Poet returns to native county after being named Cork County Council's new writer in residence 

ALTHOUGH poet Victoria Kennefick is based in Kerry at present, she’s a Cork woman through and through and, for that reason, her appointment as Cork County Council’s new writer in residence for the next 10 months was a source of great delight for her, she said.

In her role, the award-winning poet, whose collection Eat or We Both Starve (Carcanet Press 2021) won the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize, will return to her native county to organise a programme of workshops in libraries in Bandon, Cobh, Kanturk, Carrigaline, and Mitchelstown.

The 10-month stint for the Shanagarry poet will include engagement with writers groups and community organisations as well as young people. She will be visiting libraries and also providing guidance online.

Following her appointment, Victoria said Cork County Council had provided her with “many opportunities as an emerging writer in the past” and that it was “an honour to pay it back in this way”.

“I am delighted, as a Cork woman, to be returning to my native county to collaborate with writers, students, and readers in developing and enriching their relationship and engagement with literature,” she said.

“I am looking forward to meeting and collaborating with writers all over the county.”

The Mayor of County Cork Frank O’Flynn said the authority was “delighted to be working with a writer of Victoria’s calibre”.

“Her experience and enthusiasm for writing in all its forms will lend itself to a very successful residency,” said Mr O’Flynn. “This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring writers and readers in the county to engage with a published writer. With this residency, we aim to promote creative writing and reading contemporary literature in the community.”

Victoria’s second collection is Egg/Shell (Carcanet Press, February 2024) and is available for pre-order now. She is currently working on her first novel.

The residency is managed by Cork County Council Library and Arts Service. This position is supported by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Creative Ireland.