ART & WORDS - Author Nessa O’Mahony to Read

Dublin-based writer Nessa O’Mahony is the next guest in artist collective Group 8’s Art & Words series of talks in Ballinasloe. She will appear at Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, on International Women’s Day, Friday March 8^th at 7pm. Nessa will give a reading from her début crime novel The Branchman and she will be interviewed by Group 8 member, Nuala O’Connor. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Nessa’s novel The Branchman was published in late 2018 by Arlen House. Set in Ballinasloe in 1925, it features Detective Michael Mackey, ex-British Army and Civil War veteran and one of the first members of the Free State’s new elite Special Branch. Mackey is assigned to the Garda Barracks in Ballinasloe and uncovers a plot by subversives to disrupt the peace. 

The novel is inspired by the real-life adventures of Nessa’s grandfather, Michael McCann, who was a member of the original Special Branch and was stationed as a Garda in Ballinasloe from 1929 to 1945.  Donal Ryan has described the novel as ‘a taut and absorbing thriller’ while writing in the Irish Times, Declan Burke said that ‘most fascinating, perhaps, is O’Mahony’s evocation of the wider political backdrop, that fragile, imperfect peace that took hold in the wake of the War of Independence and the Civil War.’

ÚNA SPAIN - TALK AT GULLANE'S

Group 8 member Úna Spain will give a talk on her arts practice on Monday Nov 23rd, @ 8pm in Gullanes Hotel.

Úna graduated from GMIT in 1997 with a Diploma in Art & Design and was awarded an Honours Degree in Photography from DIT in 2009. She also holds an MA in Contemporary Art Practice and Media. Her most recent body of work consists of photography, Super 8 film and a limited edition artists book collectively entitled Marking Time which looked at three ‘erstwhile’ sites in Ballinasloe and people formerly associated with them. The critic Aidan Dunne described this work as a ‘brilliant, composite insight into the social and psychological reality of change on a local scale in Ireland’ (Irish Times, June 17, 2009). Úna has exhibited at Tulca, The Kenny Gallery and The Gallery of Photography in Dublin.

POETRY NIGHT 2010, GULLANE'S - PICS

Group 8's poetry night featuring Mary Mullen and Patrick Chapman on Friday was a great success. Both readers were warm and interesting and read fine, thought-provoking work. The audience were appreciative and enjoyed the Q&A and signing with the writers at the end. Audience and writers adjourned to the Library Room bar downstairs afterwards for drinks and chats.

Thanks to all who came and we look forward to bringing more fantastic Irish writers to Ballinasloe. Huge thanks to Gullane's for hosting the event. Photos below!

Poet Mary Mullen

Poet Patrick Chapman

Nuala Ní Chonchúir, introducing the poets

Lily Mullen, deep in thought

 

 Mary Mullen, answering audience questions

Juno McLoughlin, enjoying the poetry