'Away With Words' - Poetry and Writing Trip
​5-13 October, 2023

Come write, study, read and appreciate poetry in Ireland! Where better to find inspiration than in the spaces and places that inspired some of the world’s greatest writers.

Our immersive writing program includes classes and guided tours on the literary history of Ireland, visits to the local landscapes of famous Irish writers, workshops and one-to-one sessions to help you with your own creative work, and readings by Ireland's top poets. 

Guest Poets and Lecturers

Paula Meehan

Paula Meehan is one of Ireland’s best known poets. Her work has garnered popular and critical acclaim. As If By Magic: Selected Poems, published 1st of October, 2020, by Dedalus Press, presents a generous offering of poetry made in the last thirty years. From 2013 to 2016 she was Ireland Professor of Poetry.  Awards include the Butler Award of the Irish American Cultural Institute, the Laurence O’Shaughnessy Award, the Denis Devlin Award and the Marten Toonder Award.

Annemarie Ní Churreáin

​ Annemarie Ní Churreáin is a poet from the Donegal Gaeltacht, Ireland. Her debut collection Bloodroot (Doire Press, 2017) was shortlisted for the Shine Strong Award for best first collection in Ireland and for the 2018 Julie Suk Award in the U.S.A. She is also author of The Poison Glen (The Gallery Press, 2021). She is a recipient of a Next Generation Artist Award from the President of Ireland on behalf of the Arts Council of Ireland.

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Theo
Dorgan

Theo Dorgan is a poet, prose writer, documentary screenwriter, editor, translator librettist and broadcaster. Winner of numerous Irish and International literary awards, Theo has also made his mark on the Irish literature landscape in his positions as Director of Poetry Ireland, Writer/Presenter of TV books programme IMPRINT, and member of the Irish Arts Council from 2003 to 2008.
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Sean Nevin

​Sean Nevin is the author of Oblivio Gate (Southern Illinois University Press) which won the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Prize, and A House That Falls (Slapering Hol Press).   He served as Associate Professor and Director of the MFA Program in Poetry & Poetry in Translation at Drew University where he was an Associate Professor and lead literary trips in Ireland. He was named an honoree in The Irish Education 100 in 2016

Niamh Hamill

Niamh Hamill is a lecturer in Irish Cultural Studies, including literary history. She is the Director of the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, and an experienced local guide to sites in Ireland associated with poets and writers. In 2020, Niamh wrote 'Finding Ireland: Notes from the Northwest'. She is currently working on an anthology of Irish poetry.  

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​Poetry and writing workshops

We use the cosy and intimate atmosphere of the Irish pub for story telling, folklore, poetry and mythology readings, and good conversation to stimulate your imagination and get you writing. We'll add in traditional music, a roaring fire, and plenty locals who will have lots to tell you. We are right beside miles of golden beaches, with the Dartry mountains overlooking us - sunrises and sunsets will depend on whether you are the early bird or the night owl, but both will inspire you. 

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​Site visits &
Workshops

The landscape is constantly evoked in Irish poetry and writing. The multi-faceted canvas of landscape, language and story provides a perfect place to find your own inspiration, improve your craft, learn about the traditions of the arts, and interpret all of it from your unique viewpoint. You'll meet a diverse range of current writers who will talk about how they have found their place in writing and literature. The  Kavanagh Centre, Yeats Country, and Station Island are among the visits on our itinerary 

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​History and Culture 

Ireland has a fantastic tradition of story telling that pre-dates the written script, and the journey from the bardic schools and fireside recitations to our current, rich and diverse literary culture is a fascinating narrative - not just for people of Irish descent, but for anyone with an interest in indigenous cultures and traditions. Place names, family names, folklore archives, parallels with other mythologies, political & religious agendas, colonization and post-colonial impacts- so much to explore, you'll come home bursting with ideas! 

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Trip Details

• Poetry and writing workshops, with scheduled feedback, to help you create your best work
  
• Guided field trips to inspirational locations with local historians and guides such as the Museum of Literature, National Library of Ireland, Yeats Country and the Kavanagh Centre
  
• Readings by Paula Meehan, Theo Dorgan, Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Sean Nevin
  
• Traditional Irish Music and Irish language readings
  
• Dublin City for the urban experience, and the Wild Atlantic Way for the rural experience.
  
• Enjoy meals at some of Ireland’s finest restaurants, with meals and accommodation included in the trip price.
  
• Round-trip transfer from Dublin to Donegal
  
• ​All deposits fully refundable ​
  

 Deposit:  $99   

Total Fees: $1995  

Pay Deposit ($99)

Want to write with us?

If you are looking to book onto our Poetry and Writing program but have a few questions first, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team will work with you and your group to organizing transfers, give you information about accommodation, and help with anything else we can. We look forward to hearing from you.