Writer Geoff sets up new literary group in Castletownbere

BEARA writer Geoff Ward recently hosted the first meeting of the West Cork Literary Society, together with a book sale, in the meeting room at MacCarthy’s Bar, Castletownbere.

The society will provide a monthly meeting point for talks, discussions, readings and other literary events and activities, as well as for the sharing of ideas and works.

‘I thought it was about time West Cork had its own literary society, what with so many other clubs and societies in the county, and especially with so many writers and poets living in West Cork, as well as its various writers’ groups and book clubs,’ said Geoff, who lives at Rossmackowen. ‘You could say I saw a gap in the local cultural scene which I thought needed to be filled. 

‘Hopefully, in time, the WCLS can come to act as an umbrella organisation for a whole range of literary events in West Cork. It will be based in Castletownbere but, conceivably, meetings could be held elsewhere in the region if there is demand.’

An author, poet, book editor, journalist and musician with MA and BA (Hons) degrees in English literature, Geoff has been a tutor and mentor in literature and creative writing (fiction and non-fiction), and a contributor to newspapers, magazines and literary and ‘blogging’ web pages, for many years. 

He is the author of ‘Spirals: the Pattern of Existence’ (2nd edition, 2013), a study of the prevalence and significance of the spiral form and pattern in nature and human culture, and ‘A Raft of Dreams’ (2015), a selection of his short stories and poetry. 

Geoff has created a page for the West Cork Literary Society at his website at geoffward.wix.com.