Kildare County Council Arts Service invites applications to the Dennis O’Driscoll Literary Bursary Awards 2024. The Dennis O'Driscoll Literary Bursary Award is open to both established and emerging writers and critics from or currently residing in county Kildare. It is expected that two bursary awards will be awarded in 2024:
- Established Writer Bursary (€2,000): open to applications from professional writers in any genre to augment their professional practice, particularly research towards the production of new writing.
- Emerging Writer Bursary (€1,500): open to applications from emerging writers in any genre for professional development/training opportunities. e.g. participation in a professional training course, mentoring, or other initiatives, which will expand existing practice.
It is envisaged that the awardees will be presented with the award at an event as part of the Kildare Readers Festival (October 2024 Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge) with an opportunity to read from their work.
Dennis O'Driscoll was a poet, essayist, critic, editor and mentor. Considered as one of the best European poets of his time, his book on Seamus Heaney is regarded as the definitive biography of the Nobel Laureate. Born in Thurles, Co Tipperary in 1954, O'Driscoll made Naas, Co Kildare his home until his death in December 2012. The inaugural Dennis O'Driscoll Literary Bursary was awarded by Kildare County Council in 2018.
We welcome applicants who represent the diversity of Irish society. We encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic background.
We welcome applications from writers whose first language is not English.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants might consider demonstrating how their proposed activity addresses the themes of climate change and climate action.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants might consider demonstrating how their proposed activity addresses the themes of inclusivity, equality and cultural diversity.
Kildare County Council is committed to fair pay and a policy to Pay the Artist. Please refer to the Arts Council's policy on
Paying the Artist when valuing artists’ time and those collaborating with you.
Your attention is also drawn to
safetocreate.ie, where you will find more information about the Safe to Create Dignity at Work programme which aims to impact change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers.
Application deadline
Applications will only be accepted via the online application form.
Applications must be submitted before the deadline at 12pm Wednesday 28th February 2024.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
We suggest that applicants try to submit their application form early in case of technical difficulties. Should they arise, please email arts@kildarecoco.ie and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Supporting Material
It is advantageous to include supporting material that enhances your application.
All applications to the Dennis O'Driscoll Literary Bursary Award 2024 must be accompanied by:
- A current biography and/ or cv, outlining details of career to date
- A statement of interest outlining the intentions or specific body of new or distinct work for which the bursary award would be used, including a time scale
- An excerpt of recent work, published, unpublished, or work in progress (of not less than 10 pages)
Applications for informal training should include details about the individual or organisation providing the training. The award is not intended to support formal, third level studies.
Applicants should not assume that the independent assessment panel are familiar with your work or your previous funding history. As the bursary will be awarded on the basis of information supplied in the application, candidates should ensure that sufficient information is presented. The panel will use the supporting material to get a better understanding of the track record of your creative collaborator(s) and the feasibility of your proposal.
Information Session
Kildare County Council Arts Service will host a number of Information Sessions in locations throughout the county about applying for arts grants and bursary awards with Kildare County Council. Sessions will be of particular interest to individual artists, art collectives, community groups, youth groups and schools who intend to apply for Arts Grants from Kildare County Council in 2024.
Information Sessions:
Please note that information imparted at each session will be the same - there is no need to register to attend all 3 sessions. All are welcome to attend this FREE session, but booking is recommended.
In addition, an information video will be made available via Kildare Arts Service’s
YouTube and social media channels from Monday 22nd January 2024.
If you need help to complete and submit your application we want to hear from you. Please email or call the Arts Service team at least three weeks before the award deadline, or as early as possible, to give us time to assist you. Email: arts@kildarecoco.ie / Tel: 045 980872.