The Story House | Broadsheet.ie

From top: Barry McKinley’s debut novel A Ton of Malice: The Half-Life Of An irish Punk In London with an acknowledgement to The Story House Ireland.

It’s fair to say that we have a bit of a soft spot for The Story House Ireland at the ‘sheet.

The House, a cosy, affordable writer’s retreat in the Waterford countryside, began life in 2015 as a place to relax and create.

They’ve asked us to let you know that one of their alumni, Barry McKinley, will be in conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea as part of this years Waterford Writers Weekend (running in tandem with Imagine Festival 2017)

Barry’s debut novel “A Ton of Malice – The Half-Life Of An Irish Punk in London” has been garnering rave reviews since publication earlier this year.

Barry has acknowledged his time at the inaugural Story House course in 2015 (you saw it here first) with authors Julian Gough, Susie Maguire and Donal Ryan helped him to get this book on the shelves.

Barry McKinley reading and interview will be at The Book Centre in Waterford this Saturday, October 21.at 12pm. Admission is free!

Curated by Rick O’Shea, the festival this year includes a ‘ton’ of other well know writers – Liz Nugent/ StefaniePreissner/ Paul Howard/ Sinead Crowley/Dave Rudden/Sally Rooney as well as a discussion on how NOT to approach a publisher with Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff of Tramp Press.

Fight!

The Story House

Waterford Writers Weekend

Two years ago we told you about The Story House, the Irish non-profit writers workshop in Waterford.

So what’s the story?

Well…

‘THS’ writes:

The Story House Ireland is going from strength to strength!

Their next 5 day residential course “Writing for Young People” (Over 18’s) lead by experienced and award winning authors – ER Murray (Nine Lives Trilogy / Dublin Unesco City of Literature City Wide Read) Sheena Wilkinson (Taking Flight – CBI Honour Award, Children’s Choice Award) and Patricia Forde (author and vice-chair of Children’s Books Ireland) – will be held on the grounds of the idyllic Lisnavagh Estate Feb 20th to 25th 2017.

Places for this course are limited to 12 and it’s booking fast. Waterford Council are offering a 50% Bursary for the course (deadline Nov. 30th) to a writer in their area, but all writers and aspiring writers are advised to approach their local Arts Office directly to see if any support is available.

This year, The Story House Ireland announced the first Story House Residency – a very generous gift to TSH by a past participant.

The Story House Residency is on offer to any TSH course attendant, and includes a week in May 2017 in a west of Ireland cottage giving the winner of this writers break a wonderful opportunity to focus on a writing project of their own choice.

You can find out more about the origins of The Story House Ireland in this in depth interview with well known author, Lia Mills (Fallen – Dublin One City One Book).

Co-founders Nollaig Brennan and Margaret O’Brien would like to thank Broadsheet for posting details of this and previous courses. The Story House operates as a not for profit and both Nollaig and Margaret work on TSH in a voluntary capacity.