Deadline: 31st October
We are pleased to announce the highly anticipated launch of the 2023 Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. This prestigious award aims to foster and encourage the tradition of the short story and has attracted a high calibre of entries since its inception in 2006.
The Michael McLaverty Short Story Award offers a significant prize of £2,000 for the winning story. Additionally, each of the two runners-up will receive a prize of £250. In recognition of their exceptional contributions, the winning story and the two runners-up will be published in a limited anthology.
Deadline: 31st August
With the support of the Ulster-Scots Agency, The Linen Hall will be hosting its third annual Ulster–Scots writing competition this summer.
There will be two competition categories, one for prose and one for poetry. The winner for each section will receive £500 and one runner-up for each section will receive £250.
The winners will be announced during the Ulster-Scots Language Week in November and the winning entries will be published in a special edition anthology.
Friday 11th August | 1.00pm | FREE
Delve into the fascinating world of Northern Ireland’s mills with a true expert, Sebastian Graham. Sebastian possesses unparalleled knowledge of these historical landmarks. Join us for an insightful talk where Sebastian will highlight the rich historical significance of our textile mills and crystallise the critical importance of preserving the remaining mill sites for the built environment.
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Wednesday 16th August | 1.00pm | FREE
Embark on a fascinating journey through time and design as we unravel the remarkable story of ‘Design and Modernity at The Old Bleach Linen Company.’ Join us as we explore the pivotal role that design played in shaping one of Ulster’s most illustrious linen firms.
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Wednesday 23rd August | 1.00pm | £5.00 – £6.50
Ireland in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was not a good place to be a woman. Among the wave of emigrants from Ireland to North America were many, many young women who travelled on their own, hoping for a better life. Some lived lives of quiet industry and piety. Others quickly found themselves in trouble.
Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, in conversation with Kathy Clugston, talk about their bestselling book and tell the strange, funny, and often moving stories of these Bad Bridgets, young women who left their impoverished homeland and ended up as sex workers, thieves, kidnappers and killers.
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Wednesday 30th August | 6.00pm | £5.00 – £6.50
Join us at The Linen Hall for a special evening of readings, honouring the esteemed poet Seamus Heaney on the tenth anniversary of his passing. In collaboration with the Seamus Heaney Centre (QUB), this event celebrates Heaney’s profound influence on a new generation of poets.
The evening will feature readings by poets from the Heaney Centre, including Stephen Sexton and Dawn Watson. Take this wonderful opportunity to rediscover Heaney’s timeless poetry and the wonderful work it has helped to inspire.
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Thursday 31st August | 1.00pm | FREE
Set in modern-day Ireland, The Stamp of Beauty is a gripping tale that follows a young married woman as she seeks solace from her manipulative mother through an intense affair with an older man, only to discover that her lover is a mirror image of her mother – just as seductive, just as demanding, and ultimately just as dangerous.
Join author, journalist, and commentator, Fionola Meredith, in conversation with Robbie Meredith, about her debut novel and the complexity of human relationships.
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Every Thursday | 11.00am
Discover some of Belfast’s Blue Plaques on this city centre walking tour. Placed by Ulster History Circle, each plaque marks the home or workplace of a famous historic person in The Linen Hall area.
Book by phone, email or via our website.
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Every Thursday | 2.00pm
During the 1800s Belfast and its surrounding towns exploded with industry. One of the most significant industries of that time was the linen industry. Discover the history of Belfast’s linen trade on this city-centre walking tour. Many buildings in The Linen Hall area reflect the city’s past as a global industrial hub of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Book by phone, email or via our website.
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The Linen Hall (Belfast Library And Society For Promoting Knowledge) is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 104 564.
