Saturday 28th March 2026
Venue Lisselton National School V31 Y266.
Poetry with Eileen Sheehan
10am – 12.30pm
€25
This will be a generative workshop where we will use touchstone poems, and other prompts, as springboards towards the creation of our own original poems
Eileen Sheehan lives in Killarney. One of the poems from her most recent collection, The Narrow Way of Souls (Salmon Poetry), featured on the Leaving Certificate English Syllabus. Anthology publications include TEXT: A Transition Year English Reader (editor Niall MacMonagle / The Celtic Press); Blackjack, with translations by Oana Lungu (editors Dorina Șișu and Viorel Ploeșteanu / Singur Publishing) and Best Loved Poems: Favourite Poems from the South of Ireland (editor Gabriel Fitzmaurice with photographs by John Reidy/ Curragh Press). A selection of her work appears on Poetry International Web. She has read at festival in Ireland and abroad and was Bealtaine Writer in Residence at The Seanchaí Kerry Writers’ Museum, Listowel.
Short story with John W. Sexton
2pm – 4.30pm
€25
Workshop: Plotting the Short Story – facilitated by John W. Sexton
This will be a proactive workshop where participants will be taught real and practical methods of writing, with the emphasis on plotting techniques for short fiction. Elements covered will be the creation of character, conflict, story structure and forward movement of the story. We will also look at how to get straight into the story and how to handle exposition and back story.
John W. Sexton is a highly experienced writer and poet, radio script writer and children’s novelist. and created and wrote the children’s science fiction comedy drama The Ivory Tower for RTE radio, which ran to over one hundred half-hour episodes from 1999 to 2002, and gained a cult following amongst both children and adults. His novels based on this series, The Johnny Coffin Diaries and Johnny Coffin School-Dazed are both published by The O’Brien Press.
Children’s writing with Godfrey Coppinger
(4th, 5th and 6th classes)
10am – 12.30pm
€10
Bio
Godfrey Coppinger is a mischievous pre-teen cleverly disguised as a little old lady who was born a very long time ago on the other side of the world, or possibly another planet. She writes words, tells stories, and draws pictures. She works as an illustrator for Fighting Words and assists in an adult literacy program. She has written and illustrated three books: Buffalo Herd; Cowboy Girls; and her latest, What Comes to Mind. All are available at the Kerry Writes Museum and on Amazon.
Workshop description
HOW TO CATCH A STORY
The purpose of this workshop is to create and have fun; Stories are inside us and all around us. We just need to pay attention, reach out, and grab them as they fly by. Together we will play with ways to create and build characters and fascinating plots.. Please note: this is NOT SCHOOL! Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are of no consequence. (Please don’t tell your teachers I said that!)
Songwriting with John Spillane
2pm – 3.30pm
€25
John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. As an artist his music appeals to listeners across many genres and generations. His vocal style has a unique almost sean-nós like quality and his performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent humour. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure. A native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and a source of huge creative influence throughout his career. John’s music is inspired by and encapsulates Irish traditional music in its contemporary form – a reflection of Ireland today. A two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad act John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland. With an extensive back catalogue beginning with the 1997 album The Wells of the World, his songs have been covered by Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane and many others. Twelve albums later in April 2021, John released his first independent album in 20 years, 100 Snow White Horses.
John Spillane shared his most artistically ambitious work to date: Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, on Friday 13th September 2024. The concept album, released on double CD and digital, features John alongside a stellar cast of collaborators: Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín, and more and has gone on to be named as ‘Album of The Year’ at the RTE Folk Awards.
To book any of these workshops please call or PM Karen on 087-6303308
Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival 