No sex for export
A copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover used by the judge of the novel’s landmark 1960 obscenity trial, with all the rude bits carefully and dutifully marked up by his wife, has been temporarily stopped from leaving the UK. This is the copy of D.H. Lawrence’s novel that was taken into court by judge, Sir Laurence Byrne. The...
Darby O’Gill inspired restaurant
A new upmarket restaurant and bar, recently opened at London’s exclusive Embassy Gardens on the South Bank, is inspired by the classic Disney film Darby O’Gill and the Little People (reviewed in Books Ireland, Sept./Oct. 2015). Darby’s is owned by TV chef Robin Gill, whose father headed the Dublin showband Earl Gill and the Hoedowners. Mr Gill,...
Winners at Listowel Writers’ Week
The Kerry Group Novel of the Year at Listowel Writers’ Week prize went to David Park, for the exceptional Travelling in a Strange Land (Bloomsbury). Park beat off stiff competition from John Boyne (for Ladder to the Sky rather than his more recent work, My Brother’s Name is Jessica) and the otherwise unstoppable force that is Sally...
ECHOES to return to Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre this October
Echoes 2019 Will Celebrate Community in Contemporary Writing in Ireland! Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is delighted to announce that ECHOES will return from the 4th – 6th October 2019. ECHOES proudly celebrates the life and work of Maeve Binchy and Irish writers, and will feature thought provoking talks, walks, debates, interviews and theatrical events.
Concerns over student illiteracy
In a startling OECD study, it was found that up to 6% of Irish university graduates are functionally illiterate—meaning their reading and writing skills are ‘inadequate to manage daily living and employment tasks that require reading skills beyond a basic level’. These rates, collected in 2012, are significantly higher than in Finland (2%) or the Netherlands (3%),...
Irish-language Literature Adviser appointed
Irish-language Literature Adviser appointed Peter Sirr has recently been engaged as the Arts Council’s Irish-language Literature Adviser. As a Dublin native, poet, critic, prose writer and dramatist, Peter Sirr has a wealth of artistic knowledge and will be a fantastic addition to the Arts Council. Congratulations, Peter!
All change at Eason
As reported here before, Eason is pressing ahead with some major changes in its business model. In a move to reduce its share capital and continue to move its business online, Eason asked the High Court to formally approve its plan to pay a €60m special dividend to shareholders. The company is...
New EU copyright rules for publishers
The European Parliament recently voted in favour of changing the European Union’s copyright rules. MEPs voted by 348 votes to 274 in favour of rules that will force internet organisations such as YouTube and Google to take out licences to show copyrighted content and make them liable for taking down material that breaks intellectual property rules. The...
US donors sought for the Heaney HomePlace
The £4m HomePlace centre in County Derry—dedicated to the life and work of poet Seamus Heaney—has suffered a £1m loss since it opened in 2016. The south Derry area has become a popular place for Heaney fans, and HomePlace is estimated to bring in £800K annually to the area. A spokeswoman for HomePlace stated that ‘While...
Interview with Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín talks to Sue Leonard about growing up without a father, being a writer and his latest novel, Nora Webster It’s Dublin on a rainy autumnal afternoon, and Colm Tóibín is serenading me over the teacups. He’s singing some notes in dulcet bass tones to demonstrate how, during the audition for a Catholic church choir in New York, he...
