will welcome two Irish Poets to read in Wroclaw. I am adding here the site links for interested members and associates of Irish PEN. The link can be translated via the translate button which appears on the top-bar of the Port site. http://www.portliteracki.pl/festiwal/

“This year we will host two great Irish poets: Leontia Flynn and Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin. They will come to Wroclaw to present poems, which were translated and published in an anthology of Irish poetry published this year by Biuro Literackie.

We would be really pleased if the Irish Pen (Association of Irish Writers) would be willing to assist us in promoting this event abroad Poland.”

We think that Irish poetry shall be better known here in Poland and we would be happy to cooperate with you in this matter.

More information about the festival and poets is available at link : http://www.portliteracki.pl/festiwal/

Port LITERACKI 2012
17. European Writers’ Meeting
Studio Na Grobli, Na Grobli 30/32, Wrocław
20-22 April 2012

Friday 20.04.2012

18:00 Krystyna MIŁOBĘDZKA
Meeting with the poet and reading from her new book of poems dwanaście wierszy w kolorze. Premieres of two titles: an anthology of plays Gdzie baba siała mak and a collection of critical texts, sketches and interviews with and about the poet Wielogłos. Krystyna Miłobędzka w recenzjach, szkicach, rozmowach.

19:30 6 POETS FROM IRELAND
Reading from an anthology of poems by 6 Irish poets Sześć poetek irlandzkich: Leontia Flynn, Medbh McGuckian, Paula Meehan, Sinéad Morrissey, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill translated by Jerzy Jarniewicz. Meeting with the translator and two special festival guests from Ireland: Leontia Flynn and Eiléan NÍ Chuilleanáin.

21:00 Jane BOWLES and Laura (RIDING) Jackson
Reading from a book by Jane Bowles Dwie poważne damy. W letnim domku (Two Serious Ladies. In the Summerhouse) translated by Andrzej Sosnowski and two books with selected works by Laura (Riding) Jackson: Korona dla Hansa Andersena. Utwory wybrane: opowiadania and Obroty cudów. Utwory wybrane: wiersze i eseje translated by Julia FIEDORCZUK. Meeting with the translators.

22:30 SHOOT A POEM
Screenings of short films from the competition “Shoot a Poem” for the best film adaptation of Krystyna Miłobędzka’s poem and the awards ceremony.

Saturday 21.04.2012

14:00 THE CATCH 2011
Reading from the book Połów. Poetyckie debiuty 2011. Meeting with the budding poets: Kamil BREWIŃSKI, Maciej BURDA, Szymon DOMAGAŁA-JAKUĆ, Katarzyna FETLIŃSKA, Jakub GŁUSZAK, Grzegorz JĘDREK, Katarzyna KACZMAREK, Adrian SINKOWSKI, Maciej TARANEK, and Joanna ŻABNICKA.

15:00 James SCHUYLER and Ezra POUND
Reading from selected poems by James Schuyler Trzy poematy translated by Marcin Sendecki, Andrzej SOSNOWSKI and Bohdan ZadurA as well as a collection of poetic texts by Ezra Pound Wiersze, poematy i Pieśni translated by Leszek Engelking. Meeting with the translators.

16:30 BALLA and Andrij BONDAR
Reading from books by Balla, Świadek and Podszepty, translated by Jacek Bukowski as well as Andrij Bondar’s Historie ważne i nieważne translated by Bohdan Zadura. Meeting with two special festival guests from Slovakia and Ukraine, and the translators.

18:00 Urszula KOZIOŁ, Jacek ŁUKASIEWICZ and Janusz STYCZEŃ
Reading from new books by three Wrocław poets: Fuga (1955-2010), Stojąca na ruinie and Furia instynktu.

19:30 Edmund WHITE
Reading from books by Edmund White: Hotel de Dream, Zapominanie Eleny (Forgetting Elena), Zuch (A Boy’s Own Story) translated by Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczyński, Andrzej Sosnowski, Jerzy Jarniewicz. Meeting with the special festival guest from the United States and the translators.

21:00 John ASHBERY and John CAGE
Reading from selected poems by Johna Ashbery Cztery poematy and John Cage’s Przeludnienie i sztuka translated and presented by Andrzej Sosnowski.

22:30 MUSIC FROM BOOKS
Concert given by the Avant-garde Orchestra of Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wroclaw “Sound Factory Orchestra”.

Sunday 22.04.2012

14:00 Tadeusz NOWAK, Maria PAWLIKOWSKA-JASNORZEWSKA, Władysław SEBYŁA
Reading from books with selected poems by three classic Polish authors: Psalmy i inne wiersze, Seans na dnie morza and Dialog w ciemności published in the “44. Polish Poetry Revisited” series. Meeting with the authors of the selections: Bohdan Zadura, Marta PODGÓRNIK and Wojciech Bonowicz.

15:00 Justyna BARGIELSKA, Jacek DEHNEL and Dariusz SUSKA
Reading from new poetic books by the three authors: Bach for my baby, Rubryki strat i zysków and Duchy dni.

16:30 Gottfried BENN and Bertolt BRECHT
Reading from selected works by Gottfried Benn Nigdy samotniej i inne wiersze (1912-1955) translated by Jacek St. Buras, Zdzisław Jaskuła, Andrzej Kopacki, Sława Lisiecka, Tomasz Ososiński and selected poems by Bertolt Brecht Ten cały Brecht translated by Jacek St. Buras, Jakub EKIER, Andrzej Kopacki and Piotr Sommer. Meeting with the translators.

18:00 Tadeusz PIÓRO, Marcin SENDECKI and Eugeniusz TKACZYSZYN-DYCKI
Reading from new poetic books by the three poets: O dwa kroki stąd (1992-2011), Farsz and Imię i znamię.

19:30 Laurie Anderson
Reading from selected works by Laurie ANDERSON Język przyszłości translated by Julia Fiedorczuk. Meeting with the special festival guest from the United States and the translator.

Open afternoon for writers on Saturday 31st March at the Irish Writers Centre

Christine Murray — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:42:02 +0000

Organised by the Irish Writers Union

Free Open Afternoon Workshops

All are welcome

When : 2-4:30pm, Saturday 31 March

Where : Irish Writers Centre

19 Parnell Square,

.Dublin 2

.
2- 2:30 LECTURE: ‘Copyright Law in Ireland’

A talk by Ronan Sheehan, novelist and solicitor, co-founder of Irish Writers Co-op.

2:30-2:45 – questions and comments from the attendees; organise workshops

3 -3:45 pm – WORKSHOPS : join a facilitated workshop on one of the following:

A. Children’s Literature – facilitated by Conor Kostick

B. Irish Language Writing- facilitated by Alan Titley

C. Pros and Cons of Internet publishing/social media/blogs for writers – facilitated by Chris Murray, webmaster for PEN

D. Performance poetry and innovative forms of writing – facilitated by poet Máighréad Medbh

3:45-4pm each group sum up the key discussion points and any conclusions

4-4:30pm: Brief reports back from workshops to total group

This event is organised by the Irish Writer’s Union and is an open event, for more information please contact : Irish Writers’ Union, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

PH 086 233 00 84

Email , iwu@ireland-writers.com

Updates from the Copyright Review Committee 2012

Christine Murray — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:36:23 +0000

“As the title of the post says, this post has three updates about the work of the Copyright Review Committee. First, following a large number of requests for an extension of time to reply to the Committee’s Consultation Paper, the Committee has decided to extend the deadline for receipt of submissions to 5.00pm on Thursday 31 May 2012. Second, the text to three of the questions on the first page of the Committee’s online questionnaire has been updated to confirm that certain information provided by respondents (such as postal address, email address, and website) will not be published.”

Those members and associates of Irish PEN with an interest in the work of the Copyright Review Committee 2012 should take note that the deadline for submissions has been extended to May the 31st 2012.

Links and Information regarding how to submit and upcoming public meetings on copyright reform is available here ,

email the Review,
write to Copyright Review, Room 517, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, or
complete the Committee’s online questionnaire and answer the last question by confirming that you wish to attend the meeting.

The bulk of information and links to this review are constantly updated in the Cearta.ie website http://www.cearta.ie/

A Poem by Tal Al-Mallouhi for International Women’s Day 2012

Christine Murray — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:01:36 +0000

You will remain an example

(For Gandhi)

I will walk with all walking people
And no
I will not stand still
Just to watch the passers by
This is my Homeland
In which
I have
A palm tree
A drop in a cloud
And a grave to protect me

This is more beautiful
Than all cities of fog
And cities which
Do not recognise me
My master:
I would like to have power
Even for one day
To build the “republic of feelings.”

(Translated by Ghias al-Jundi)

http://www.englishpen.org/international-womens-day-take-action-for-women-writers-around-the-world/

Syria – Tal al-Mallouhi

Tal al-Mallouhi is a young poet who was only 19 years old when she was arrested in her home city of Homs more than two years ago in December 2009. She was sentenced to five years in prison in February 2011, convicted of spying for a foreign country. She is still in prison, with little access to her family – a situation aggravated by the recent conflict. She had no political affiliations but she had published comments and poetry on line. For more on her case read this PEN alert. http://www.englishpen.org/syria-blogger-and-poet-sentenced/

Celebrate women-writers at PEN International’s link , http://www.pen-international.org/03/2012/in-celebration-of-women-writers/

The Copyright Review Committee publishes a Consultation Paper on copyright and innovation and calls for further submissions

Christine Murray — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:23:00 +0000

The Copyright Review Committee has today published a wide-ranging Consultation Paper (PDF, 1.4MB) which examines the current Copyright legislative framework to identify any areas of the legislation that might be deemed to create barriers to innovation.

The fundamental aim of this Paper is to begin the process of sketching reforms to Irish copyright law to further innovation without denying protection to those who need copyright law to innovate.

The Copyright Review Committee was established on 9^th May 2011 by Mr Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with the following terms of reference:

Examine the present national Copyright legislation and identify any areas that are perceived to create barriers to innovation.
Identify solutions for removing these barriers and make recommendations as to how these solutions might be implemented through changes to national legislation.
Examine the US style ‘fair use’ doctrine to see if it would be appropriate in an Irish/EU context.
If it transpires that national copyright legislation requires to be amended but cannot be amended, (bearing in mind that Irish copyright legislation is bound by the European Communities Directives on Copyright and Related Rights and other international obligations) make recommendations for changes to the EU Directives that will eliminate the barriers to innovation and optimise the balance between protecting creativity and promoting and facilitating innovation.

More information on consultation , fair use and copyright reform submissions are available at, http://www.djei.ie/science/ipr/crc_statement.htm

Gernika at 75 years , a note from Euskal PEN

Christine Murray — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:17:01 +0000

Guernica,1937 , by Pablo Picasso, copyright the Picasso Estate

26 April 2012 will be the 75th anniversary of the bombing of the town of Gernika, Spain, by the Nazi Legion-Condor aiding General Franco against the democratic Republic.

Basque PEN Club invites writers all around the world to send us poems to remember Gernika and ‘Other Gernikas’, as the Remembrance Day has been declared. Poems related to Gernika or other Gernikas around the world should be sent before 31 March, in the original language and a translation into Basque, English, German, French or Spanish; a short introduction of the author or the poem is welcomed. Poems will be published and read during the Remembrance Day Events. Send your poems to pen@euskalpen.org or Euskal PEN/Basque PEN

Agoitz Plaza, 1
E48015 Bilbao
Basque Country

International PEN , http://www.pen-international.org/02/2012/gernika-remembrance-day-poetry-appeal/

Euskal PEN Clubba , http://www.euskalkultura.com/noticias/la-asociacion-euskal-pen-klub-invita-a-enviar-poemas-sobre-el-75-aniversario-del-bombardeo-de-gernika?language_sync=1

Joseph O Connor’s speech at the 2012 Irish PEN Award and Dinner.

Christine Murray — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:24:01 +0000

Remarks by Joseph O’Connor at presentation of Irish PEN Award, Friday 10th February, Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

“A Úachtaráin, agus a chairde,

I sincerely thank President Higgins for the warmth and encouragement of his words, and for the honour he does us by his presence here this evening. I know I’m far from alone when I say that in a troubled time for so many of us, for our families and our loved ones, it has been a source of hope that we can elect as President of our republic a fellow citizen who inspires such genuine respect and affection, a voice all his public life to those who were powerless, a President in whom we see the values of imagination and intellect that still make Ireland a special place. We are proud of you, President, proud of your integrity, and deeply proud that you are one of us, an Irish writer.

It’s a wonderful honour to win this award. My eleven-year-old son James told me once, when he won a prize at school, that the nicest thing about getting a prize is remembering it some time afterwards, maybe on a rainy day when you need a bit of cheering up. He sounds like an Irish writer already. But since every writer needs a little cheering up from time to time, let me thank PEN sincerely for their generosity to me this evening. I also thank my heroic parents Sean and Viola, my dear sister Eimear O’Connor, my agent Carole Blake, my publisher Liz Foley, and the love of my life, Anne-Marie Casey, who is, to quote that great poet Austin Clarke, the beautiful Sunday of every week. Another gift every writer needs is the ability to tell if writing is truthful or fake. My guide in these matters is the late Tommy Cooper, who used to tell a wonderful and wise joke: “I went up to the attic this morning and guess what I found. An old painting and a violin. I took them to the antique dealer and do you know what he said? That’s a genuine Stradivarius and a genuine Picasso! Unfortunately, however, Stradivarius did the painting. And Picasso made the flipping violin.”

To be serious, I am deeply touched and honoured to win any award that was won in its time by some of my boyhood heroes in writing: John McGahern and William Trevor, Edna O’Brien and John B Keane. I owe them so very much, and I thank their great presences. They were writers who understood that all writing is about the reader, and that empathy is at the heart of the story and the word. A writer makes the sheet music, but the reader sings the song. And so to be given this award by Irish PEN, part of a wonderful organisation that campaigns for writers all over the world, is to be reminded of the undying value at the heart of great literature. We read to know we are not alone. To realise that another human being is real. For knowledge, for enlightenment, to escape, to come home, and for that most subversive of all reasons, pleasure. And we read to know we are not doomed to live in the tomb of the self, to the grubbing of individualism, to the lies of materialism, to know that a country’s greatest asset is not the one referred to in the initials of ‘NAMA’ but in the capacity of its people to create and imagine.

We’re gathered tonight in my childhood town of Dun Laoghaire, by the pier where myself and my sisters and brother spent so many summertime hours when I was the age that my son is now. I was a boy in love with reading, full of wild hopes that I might one day write a book of my own. I’d look out at the ships and imagine the people on board. Where were they going? Who did they love?

Every writer knows that trying to write is trying to make a ship sail. You work hard on the planning and the building and the finishing. You freight your story with your hopes. You push it into the water. Some day, maybe, it will reach the harbour of another person. Tonight, thanks to you at Irish PEN, I feel one of my boyhood ships came home.

My favourite Irish writer, the great John Synge, often walked that waterfront outside, his head full of fire and jet-streams of language. As a boy, I felt his ghost around me, among the gulls and the breezes, and the promises of Teddy’s ice-cream. I finish with my deepest gratitude, and with a line written by a man who loved him, William Yeats, which sums up everything I would want to say on the occasion of winning this award. “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends./ And say my glory was I had such friends.”

Go raibh maith agaibh.”

I am linking here President Michael D. Higgin’s speech for reference , http://www.irishpen.com/wordpress/2012/02/14/remarks-by-president-michael-d-higgins-at-the-presentation-of-the-irish-pen-award-for-literature-to-joseph-o%E2%80%99connor/

Pictures : http://www.irishpen.com/wordpress/the-irish-pen-2012-award-and-dinner-a-photo-montage/

Clár Imeall anocht, 16/02/2010, Joseph O’ Connor

Christine Murray — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:51:55 +0000

Clár Imeall has sent this taster for tonight 16/02/2012 interview with Joseph O Connor .

Vimeo link here.

Clár Imeall

“Clúdaítear gach gné de shaol cultúrtha na tíre ar Imeall, ó na mórthaispeántais go healaín phobail, cloisfimid ó ealaíontóirí aitheanta agus uathu siúd atá ag teacht chun cinn.

Clár ealaíon seachtainiúil ina gcaitheann Tristan Rosenstock agus meitheal tuairisceoirí súil ar chúrsaí ealaíon agus cultúrtha.”

This programme will be repeated on Sunday 19/02/2012 at 11.00pm.

http://www.tg4.ie/ie/programmes/imeall.html