Loose Leaves: Poet Michael Longley (below) has won the Premio Librex Montale, the prize that was founded a year after the death of the Nobel prize-winning poet Eugenio Montale to acknowledge poets who characterise contemporary poetry in an original way.
The other winner this year is Italian poet Franco Loi. Longley, who is being honoured for his collection, Snow Water (Cape), will receive the award, now in its 23rd year, at a ceremony in the Ventaglio Nazionale theatre in Milan on March 14th. He joins a roll-call of past winners that includes Bob Dylan who won in a category designed to recognise the importance of poetry in lyrics composed for music.
ILE plans expansion
The Ireland Literature Exchange (ILE) , which has been a force behind the translation of 800 titles of Irish literature into 40 languages, now has plans to expand into new territories such as Latin America and China. The expansion plans were outlined at ILE's 10th anniversary celebrations in the National Library in Dublin during the week. Director Sinéad Mac Aodha explained that by offering international publishers translation grants, Irish writers not only reached new readers; being published in another language often led to participation in international literature festivals, author residencies and international book awards. Another effect was a growing international awareness of Ireland.
Healing poetry
We've heard of TDs and doctors running clinics; now it's poets. A one-off open clinic at the Munster Literature Centre, open to anyone who wants advice on writing poetry, will be part of the job of whoever becomes author-in-residence there in April. The centre is currently offering the 16-week residency to published poets for a stipend of €200 a week. Candidates can have published in Irish or English and should send CVs, copies of publications, a 300-word description of work in progress, and details of any teaching experience, to the centre by February 20th. Interviews will take place in March. The residency will run from April until August. For more details, e-mail munsterlit@eircom.net
New work from Hogan
The re-emergence on to the literary scene of novelist and short story writer Desmond Hogan continues with a story, 'Wedding at Gallog', in the current issue of Cyphers. Interestingly, he is also now doing figurative drawing, of which three samples appear in the magazine. His first book in many years, Lark's Eggs - New and Selected Stories, is due from Lilliput in the autumn. There's also poetry in Cyphers from Ciaran Carson, Maurice Scully, Siobhán Campbell and many others.
After the Holocaust
One of the themes that emerged during the recent Auschwitz commemoration services was the legacy the Holocaust has left for Germany. This will be the subject of a bilingual panel discussion later this year at the Goethe Institut, Dublin. The Loneliness of Being German: 60 Years of World War II will be chaired by writer Hugo Hamilton (left) and is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the end of the second World War. German writers taking part include Ulla Hahn and Thomas Medicus. It takes place on May 8th at 5 p.m. and admission is free. Tel: 01-661 1155; e-mail: info@dublin.goethe.org;
Award for Dundrum Books
Liz Meldon, owner of Dundrum Books in Dublin, has won The O'Brien Press Bookseller of the Year Award. Meldon, who opened the shop 14 years ago, was described as not just a bookseller, but a real book-lover with an encyclopaedic knowledge. She received the trophy at the recent annual Booksellers' Association conference and it will be on proud display in Dundrum in the weeks ahead.
Calling all playwrights
Entries are now being accepted for the RTÉ P.J. O'Connor Radio Drama Awards 2005. This year, as well as the 30-minute play, there is a 15-minute play category. Closing date for entries is April 15th. For details, see www.rte.ie/radio1/pjoconnorawards