Tag Archives: Irish PEN Award for Literature

Irish PEN Annual Dinner & Award Ceremony

The Irish PEN Annual Dinner, and the presentation of the Irish PEN Award for Contribution to Literature to Brendan Kennelly, took place on Friday 29th January 2010 at The Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Senator David Norris made the presentation. For a brief report, see ‘I see you dancing, Brendan’ in the February 2010 Archives

Maeve Binchy wins Irish PEN AT Cross Award for Literature

Novelist Maeve Binchy proved a popular recipient for this year’s Irish Pen AT Cross Award for literature. Presented with the award at a sell-out dinner in the Royal St George Yacht Club on January 19th, she expressed delight at such recognition from her peers. She also promised that on her future visits to bookshops she will ensure that the books of all those present were face out in a prominent position – Booksellers be warned!
An appreciative audience agreed with Declan Kiberd, presenting the award, when he said that “most of [Maeve Binchy’s] stories are about the pangs of adjustment- of what happens to a society that was once God-fearing and traditional when it takes on the messy complexities of the secular,modern world,” adding that hers wasn’t a fake nostalgia for a lost world but “a brave sense that the new challenges are bracing and that good people will find in themselves the resources to meet them”. While never confining her material to Ireland, she has seen it as a test case for the modern world-and the wider world acclaimed her accordingly.
Lively Celebrations continued well on into the small hours – keep visiting this site because we should have some photos to post soon.

1907- 2007 Centenary of The United Arts Club
Irish Pen offers its congratulations to The United Arts Club, its chairman and members on the centenary of the club which was founded in 1907. Over the past century it has provided a wonderful place for artists and writers to meet. For a full list of regular art exhibitions and events which take place throughout the year visit : www.dublinarts.com