A virtual reception hosted by the Embassy of Ireland, London, to mark the Irish Writers in London Summer School’s 25th anniversary

There is no entry fee, but those wishing to attend should register here.

To celebrate this important anniversary for the Summer School and for Irish Studies in Britain, the Ambassador of Ireland, Mr. Adrian O’Neill, is hosting a virtual reception at the Irish Embassy on 27 May 2021. Featuring an introduction from Professor Don MacRaild, followed by readings and poetry from patron Martina Evans & writer Lucy Caldwell, a screening of a documentary ‘The Shortest Way to Tara… 25 Years of the Irish Writers in London Summer School’ and Lucy in conversation with the Director of the Summer School, Dr. Tony Murray.

First established in 1996, the Irish Writers in London Summer School celebrates its 25th anniversary in Summer 2021. The course, which runs at London Metropolitan University for two evenings per week for six weeks, provides an opportunity for people of all ages and educational backgrounds to not only read contemporary Irish literature but meet guest writers and discuss their work with them.

Through lectures, seminars and readings, participants get the chance to explore the different reasons why Irish writers have come to London, how the experience of migration has influenced their work and how, in turn, their writing has helped express and disseminate Irish culture and Irish identity in Britain. Over the last three decades, the school has hosted over ninety different writers across a wide range of genres including Edna O’Brien, Eimear McBride, Matthew Sweeney, Emma Donoghue, Maurice Leitch, Julia O’Faolain, Shane Connaughton, Anne Devlin, Blake Morrison, Polly Devlin, Bernard O’Donoghue and Jess Kidd.

Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/05/2021
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm