Molly Keane's House as Writer's Retreat

  The late writer Molly Keane who lived until her death in Ardmore, Co. Waterford will see her literary tradition live on in her former home at Dysert, Ardmore. An inaugural Writers retreat week in association with the County Arts Office was held in August 2010. Owing to its success, plans are underway for a similiar event in 2011.

This year Waterford County Council’s Arts Office will be supporting non residential bursaries for Co. Waterford writers to attend the Keane Writers Retreat in Ardmore, Co. Waterford in August 2011. Details of how to apply will be posted in June 2011. Forthcoming events include:

9th April 2011 - With Writer Lani O' Hanlon       14th May 2011 - With Writer Lani O' Hanlon

4th - 6th June 2011 - With Writers Polly Devlin & Robert O'Byrne

15th - 21st August 2011 - With Special Guest, Writer and Poet, Thomas McCarthy

You can see details on the Keane Writers Retreat on http://www.mollykeanewritersretreat.com/

Situated above Ardmore Bay, the house is conducive to creativity and is available for hire to Writers and Writers groups during the year. Molly's daughter Virginia Brownlow says ‘When my father died my mother, bought Dysert in 1950. She spent the money she earned from the successful London production of her play  ‘Treasure Hunt’ and within a few years she had transformed a raw seaside bungalow into a tucked away surprise and without any garden centres she planted the windswept hillside, creating the sheltered wild garden.

It was as she entered old age that she wrote ‘Good Behaviour’ which was short listed for the Booker Prize. It was followed by two more best sellers, ‘Time After Time’ and ‘Loving and Giving.’ She often wrote in her bed undistracted by amazing sea views. Hospitality was a high priority and she had a passionate interest in people.  Ardmore enabled her to heal from the loss of my father. I think she would have relished the idea of her house filled with writers. No one knows better than she did what hard work writing can be. Her Ardmore environment nourished her creativity, as I hope it will nourish the creativity of contemporary writers.’    

County Arts Officer, Margaret Organ said that the Keane family had been very supportive of the national annual Keane Creative Writing Award run the by Co. Arts Office and this new venture will offer Molly Keane’s creative space to local writers and writers from further afield.Details of the location and accommodation can be viewed on www.dysert.co.uk