Intimacy with Strangers

Pictured 1. Peter Lahiff and Paul Lynch ; 2. Fionna Dunne and Alice Youell ; 3. Micheal O'Siadhail and John McBrathney, at the Hennessy reception for the book launch of Intimacy with Strangers by author Ciaran Carty (Lilliput Press) at Dublin’s Workman’s Club. (Pix: Conor McCabe)

What Truly Matters

What’s the story: 1. Louise Mcermott and Shay Healy; 2. Gordon Snell and Sheila Flanagan; 3. Mary Redmond and Louise Byrne. (Pix. Brian McEvoy)

Short story writers from all over Ireland gathered in Finnegans on Sorrento Road, Dalkey for the launch of Celebrating What Truly Matters, Powers Irish Whiskey Short Story Collection Volume 2 in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Inspired by a hugely popular campaign for Powers that ran in the 1980s, this special compilation of over 50 short stories showcases Ireland’s hidden literary talentand covers an array of subjects on the theme of Celebrating What Truly Matters, from love lost and won, ties that bond, mellower moments in time and the warmth and love of relationships, family and friends.

Speaking at the launch, best-selling author Sheila O’Flanagan, ambassador to the project said, “It's a real privilege to be associated with Volume 2 of Celebrating What Truly Matters, and wonderful to know that the Irish Hospice Foundation will benefit from the sale of the collection and that so many writers will feel the joy of having their work published in a book for the first time.” 

Gordon Snell attended the event to lend his support for the launch of the anthology which includes a foreword by his late wife, Maeve Binchy.  Maeve’s last interview was shown as a tribute to her on the night, where she spoke to TV3’s Sinead Desmond about the project and the winning short story, Après Match by author Cristina Galvin, who attended with family and friends.  Other authors in attendance were Shay Healy, writer, director, producer CJ Scuffins, Winter Hynes, Frank McCaughey, actress and writer Michele Forbes, currently treading the boards in Emma Donoghue's new play 'The Talk of the Town' at the Project for the Theatre Festival. 

Beautifully published, and illustrated throughout, Celebrating What Truly MattersPowers Irish Whiskey Short Story Collection Volume 2 will be available to buy from Easons and Dubray Books nationwide, The Old Jameson Distillery and Midleton Distillery stores, and online from www.hospice-foundation.ie and www.powerswhiskey.com retailing at €9.99.  Proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Lit Hit

Write Stuff: 1. Joan Garahy & Amb Madame Emmanuelle d’Achon; 2. Marianela Gonzalez & Edward O'Dwyer; 3. Marc Boissonnet & Tara Quirke.  (Pix. Kieran Harnett)

Last night, Tuesday, 24th April, Hennessy announced the winners of this year’s Hennessy Literary Awards at a ceremony in the French Ambassador’s Residence. For the last 41 years the Hennessy Literary Awards has recognized and rewarded emerging Irish writers and poets in the literary sphere. The winners on the night were Barbara Tarrant, ‘Baby’ (First Fiction), Niamh Boyce, ‘Kitty’ (Emerging Poetry) and Viv McDade, ‘Leaving For Chile’(Emerging Fiction).

A host of specially invited guests from the worlds of literature and the arts enjoyed the writing of some of Ireland’s brightest new authors and poets. Guests enjoyed a selection of delicious Hennessy cocktails paired with canapés, including Hennessy Rose with Braised Leek and Bellingham Blue Tart and Hennessy Maple Spice paired with Vietnamese Vegetarian Spring Roll with Mint and Tamari.

Caroline Sleiman, Market Development Manager for Moët Hennessy was joined by a host of guests on the evening including H.E. Emmanuelle D'Achon, the French Ambassador. Judges Ciaran Carty, Giles Foden and Deirdre Purcell were joined by last year’s winner Siobhan Mannion and past New Irish Writing page editor Anthony Glavin.  Other guests present included well known Irish economist David McWilliams, Irish comic Kevin Gildea, Marc Boissonnet, Ambassadeur de la Maison Hennessy and Master of Ceremonies John Kelly.

Wilde about the Westbury

Chic Lit: Breffni Jones & Martha Kavanagh; 2. Sally McKey; 3. Jane McDonnell & Veronica Quinn. (Pix. Doyle Collection)

The Wilde Literary Supper Club returned to Wilde – The Restaurant in The Westbury Hotel with a delightful evening which celebrated fine dining and Ireland’s proud literary tradition in The Doyle Collection’s flagship five-star Dublin hotel.

Acclaimed poet and biographer Gerard Hanberry’s treated guests to a fascinating narrative on his latest offering: More Lives Than One – The Remarkable Wilde Family Through the Generations. The book charts the triumphs and tragedies of the Wilde family, from Oscar himself, his accomplished father Sir William and flamboyant mother Lady Wilde, through seven generations of this extraordinary family.

Lovers of good food and wine enjoyed a two course seasonal dinner accompanied by fine wine in the aptly named and elegant surroundings of Wilde - The Restaurant. Stylish Victoria Beckham cocktails dresses and Carl Scarpa heels seemed to be the costume de rigueur of the evening.

Guests included Myra McAuliffe from the Abbey Theatre; Deirdre O'Shaughnessy and Caitlin O’Connor; Ruth Curran from Merc Partners and Christine Murphy and Breffni Jones from The Doyle Collection.