Weekend

The Launch Pad Creative Writing Weekend was a great success ... Yes, we are tired, but what a couple of days. The workshops were great and the evening entertainment was, as always, amazing.

See here for a report on the weekends events.

Launch Pad Creative Writing Weekend 23rd-24th July 2004

Main sponsors Wexford County Council

Supported by Byrne's Bookshop and Bank Of Ireland

For more information on the weekend, contact Paul on +353 87 9296623.

Programme

Friday 9th July, 2004

Pre-Weekend Evening in the Farm Centre, Enniscorthy, at 9pm. Everyone welcome.

Friday 23rd July, 2004

	Official opening of the Weekend by Rosaleen Molloy (Wexford County Council Arts Officer) at 8pm in the Farm Centre, Enniscorthy.
	Launch Pad Evening beginning at 9pm in the Farm Centre, Enniscorthy, with readings and performances from established writers including Mogue Doyle, Gerard Whelan and Peter Murphy. All are welcome.

Saturday 24th July, 2004

	Song-writing workshop hosted by Mike Hanrahan, from 10am-4pm, in St. Aiden's Primary School, Enniscorthy.
	Poetry workshop hosted by Eamonn Wall, from 10am-4pm, in St. Aiden's Primary School, Enniscorthy.
	Fiction workshop hosted by Philip Casey, from 10am-4pm, in St. Aiden's Primary School, Enniscorthy.
	Children's Writing workshop hosted by John Murphy, beginning at 10am, in St. Aiden's Primary School, Enniscorthy (supported by Byrne's Bookshop, Enniscorthy).
	Launch Pad Evening beginning at 9pm in the Farm Centre, Enniscorthy, where workshop hosts and participants will perform their own material. All are welcome, as it promises to be a fabulous evening. There may be a small admission fee.

It is advisable to book your place on a workshop well in advance. Bookings can be obtained by emailing booking@elaunchpad.org

Workshop Details

The song-writing workshop is open to all levels; beginners to advanced. Mike Hanrahan will discuss his methods of song-writing, co-writing, formulas, structures, on-line help on writing and distribution, the music business , publishing, copyright, and organisations: IMRO, MCPS, and RAAP. Styles supported will vary with Mike being an avid Eels / David Byrne, Dandy Warhols, and Franz Ferdinand fan, to mention but a few, where examples will be taken from these types of genres as well as some folk.

All that is required is existing material and an instrument, if any. Hopefully out of this workshop, will come a composition that can be performed later that day, at the Launch Pad Evening. For further info on Mike go to www.mikehanrahan.com.

Price €40 - Access to Evening entertainment, Tea and Coffee breaks, included.

The poetry workshop format will be a hands-on introduction to the craft of poetry writing for adults. Each participant should bring 4-5 poems and will be involved in writing exercises and discussions on writing and publication possibilities for poets.

Price €40 - Access to Evening entertainment, Tea and Coffee breaks, included.

In the fiction workshop, each participant should bring a short fiction or excerpt from a longer work - and an open mind. The importance of the personality of the writer with regard to story, plot and technique will be explored and tested. Agents and the pitfalls of publication will also be discussed.

Price €40 - Access to Evening entertainment, Tea and Coffee breaks, included.

The children's writing workshop will be an introduction to writing children’s poetry for seven to eleven year olds. John will read and discus his own work and encourage the children to write their own poems. The emphasis will be on having fun with language, word play and different sounds.

Price €10

Workshop Hosts

Mike Hanrahan [Long Biography]

Mike Hanrahan was born Ennis, County Clare. In 1982 he wrote all six songs on Stockton’s Wing’s ground breaking and critically acclaimed album ‘Light in the Western Sky’, including the hit songs ‘Beautiful Affair ’ and ‘Walk Away’. In 2001 Mike’s composition ‘Beautiful Affair ’ was voted into the Top 75 Irish songs in the history of RTE radio. Over the years continued to write other hits with Stockton's Wing, and as a solo performer. In 1997 Mike was invited by Ronnie Drew to perform on Ronnie's one man show, which proved a great success. Since then, Mike has continued to perform with Ronnie and as a solo performer.

Mike is currently chairman of IMRO and maintains his personal site (www.mikehanrahan.com).

Philip Casey [Long Biography]

Philip Casey was born to Irish parents in London in 1950 and grew up in Co Wexford. His publications include collections of poetry and three novels. Philip’s 1994 award winning novel, The Fabulists has been translated and published in German. His one act play, Cardinal, was produced in Hamburg in 1990 and a novel for children is forthcoming.

A member of Aosdána, Philip Casey lives in Dublin. and maintains his personal site (www.philipcasey.com).

Eamonn Wall [Long Biography]

Eamonn Wall is the author of four collections of Poetry most recently Refuge at DeSoto Bend (2004). His collection of literary and personal essays, From the Sin-É Café to the Black Hills, was judged best book published in the fields of Language and Literature in the USA in 2000.

Eamonn was born and raised in Enniscorthy and now lives in St. Louis, USA, where he is Professor of Irish Studies at the University of Missouri.

John Murphy [Long Biography]

John Murphy is originally from Wexford, but now lives in Galway . He has been writing for a number of years and has performed in the U.K. , America , Australia , France and Ireland . He has won a number of performance poetry competitions as well as releasing a self produced CD and book. He is currently concentrating on writing fiction and finishing a collection of children’s poetry.