Holiday with The Flying Book Club

By Eibhlin Evans

The Flying Book Club is an exciting new opportunity – a book-lovers holiday! As its name suggests you can fly into Dublin and join the club for a cultural connection with the city’s writers. There are one-day and three-day programmes on offer – and a wide range of different writing available for you to explore with a lively team of tutors in an intimate and informal gathering. It all happens in a beautiful georgian house in the city centre.  This is a great opportunity for the single traveller and for book-clubs and groups.  If you’re organising a trip for a group of friends or for your book-club (for one or for three-day programmes) you can even nominate a writer of your choice and The Flying Book Club will design and deliver a programmes just for you. You can select one of Ireland’s great writers or, if you’re mad about Terry Pratchett, or Proust – it doesn’ matter. The Flying Book Club will facilitate a series of talks, discussions and other events to really explore your chosen writer’s work.

Your flights and accommodation are for you to organise but hotels are very central and easy to locate. Its a great way to meet new friends who share your passion for books.

Because Irish wiritng, both past and present is so popular, and Ireland’s cultural life is so sought after, the Flying Book Club focusses in its main programmes on all of the greats – the dead writers like Yeats and Joyce and the current biggies like Colm Toibin, Anne Enright and many more.

I’m a great advocate of many international writers and currently planning a series of Flying Visits to other cities where again the FBC will organize a three-day programme on a writer and his or her relationship with that city. Pamuk and Istanbul anyone?

The Flying Book Club is nothing if not ambitious and already shows signs of attracting a large following. Modeled on the book club format, but with several key distinctions, The Flying Book Club puts a lot of emphasis on the readers’ reactions, on the desire readers have to share their reading experiences with others. All those who attend become members of The Flying Book Club and through their Flying Forum they keep in touch – keep the conversation going – remain connected and hopefully revisit or reconnect at a later date in Dublin or elsewhere.

As founder and Director, this venture is the logical conclusion of my interests and passions, my qualifications and experience.  After many years teaching literature in universities in the UK and most recently in UCD, travelling to many international destinations as a literary scholar,  and having spent many years working with Dublin City on literary initiatives, (most recently writing the succesful application to UNESCO for the City of Literature designation) I think the Flying Book Club brings all of these strands together in a new and exciting connection.

So I’ve brought together an energetic and enthusiastic team ready to guide the sessions and numerous connections with Dublin’s literary community mean that many contemporary writers will be putting in Guest Appearances – another treat for visitors.

The upbeat nature of the venture is visible in the name and the nature of our recent series of events. The Feel The Fear and Read It Anyway series started off the Joyce’s Ulysses. Designed to give the intimidated reader a helping hand – a guided introduction and some  enlightening encouragement, these short events have been very well received by Dublin’s readers. The title echoes the no-nonsense approach. ‘Our visitors don’t need to bring anything but their enthusiasm – this is for ALL readers’.’ Whatever you’re experience, we’ll explore the writing together and you’ll have a truly memorable time.’

Check out the programmes and events here

Violette Interiors in Greystones

Thanks to a reader who wrote in to dublinzine about Violette Interiors in Greystones. I had a quick chat with Jennifer Murray who owns Violette Interiors and she told me that herself and her sister opened the shop in 2006, “just at the beginning of the recesssion.” “The shop is just  a little bit different, ” says Jennifer. ” We sell vintage, items like chandeliers, lace panels, painted dressers, ceramics, jewellery, lighting, gifts and scented candles.”

When everyone is rushing to IKEA to stock up on household furniture, which is fair enough, but why not think about supporting your local shops, for a brighter economic future for Ireland? Worth a thought.

Submarine at the Mermaid Arts Centre

Richard Ayoade of  TV’s  The IT Crowd has made a movie. Submarine will be screened at the Mermaid Arts Centre on  Monday Jun 27th. The story is of  a young teenager (Craig Roberts) in a duffel coat hoping to lose his virginity and stop his mother from leaving his father. The thing is he imagines alternative realities as a way of coping, but then it’s discovered he’s not that reliable when it’s comes to the facts!  (Ben Stiller executive produced & the music is by Alex Turner)

Source: Mermaid Arts Centre

Tree of Life opens July 7th at the Screen Cinema

Source: Screen Cinema

Salmon Poetry Books Launch tonight at Irish Writers’ Centre

Three poets, Joseph Lennon, Padraig Moran and Adam Wyeth will be reading from their respective books tonight at the Irish Writers Centre. 7pm (June 10)  Titles of the books are-Fell Hunger (Joseph Lennon), The Blue Guitar (Padraig Moran) and Silent Music (Adam Wyeth) Kudos to Salmon Poetry for the launch, and the wonderful books covers!

Source: Salmon Poetry

A Taste of Ireland Foodie Festival

The food Fest opens today at 5.30pm in the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin’s Fair City, with a ton of exhibitiors, including special chef guest appearances by Gino d’Acampo, Rachel Allen, Conrad Gallagher, Nick Munier and Derry Clarke. More info.