International Bloggers To Host Creative Writing Forum At Immrama Festival 2011

Darragh Doyle - Boards.ie

The uncrowned king of travel blogging Rolf Potts, Irish Times columnist, author and blogger Manchán Magan, Couchsurfer Aine Goggins and Darragh Doyle, Communications Manager of Ireland's most popular website, Boards.ie will host a 'Bloggers Clinic' at the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing in Lismore Co Waterford on June 11 at 10am.

The Bloggers Clinic is a new addition to the festival programme for 2011; the Clinic will explore the opportunities offered by blogging to travel writers and writers of all genres. Participants will hear contributions from Rolf Potts from the USA on his very popular blog www.rolfpotts.com, Darragh Doyle of the very popular Irish website www.boards.ie and Ireland's premiere social networker, and Áine Goggins, presenter of Ó Tholg go Tolg, TG4's hit series featuring the escapades of two couchsurfing cailíní ghaelacha (www.couchsurfing.com).

The clinic will commence at Lismore House Hotel at 10am and will include an introductory panel discussion followed by workshops and talks from the expert speakers. The event will wrap up with an Open Mic session hosted by Manchán Magan, so feel free to bring along your work to read and share. The session will include opportunities for group and one to one conversations with the panel, as well as guest appearances by other visiting writers at the festival.

According to Immrama Artistic Director Margaret O'Sullivan, "Blogging is creative writing by another name. This event will familiarise writers with the possibilities of the blogosphere, an instant and very crowded publication outlet, as well as offering the chance to develop their writing under the guidance of two acclaimed published authors, Rolf Potts and Manchán Magan." The Bloggers Clinic is for writers who want to try their hand at blogging, for bloggers who want to improve their writing, for people who don't know what a tweet is, and for avid tweeps and early adaptors, you know who you are…this is the gathering for you.

Manchán Magan has appeared at Immrama on several occasions, including hosting the Literary Breakfast and conducting very successful creative writing workshops. Rolf Potts is the annual summer writer in residence at the Paris American Academy. He has been described as 'Jack Kerouac for the Internet Age' (USA Today) while TIME Magazine described him as 'a renowned shoestring traveller whose 2003 book, Vagabonding, is a crucial reference for any budget wanderer.' 

An extraordinary gathering of world-wide travel writers will be present in Lismore throughout the weekend, enthralling audiences with tales of their adventures. National and international writers on the programme include our own Conor O'Clery, former Irish Times Foreign Correspondent, and poet and broadcaster Theo Dorgan, as well as American vagabond Rolf Potts, Sara Wheeler, Alex von Tunzelmann, Anthony Sattin and William Blacker from the United Kingdom.

Writing, travelling, canoeing on the River Blackwater, walking, history, music, food, family festival fun and art are all on the bill for the annual festival which takes place from June 9 to 12 in the heritage town of Lismore in County Waterford.

Younger Festival goers will have the opportunity to compete for literary awards, participate in poetry workshops and to join in the traditional 'Free Family Fun Sunday' afternoon programme of events in the Millennium Park on Sunday June 12.

A number of 'Fringe Events' will also take place throughout the weekend, including canoeing along the River Blackwater in the company of Jasper Winn, author of Paddle: A Long Way around Ireland, and a talk on The Artist as Traveller in Lismore Castle Arts on Sunday 12th.  A Gregorian Mass will take place on Sunday morning at St Carthage's Catholic Church, and a Farmers Market will commence at 10am on Sunday June 12 at Lismore Castle Avenue.

The Immrama Festival of Travel Writing will be held in Lismore from June 9 to 12, 2011 and is generously supported by Fáilte Ireland, Waterford County Council, Eason Dungarvan, Waterford Airport and the Arts Council. Tickets and further information can be found on www.lismoreimmrama.com or by contacting 058-53803.