Since 2018, Wicklow County Council has been working in partnership with Words Ireland to develop literature in the county. Words Ireland is made up of Poetry Ireland, the Irish Writers’ Centre and Children’s Books Ireland (CBI).

The Wicklow programme has involved readings, public events, mentoring schemes, workshops and masterclasses with some of Ireland’s leading writers, poets and illustrators.

The programme also focused on children. A particularly exciting initiative developed with Blessington Library and local schools involved groups reading and discussing award-winning books, before ultimately selecting the CBI Children’s Choice Award Winner of the Decade.

Further opportunities for writers and readers are available as part of Creative Ireland Wicklow. Please keep an eye on the website for updates.

The Irish Writers Centres' National Mentoring Programme

This Programme is an opportunity for selected writers across the island of Ireland to receive sustained creative and professional mentoring from an established Irish writer of their choosing.

Each mentorship consists of four meetings with an experienced writer over a period of approximately 6–8 months. The mentor will read your work in advance of each meeting, and will give feedback and advice at each meeting. They may also provide professional information and advice.

Mentee opportunities are open to writers of any age, race, gender and nationality who are resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. All mentees will avail of the relationship for free. There is no fee for application. The Irish Writers Centre actively encourages applications from writers from diverse social, economic or cultural backgrounds.

Find out more HERE

Way with Words, Wicklow was a programme of free events for readers and writers of all ages, taking place between 2018 and 2020 in Blessington and Arklow Libraries. Writers and poets also travelled around Wicklow visiting schools, men’s sheds and other community groups as part of Way with Words. Led by Nell Regan, this Wicklow County Council initiative was supported by Creative Ireland, in collaboration with Wicklow Arts Office and Library Services.

Find out more about the past programme here: www.waywithwords.ie

Way with Words was an imaginative literature pilot project which aimed to add vibrancy to an already active community of writers and readers in Wicklow. Way with Words was led by Literature Curator Nell Regan, who developed locally tailored events in collaboration with Margaret Birchall of Blessington Library and Claire Fullam of Arklow Library. Launched with a pilot in 2018, the project generate recommendations for the animation of literature in Wicklow over the coming years.