FROM New Delhi to New York, Paris to Zagreb – writers from far flung places gathered at Teac Jack in Gaoth Dobhair this week for a special international retreat.
One of several such events organised by award-winning Ireland Writing Retreat each year, the week comprised workshops on subjects as varied as story arc, character development, flash fiction and memoir writing.
Participants in fields ranging from high-tech to public health also enjoyed excursions with McGinley Coach Travel to such places as Glenveagh National Park, The Workhouse heritage centre in Dunfanaghy and the thatched cottage where Donegal author and gold prospector, Micí Mac Gabhann, lived, as well as food tastings, cèilidh and sean-nós dancing hosted by Frank and Eileen Sweeney and music at Leo’s Tavern.
Excursions and activities provided the creative inspiration for story assignments in genres ranging from sci-fi to crime and romance that were then critiqued in class.
“To have participants come all the way from countries as diverse as India, Croatia, England and the US to this wee corner of the country is a tremendous compliment,” said Sean Hillen, lead tutor, author and former foreign correspondent for The Irish Times.
“Many of the participants have never been to Ireland before so having them come here to this beautiful Gaeltacht region rather than to other well-known centres of writing such as Dublin and Galway is a terrific achievement. Ten years bringing international writers to this part of Donegal is also a strong boost for tourism, as Failte Ireland no doubt recognises.”
Alongside Sean hosting the workshops was Massachusetts-based author Kathy Shine-Cain, PhD, Professor Emerita at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, with 45 years of higher level teaching experience.
“I had a lot of concerns coming here to Donegal,” said Ellyn Hament from New York.
“I had never been to Ireland before and I was coming by myself. But the week exceeded my expectations. A great combination of writing tools and opportunities to explore the Gaeltacht area and learn more about the culture.”
Added Arpita Chakraborty, principle investigator in a Dublin-based Irish Research Council project, said: “In my work for over a decade I’ve been involved in academic research but I wanted to try my hand at creative writing. Coming here was great fun, a real learning experience, it pushed my boundaries and the environment was a very supportive one.”
Smitha Rampure, an IT specialist from Calcutta and Alan Balkema, from Indiana USA described their experiences as “a combination of new friendships, ideas sharing and arts and cultural enjoyment”.
Maureen Rabotin, from Paris said: “I came to Ireland Writing Retreat as a gift to myself, but it became more than a gift.
“It was a huge opportunity to learn, to reflect and to accept if I write I can be a writer. An exceptional experience bonding with people from around the world.”
Ireland Writing Retreat (irelandwritingretreat.com), co-founded by Sean and his wife, Columbia from Transylvania, Romania, and now in its 10th successive year, was named among the Ten Top Artistic Retreats in Europe by The Guardian newspaper in London, as well as the leading writing retreat by The Independent newspaper in Dublin.
When Covid prevented the retreats from being hosted, the couple launched the international Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) with € 1,000 in prize money.
The 10th competition in the series will be launched next month.
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