Creative Writing and Live Literature in Ballynahinch and Saintfield Libraries

Creative Writing and Live Literature in Ballynahinch and Saintfield Libraries
Published 29 Apr 2025

Creative writing

Libraries in Newry, Mourne and Down are offering two fantastic literary events on Monday 6 May, inviting local communities to engage with words, storytelling and performance.

Creative Writing Workshops – Ballynahinch Library

Ballynahinch Library is hosting a series of creative writing workshops for adults as part of the People Space Place project. Facilitated by local writer and poet Niamh McNally, the sessions will explore local identity and personal expression through writing about Ballynahinch. The aim is to explore all things Ballynahinch; the history and what each person's relationship is to the space they live in.

Niamh, originally from Belfast, has a deep passion for poetry and creative writing. She has delivered poetry workshops in the Seamus Heaney Home Place and her work has been published in The Tulsa Review, Tír na nÓg, Capsule Stories, and The Galway Review. Niamh’s poetry has recently been featured by the BBC, the NI Human Rights Commission and Bushmills' Causeway Collection campaign.

Workshops will take place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on:

Tuesday 6 May
Tuesday 20 May
Tuesday 3 June

These free workshops are supported by the Ballynahinch Community Collective and Choice. All participants are welcome and are encouraged to attend even if they have not already written poetry or prose, it's a great place to start.

Booking is essential.


Earlier the same day, Tuesday 6 May, Saintfield Library will host a special performance reading at 2:00pm. Local writer and dancer Anthea McWilliams will read from her book Born to Prance – one woman’s humorous and heartfelt story of dancing across Ireland.

This event is free and open to all adults. No booking is required – just come along and enjoy.

To book a place for the Ballynahinch workshop, contact Ballynahinch Library on 028 9756 4282 or email ballynahinch.library@librariesni.org.uk.
For more information on the event in Saintfield, call 028 9751 0550 or email saintfield.library@librariesni.org.uk.