Vincent Woods
Vincent Woods’s plays include At the Black Pig’s Dyke (Druid Theatre Company, 1992); Song of the Yellow Bittern (Druid Theatre Company, 1994); and A Cry from Heaven (Abbey Theatre, 2005); and for radio, The Leitrim Hotel, The Gospels of Aughamore and Broken Moon. Poetry collections are The Colour of Language and Lives and Miracles. He has co-edited The Turning Wave: Poems and Songs of Irish Australia, and Fermata: Writings Inspired by Music (with Eva Bourke); and in 2016 published Leaves of Hungry Grass: Poetry and Ireland’s Great Hunger (Quinnipiac University Press). Awards include the Stewart Parker Award for Drama and The Ted McNulty Award for Poetry. For many years he has been a regular presenter of arts programmes and documentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. He is a member of Aosdána.
The Dock, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Sat 5th & Sun 6th Oct, 2019
The Dock, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Sat 5th & Sun 6th Oct, 2019
Mary McPartlan
Mary McPartlan is one of the most talented singers to come out of the Irish scene in recent years. Born in Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim and now living in Galway, she started singing in the early 70s but it wasn't until 2003 that she decided to make music her full time career. She has been working for the last 12 years as producer and director of many music and theatre projects. She developed the concept of the TG4 National Traditional Music Awards, and was co-producer of the award-winning music series FLOSC, also for TG4. As a singer however, Mary, didn't come out of the shadows until January 2004 when she released the critically-acclaimed album The Holland Handkerchief. Her most recent album from Mountain to Mountain was released earlier this year.
Mary McPartlan
Mary McPartlan is one of the most talented singers to come out of the Irish scene in recent years. Born in Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim and now living in Galway, she started singing in the early 70s but it wasn't until 2003 that she decided to make music her full time career. She has been working for the last 12 years as producer and director of many music and theatre projects. She developed the concept of the TG4 National Traditional Music Awards, and was co-producer of the award-winning music series FLOSC, also for TG4. As a singer however, Mary, didn't come out of the shadows until January 2004 when she released the critically-acclaimed album The Holland Handkerchief. Her most recent album from Mountain to Mountain was released earlier this year.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
Shane McCorristine
Shane McCorristine is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge working on a project entitled "Ghost Species". He is an interdisciplinary historian and geographer with interests in what he calls the 'night side' of modern experience - namely social attitudes toward death, dreams, ghosts, hallucinations, and the 'more than rational'. Shane’s research argues that, far from being peripheral, these aspects of life were central in making people feel modern. In looking at these topics he draws on a variety of approaches and literatures from cultural history, human geography, environmental humanities, and medical humanities.
IRON MOUNTAIN 2025
PROGRAMME
Friday 3rd October
19.30
Opening Reception
Opening reception at the Dock Foyer
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20.00
Welcome
Festival director Vincent Woods introduces Iron Mountain 2025
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Shadows, Secrets and Truth:
Clair Wills, Nuala O’Connor, Bridget Hourican, Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden
Clair Wills reads from and discusses her brilliant family memoir Missing Persons, or My Grandmother’s Secrets, which has been widely praised for its power, rigour and originality. The book explores her particular family story but digs deep into the hidden histories and secrets of the post-independence Irish state and the complex links between Ireland and Britain. Missing Persons was awarded ‘non-fiction book of the year at the Irish Book Awards 2024.
Poet and novelist Nuala O’Connor reads from her work in English and Irish. Nuala’s books include the award-winning novel Nora, based on the life of Nora Barnacle and her marriage to James Joyce, five collections of poetry and the 2024 novel Seaborne, a re-telling of the life of Irish pirate Anne Bonny.
Bridget Hourican reads from and discusses her ground-breaking book Finding Mangan: The Lives and Afterlives of Ireland’s National Poet, homage to the nineteenth century ‘poète maudit’ James Clarence Managan, author of Dark Rosaleeen and A Vision of Connaught in the Thirteenth Century.
Mangan influenced many writers and musicians, including the late Shane MacGowan, who inspired and illuminates Hourican’s masterful study.
The brilliant musician and composer Máirtín O’Connor will perform alongside Bridget Hourican’s reading with tunes that echo Mangan’s musical legacy and celebrates the soul and spirit of Irish music. Máirtín O’Connor’s recordings include The Connaughtman’s Rambles, The Road West and Rain of Light. Máirtín will be joined by renowned Tyrone musician Cathal Hayden (fiddle and banjo), founder member of the group Four Men and a Dog.
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22.30
End
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Saturday 4th October
10.00
Bus to Arigna
Bus departs from The Dock at 10.00am sharp.
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10.30
Seams of Memory:
A visit to the Arigna Mining Experience in Roscommon, a visitor centre dedicated to the history of coal mining in the Arigna area and the stories of the lives of the coal miners and their families. The Arigna mines were the last working coal mines in Ireland, closing in the early 1990s.
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12.30
Bus returns to Carrick on Shannon
Bus departs Arigna at 12.30 sharp
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13.00
Break
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14.00
Marie Farrington - Diagonal Acts
Diagonal Acts arises from research into geological and archaeological imaginations of gaps, openings and thresholds, exploring the boundaries of the body in the landscape from various counter-topographical perspectives. The project expands on and elaborates a hybrid practice of ‘Theatre/Archaeology’ (Shanks/Pearson, 2001) exploring symmetries between staged presentations and field work via their continual renegotiation of categorical boundaries and their shared interest in memory, partiality, fragment, trace and assemblage.
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In Light of Trees and Forestry
Eoghan Daltun reads from his 2022 book An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into Rewilding and discusses the challenges of commercial forestry development, the many threats to Ireland’s natural environment, climate change and the potential power of rewilding.
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15.20
Tea/Coffee
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15.40
Sea and City, Myth and Morality - Naoise Dolan, Garrett Carr
Two of Ireland’s leading young writers, Naoise Dolan and Garrett Carr read from their work. Garret is the author of three Young Adult novels and the acclaimed 2017 book The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland’s Border. His latest novel is The Boy from the Sea, set in his native Killybegs. Naoise has published two novels, Exciting Times (2020) and The Happy Couple, the latter described by Colm Toibín as ‘a brilliant contemporary novel’ and praised by Marian Keyes as ‘witty, observant and wise.’
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Truth, Lies, Catastrophe – Palestine and Israel
Ahmed Najar, Bethan McKernan Fintan Drury
Three respected writers and witnesses to war discuss the catastrophe of war in Gaza and the ongoing efforts to create a just and lasting peace and two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ahmed Najar is a Palestinian political economist, writer and playwright based in London. Bethan McKernan is the former Jerusalem Correspondent for the Guardian newspaper. Fintan Drury is a former journalist and author of the books ‘See-Saw’ on leadership and corporate culture, and Catastrophe: Nakba II on Palestinian history since 1947.
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John McGahern Award
Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Cllr. Paddy Farrell presents the 2025 John McGahern Award.
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17.30
Break
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19.30
Powering Darkness and Light…
Colum McCann, Fintan O’Toole, Barry Ward
Colum McCann reads from his work and discusses his 2020 novel Apeirogon based on the friendship between Israeli and Palestinian peace activists Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin; and Twist (2025) which takes the reader to the heart of darkness deep at the bottom of the world’s oceans.
Fintan O’Toole discusses the enduring legacy of John McGahern fifty years on from the publication of his novel The Dark. He also considers the nature of censorship today and new challenges to writers and witnesses to war and peace.
Actor Barry Ward, star of the films That They May Face the Rising Sun and Jimmy’s Hall, reads from John McGahern’s 1965 novel The Dark; and discusses the power of McGahern’s work, his own acting career and his connections to the hinterlands of Sliabh an Iarainn, the Iron Mountain.
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22.00
End
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Sunday 5th October
11.00
Bus to Iron Mountain Session
Bus departs from The Dock, Carrick on Shannon for the Iron Mountain Session in Rynn's Pub, Ballinagleara.
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12.00
Iron Mountain Session
The weekend ends with the annual Iron Mountain Session with special guests, poets Moya Roddy and Pete Mullineaux, the best of music and readings in Skerry Rynn’s bar and grocery shop in Ballinaglera. Presented in conjunction with the Ballinaglera Traditional Music Weekend.
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15.00
Bus returns to The Dock Carrick on Shannon
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