Ireland And How We Define Ourselves

The Limerick Writers’ Centre in association with the Belltable and The Western Writers’ Centre presents: Identity And How We Define Ourselves.

This is a fundraising event in aid of The Limerick Writers’ Centre.

Part 1: More Lives Than One

The Remarkable Family of Oscar Wilde Through the Generations with Gerry Hanberry.

Part 2: ‘Round The House – Irish Poetry in Three Languages’ – Music, Poetry and Performance with Fred Johnston, Shaun Leonard and guests. Sat 26th May 2012 8.30pm (Booking www.belltable.ie) Tel 061 319866

ALL TICKETS €10.00 – price includes wine reception in the gallery before show.All the money raised goes directly to support the activities of The Limerick Writers’ Centre.

MORE LIVES THAN ONE –The Remarkable Wilde Family Through The Generations with Gerard Hanberry

The story of the Wilde family across seven generations is an epic family saga of sensational triumphs and frightful tragedies. By linking the generations a more complete picture emerges of Oscar Wilde the brilliant Irishman whose wit and works still dazzle and whose tragic fall still breaks the reader’s heart.

Oscar Wilde’s veiled roots in Ireland and beyond are explored as are the lives of his parents, his brother Willie, his wife Constance, sons Cyril and Vyvyan , and descendants still alive today. This fresh narrative, which includes new insights on Oscar’s time in prison and recently discovered information on Sir William’s cover-up of his illegitimate daughters’ deaths in Monaghan, unfolds against a background of a country torn apart by rebellion and famine. The story is often heartbreaking but the cruel fates did not succeed in extinguishing Oscar’s brilliance and the ‘lord of language’ has retaken his rightful place among the great writers of the world.

‘Round The House – Irish Poetry in Three Languages’ – Poetry Music and Performance with Fred Johnston, Shaun Leonard and guests.

Fred Johnston reads from his work in French and English. Accompanying will be French violinist

Charlenè Donabédian who plays music carefully chosen to compliment the writing. This is followed by some traditional tunes and the show ends with a performance poetry piece by Shaun Leonard, based on the theme of identity and how we define ourselves entitled ‘Irish’.