SiarSceal Festival - Calling All Writers

Looking forward to receiving your poetry/memoir entries for the Hanna Greally Award Competition held annually by SiarSceal. Any comments or queries, please contact me at siarsceal@live.ie
 

Gwen McNamara Bond
SiarSceal Director.

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Photos from previous Festivals

A selection of photos from previous festivals courtesy of Jenny Glynn Photography, Castlerea.

Canadian Ambassador Patrick Binns and his wife Carol and children from Nurtures' Best Creche, Strokestown House with the ghost Maggie.

Canadian Ambassador Patrick Binns, his wife Carol and Patron, Richie Farrell with Famine Choral Recital students from Scoil Mhuire Strokestown.

Moon River on the Shannon Easter Sunday, SiarSceal performers with Singer/Songwriter Charlie McGettigan

Moon River on the Shannon Easter Sunday, SiarSceal performers with Singer/Songwriter Charlie McGettigan and Harpist Laura O'Reilly

Clonalis House SiarSceal in production with the proprietor Pyres O'Conor-Nash and musicians in tandem

L to R - Dramatist Caroilin Callery, Gwen McNamara Bond, Authour Hazel McIntyre, Poet Kieran Furey, Bilingual Poet Collette Nic Aodha and Poet Michael O'Dea.

Patron Richie Farrell, Gwen McNamara Bond and Castleplunket School Principal Mary Kelly and award winning poetry students from Kilmurray and Castleplunket Schools.

The Hanna Greally Poetry/Short Story Competition 2010

 
SiarSceal Festival 2010 is organising a Poetry/Short Story Competiton with the following themes
 
1.  Home place in translation,
2.  Threading my existence through family gone before,
3.  Roscommon my home.
 
Inviting all writers, individuals and groups
 
Competition Guidelines
 

• All entries submitted must be the authors' own unpublished work.
• Bilingual entries are encouraged especially in the Irish language.
• Entries are limited to two poems/stories per person.
• Poems will be no longer than 60 lines.  Short stories no longer than 500 words.
• Entries submitted must be typed and titled.
• Entrants name, address, contact number, details and poem/story title must be written on a separate page. 
• Closing date for entries will be Friday, 12th February 2010.
• Entries will not be returned and the judges' decision is final.
• Entry into the competition implies acceptance of the competition guidelines.
• Festival organisers and guests are not eligible for entry.
  

Overall Winner will receive a cash prize.
1st prize winners in four categories* will receive the Hanna Greally Award Trophy.
Highly commended runners up will each receive a certificate and cash prize.
The winners will be presented with the awards by the Mayor of Roscommon and invited to read during the Festival launch.
Entries to be sent to Gwen Bond, Emlagh, Castleplunkett, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
For further details phone  087 2628191  or  094 9651867  or email siarsceal@live.ie
 
Submission Fees
Ten Euro per entry.
Concessions (proof needed) Five euro per entry.
School Class submissions - 20 euro per class.
 
Patron: Richie Farrell, Roscommon County Librarian.
 
*Active Age, Writers, Disability.
 
 

Gwen McNamara Bond
SiarSceal Director

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SiarSceal Festival 2010

SiarSceal Festival 2010 features in concert the following:
 
Singers/Songwriters Eleanor Shanley & Frankie Lane - Abbey Hotel Roscommon ( date to be confirmed )
Don Baker in Concert Moon River Cruisier on the Shannon River Easter Sunday. 
Hanna Greally Poetry Awards & Memoir Ceremony presented by Novelist Michael Mullen, Readings & Bilingual Poet Author Nuala Ni Chonchuir.
Launch also of the SiarSceal themed poetry/art exhibition.  Master Writers Workshop with Novelist Michael Mullen. 
 
We are also expecting a guest recital from Actor Mick Lally known also as 'Miley from Glenroe'
The Sliabh Ban Singers Medley Boyle will feature and a choral recital exclusive with harpist Laura O'Reilly, local writers and participating school children.
 
For more information email siarsceal@live.ie or go to our website to see details of 2009 Festival.

Gwen McNamara Bond
SiarSceal Director

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The Objectives of SiarScéal

• Integrate communities through the written word, keeping the story ("scéal") active
• Include historical and social account of stories relevant to each community through art, photography, choral recitals and teamed painting words exhibitions and national poetry memoir competition (The Hanna Greally Prestigious Award).
• Host an Annual Festival at a prestigious venue
• The annual Siar Scéal Festival is a Historical and Literary, Bilingual Festival inspired by the culture and heritage of Roscommon's River Basins.
• Participants are invited to read at the 'open mike', connected by their common river theme
• Schools and all organisations are invited to participate in the festival, promoting equality and inclusiveness