We are delighted to learn of Donal Ryan's wonderful success in winning the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, 2025, for his novel "Heart, Be at Peace". Fans of Donal's work will recognise the setting from his debut novel, "The Spinning Heart", but this takes place 10 years later as this small community "... faces contemporary challenges including social media, drugs, and illegal industries." Donal is slated to join us in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon on Saturday, November 8th, for a session of Q & A and readings from his extensive works. We look forward to welcoming you there.
We’ve been hearing great reports from Sligo of one of our big events for 2025. This is is a one-man show, written and directed by Mary-Elaine Tynan and starring Don Wycherley. Fifty years on from his wrongful conviction as one of the Guildford Four, Paddy Armstrong is facing into his twilight years and wrestling with a thousand turbulent memories. At the age of 74, he relives the journey that forever altered his destiny. The show was recently seen in the Hawk's Well and is currently touring the country to enormous acclaim but won’t be back in this area again until it arrives in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon on Saturday, November 8th. If you missed it in Sligo (or even if you saw it and are dying for second helpings), get the date in your diary, now!
The 2025 Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions are open for entries! First-place winners will each receive a prize of €300.
Poet and publisher Kate Newmann will judge this year’s Poetry Competition entries. The winning poet will also receive the Francis Harvey Poetry Award.
Acclaimed author Nuala O’Connor will judge the Flash Fiction entries. The winner of the Flash Fiction Competition will also be awarded the Keane Family Fiction Prize.
The Competitions are open to writers who are 18 or older by 5 November 2025. International entries are welcome! Previous winning entries have been crafted by writers in Canada, Australia and Dubai.
The 2025 Allingham Festival will run from 5-9 November in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Winning entries will be read and the Poetry and Flash Fiction Awards will be presented at the Literary Lunch on Saturday, 8 November.
Did you watch From That Small Island on RTE? Were you tantalised by the brief mention of Ireland’s dark skinned, blue eyed hunter-gatherers?
Want to know more?
It so happens we can help. We're excited to announce that Monica Corish's new novel, “LeafLight Moon – a novel of prehistoric Ireland” will be launched at this year's Allingham Festival on Sunday, November 9th.
"Closely researched and set in the rich prehistoric landscapes of Sligo and the North West, it tells the story of the fateful encounter between Ireland’s first farmers and the hunter-gatherers of the Hearth of MotherMountain."
Over the next few weeks, we'll be announcing details of some of the things you can look forward to in this year's Allingham Festival which will return to Ballyshannon from November 5th to 9th.
We're delighted to welcome Donal Ryan, the king of the new wave of Irish writers (don't take our word for it - that was Sebastian Barry). With seven published novels, each of which has topped the Irish best-sellers list, he will have much to tell us.
Last year, Nelofer Pazira, journalist, filmmaker and human rights activist, was with us for the Fifth Court Podcast. This year we are very excited to have her deliver the Allingham Lecture. In these horrifying times in the Middle East it could hardly be more timely to hear from such an informed source.
John Creedon may be described as a national treasure as much-loved for his eclectic musical taste on radio as his quirky TV documentaries and books. He is sure to brighten our Sunday afternoon.
Historian, Paul O'Brien last year gave a very well-received talk on the plays of Sean O'Casey. This year he brings us closer to home with an account of the life and times of Donegal socialist and activist, Peadar O Donnell and his relevance to the modern world.We will also be marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of another great Donegal writer, in Remembering: Brian Friel.
More details on these and many other plans to follow shortly.