Maria McManus- poet and playwright. mariamcmanus55@gmail.com
All text & images © 2013-2016 Maria McManus.
All rights reserved.
I was born on the island of Enniskillen and live in Belfast.
My most recent work is We are Bone (Lagan Press 2013). I am currently working on a large scale installation and exhibition for October 2016 – Cirque des Oiseaux with artists Liam de Frinse, Irene Uhlemann, Tom Hughes and Rosie McGurran. I have recently been awarded an Artist’s Career Enhancement (ACES) award by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland towards the development of the text and the concept of this project.
I am currently a poetry mentor for the Poetry Society and can provide mentoring and feedback in 1:1 sessions, either in person or online via Skype. These sessions can be booked through the Poetry Society.
Other current projects include:
The Solitude Workshops: support and mentoring for creative people.
Ormeau Road Literary Walking Tours with Jason O’Rourke
Nov 2015, Svensk/ Sweden: a photographic exhibition Kaffe O
April 2016, The Old Post Office, Clones: a photographic exhibition at The John Hewitt, Donegall Street, Belfast.
In 2015, I have been a participant on residencies at the Yeats International Literary Residency Tranas, Sweden, The Old Post Office, Clones and Cill Railaig Artists’ Retreat with the Irish Writers’Centre.
Previous poetry includes The Cello Suites (Lagan Press 2009), which has been recorded with an original score composed and played by the cellist Tom Hughes.
Reading the Dog (Lagan Press 2006) my first collection of poetry, was runner up in the 2007 Strong Awards at the Poetry Now International Festival and was also short-listed for the 2007 Glen Dimplex New Writers Award. In 2008 and 2012 I was awarded an Arts Council individual artist award. In 2005 I was awarded the inaugural Bedell Scholarship for Literature and World Citizenship, by the Aspen Writers’ Foundation, Colorado USA.
In 2008 I co-wrote Bruised for Tinderbox Theatre Company. In 2006/07 I was playwright on attachment to Tinderbox. Previous theatre credits include His n Her’s and Nowhere Harder (2006) for Replay Theatre Company, and The Black-Out Show (2006) for Red Lead Arts
Inishlacken
Reflections on Inishlacken
Stone on Inishlacken
We’ll have to get together for a catch-up. x
Yes JJ – that’d be craic.
Fado, fado, fado…
once upon a time there was…. foals leaping, and a dream of salamanders.
Congratulations Maria – you’re leaping in all the best possible ways. Rosie x
working through those poems of yours now…. Irene x