Course description
Irish Literature: from Plunkett to Rooney
This carefully structured course is a general introduction to critically reading some of Ireland's best-known literature in the context of a progressing Ireland. We will begin in the 20th century with short stories by James Plunkett, Flann O'Brien's At Swim-Two-Birds, and Edna O'Brien's The Country Girls. We take in John Banville's The Book of Evidence and then move to contemporary literature through Mike McCormack's Solar Bones, Claire-Louise Bennett's Pond, Sara Baume's Spill Simmer Falter Wither, and Sally Rooney's Normal People. By the end of the course, participants will have read and discussed a number of Ireland's authors and critically analysed their themes. Irish Literature is an exciting and highly enjoyable new course, which would be ideal for the literary enthusiast or anyone preparing to study English at the third level. Limited places.
Attend via Interactive, Email, Phone, Post, FLEXI.
SUMMER RECESS 16th-22nd August 2021.
About the facilitator
Dr Martin Keaveney is an Associate Lecturer in Irish Literature at NUIG. He has published several articles on Irish Literature at the intersection of Narratology in a range of leading peer-reviewed academic journals, including New Hibernia Review, Estudios Irlandeses and the Journal of Franco-Irish Studies. He has been facilitating creative writing courses at Galway Arts Centre since 2018. His second novel, The Mackon Country, will be published by Penniless Press, UK this Autumn. This follows his debut novel Delia Meade (2020) and his collection of stories, The Rainy Day, ( 2018) (Penniless Press). Short fiction has been published in many literary journals in Ireland, UK and US. He has also written for the screen and his writing has been produced and exhibited at many international film festivals and on broadcast national television. His scholarship was recently published in the peer-reviewed New Hibernia Review, Journal of Franco-Irish Studies, Liverpool Journal of Postgraduate Studies and Estudios Irlandeses. He has a B.A. in English and Italian, an M.A in English (Writing) and a Ph.D. at NUIG (Creative Writing and Textual Studies). He was awarded the Sparanacht Ui Eithir for his research in 2016 and the NUIG Write-Up Bursary in 2018. Martin Keaveney is an Associate Lecturer in Irish Literature at NUIG. See more at www [dot] martinkeaveney [dot] com
Testimonials
'Excellent support from tutor'
'Enormously helpful and generous writer's workshop'
'[Martin] takes a genuine interest in his students'
'An engaging speaker who listens and answers questions in a useful way'
'[Martin's] guidance is excellent'
'Very enjoyable and engaging'
'I looked forward to the class every week, each week I became more and more inspired to go home and work on my projects' [Evening Course]
'Thoroughly enjoyed the day' [One Day Course]
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Suitability - Who should attend?
Ideal for the literary enthusiast or anyone preparing to study English at third level.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Certificate of Attendance.
Training Course Content
Irish Literature: from Plunkett to Rooney will begin in the 20th century with short stories by James Plunkett, Flann O’Brien’s At Swim Two Birds, and Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls. We take in John Banville’s The Book of Evidence and then move to contemporary literature through Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones, Claire-Louise Bennett’s Pond, Sara Baume’s Spill Simmer Falter Wither and Sally Rooney’s Normal People.
By the end of the course, participants will have read and discussed a number of Ireland’s authors and critically analysed their themes.
Course delivery details
Remote Attendance Options:
INTERACTIVE – attend interactive Video Conference discussion (Zoom) 7.00-8.30pm GMT (Thursdays) weekly & receive material by email, including a recorded lecture video each week.
EMAIL – receive material by email with a video of a prerecorded lecture each week.
PHONE – phone in to hear interactive class and receive material by email with a video of a prerecorded lecture each week.
POST – receive material by email with a podcast on USB key of a prerecorded lecture each week.
FLEXI – meet tutor remotely for 30-minute discussion weekly at a mutual time and receive all course material by email.
Why choose Martin Keaveney Creative Writing
Attend by video conference (Zoom), email, telephone, post or FLEXI
Creative Writing & Literature courses
Weekly workshop & feedback
Expenses
Registration fee €100.00
Continuing Studies
Participants can progress to further short courses in the same subject area or to accredited studies.