Literary Evening

 

The second annual Lit’n’Deb Literary Evening, in aid of the Leukaemia Trust, took place on Thursday 10th February as part of the NUI, Galway Arts Week. Following a flurried week spent sending out invitations, collecting spot-prizes and selling raffle tickets, the Literary Officer and the rest of the committee were content to let the assembled writers take charge on the night and to entertain the audience in whatever way they saw fit. The diverse group which included: Lionel Pilkington, from the English Dept. of NUI, Galway; Vincent Banville, novelist; Lelia Doolin, journalist and former Director of the Abbey Theatre; Fred Johnston, Literary Officer for Canavan House, writer and poet and Vincent Woods, currently Writer-in-Residence at NUI, Galway, did this in style and all were agreed that the Annual Literary Evening should be a regular feature at Lit’n’Deb.

 

Vincent Woods opened the evening with a work from an Indian poet living in Germany and as a tranquil hush gradually descended over the Kirwan, also read some wonderful examples of his own poetry. Fred Johnston followed him, sharing a selection of poetry including “Old Colonials” and “From the Irish Perhaps” and told us of his childhood in Belfast coming from a mixed religious background. Lelia Doolin spoke of her visit to Kenya and read extracts from a diary she wrote while there.

 

A short intermission ensued in which they many spot prizes were doled out and Auditor Conor Nelson revealed his artistic, sensitive side with a rendition of his epic poem “The Worm”. Following this Lionel Pilkington changed tack slightly, describing the history of Irish Theatre and informed the house that “one can measure the health of Irish Theatre. by the number of riots taking place”. Vincent Banville closed the evening’s feast of literature by reading from a historical novel that he was in the process of writing and entertained the house with the activities of private detective John Blaine, a character in several of his earlier novels.

 

While the Lit’n’Debbers were for one week denied their fix of unlimited heckling and insane banter this rare mixture of literary talent was enjoyed by all and it is hoped that next year will see an even greater exploration of the literary aspect of the Society.

 

Elaine Dobbyn

Literary Officer