There is a celebration of Eithne Strong's (right) life and work on Wednesday at the Irish Writers' Centre (International Women's Day). A mother of nine, the Limerick-born writer was nearly a grandmother when her first poetry collection was published at 38. A prolific writer in Irish and English, her first book of Irish verse, An Gor, was published in 1942, followed by further collections in the 1980s and 1990s. Her poetry included Songs of Living, Flesh: The Greatest Sin and Spatial Nosing. As well as short stories she "stole" time to write two novels, Degrees of Kindred and The Love Riddle. The evening of poetry, music and memories includes Brendan Kennelly, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Mary O'Donnell, Jack Harte, Gabriel Rosenstock and Ann Hartigan.