• Cúirt Labs – the shout-out

    The Cúirt International Festival of Literature is in full swing in Galway at the moment, and the city is abuzz with theatre, poetry, art exhibitions, literary discussions, workshops, and readings. The Cúirt Labs are the part of the programme directly targeted at a younger audience, which will take place in the Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street where three floors of gallery space will become custom-made spaces for inventiveness and imagination. I’m going to be partisan and draw particular attention to some friends who are taking part: Maeve Clancy: one of the best comic book artists in the country who also creates cut-out paper installations and has a background in…

  • Paper Crannóg at NINE

    On Saturday evening I attended the launch of the NINE exhibition in the Galway Arts Centre. It was originally installed in The LAB Gallery in Foley Street, Dublin last summer, and this was its début in the West of Ireland. The artists’ brief for the exhibition was to reflect in their artwork something about how it feels to be nine years old. The brochure says: At nine, children are seeking out independence, expanding their ideas about the world and becoming autonomous human beings who still need lots of security and reassurance from their family group. It is a unique point in a human being’s life: moving from being one number…

  • 2D 2013 Roundup

    I had a wonderful time at 2D Northern Ireland Comic Book Festival in Derry last weekend. As usual there was fantastic hospitality by the gang from Derry’s Verbal Arts Centre who organised the festival. All of them, including the volunteers, and the admins who most of us never see, did a wonderful job. I arrived in in the city on Friday afternoon, and while my drive up had been easy, the final navigation through the narrow, steep streets was a stressful ten minutes. After lunch, and time to rest, I headed out to dinner where I began meeting many of the other guests of the convention – some of whom…

  • laydeez first

    Laydeez do Comics – Dublin had its first meeting last night, and it was a blast. Our guests – Sarah McIntyre, Maeve Clancy, and Alan Nolan – were fun, witty, and full of smart insights and tips about the business of comic books. We had an attentive audience, and a good question and answer session afterwards. Dublin writer Catie Murphy brought along ginger snap cookies (recipe here), which were a big hit will all the attendees. Lynda and I were touched by Catie’s generosity and thoughtfulness. Galwegian artist Róisín Curé travelled a long distance for the meeting, and also did the honours of documenting the event through a cartoon. She laboured away for…

  • laydeez in Dublin tonight

    This evening, from 7pm – 9.30pm, in the Odessa Club in Dublin, will see the first meeting of Laydeez do Comics – Dublin. Our guests speakers will be the multi-talented writers/artists Sarah McIntyre, Alan Nolan, and Maeve Clancy. It’s the perfect event for anyone who loves comics or enjoys hearing creative professionals discuss their craft. All welcome! Laydeez do Comics is an international network of meetings celebrating the diverse expressions of the comic book medium. Started in 2009 in London, it now has groups across the UK, America, and now Ireland. It should be a fun and informative meeting tonight, so I hope many of you can make it along.

  • Laydeez do Comics – Dublin

    I’m pleased to announced that together with writer Lynda Rucker we’re setting up Laydeez do Comics – Dublin. Laydeez do Comics is an international network of meetings celebrating the diverse expressions of the comic book medium. Started in 2009 in London, it now has groups across the UK, America, and now Ireland. The events are women-led, not women-only, and usually feature speakers with a variety of comic book experiences. The  inaugural meeting of Laydeez do Comics – Dublin, will take place from 7pm – 9.30pm on Wednesday the 22 May, 2013 in the Rooftop Bar, 3rd floor, of the Odessa Club, 13 Dame Court, Dublin 2. Our guests for the first…