During his term as Laureate for Irish Fiction,
Sebastian Barry set out to ‘celebrate the golden age of readers and writers’
across Ireland, and in particular to reach out to communities of readers who
had more limited access to literature and literary events. Over the course of
nearly three years, Sebastian Barry has led book club events with people in
health care settings and in hospitals, with people recovering from homelessness
and with people living in direct provision.
Since October, ten book clubs engaging over 100 readers
in prisons across Ireland have completed reading Sebastian Barry’s novel The
Secret Scripture. The
book clubs took place in education centres atArbour Hill, Castlerea,
Cork, The Dochas Centre, Limerick, Midlands, Mountjoy, Mountjoy Medical Unit, Portlaoise,
Shelton Abbey and Wheatfield.This week, those
readers will enjoy a digital book club event with the Laureate, moderated by Janet
Fulop - English Teacher at Limerick Prison. Sebastian Barry will have the
opportunity to hear reader observations and to answer questions that arose
during their discussions.
Speaking about his book club programme, Sebastian
Barry said: “What a privilege and a joy to receive the amazing questions and
comments from the wonderful members of the book club. They rose to the
challenge magnificently. The spirit of Roseanne, the main character in The
Secret Scripture, will be so bolstered by their insights, empathy, and
compassion.”
The Arts Officer for the Prisons
Service, Tom Shortt said: “The project has excited genuine interest in
reading contemporary Irish literature as part of an experience of second chance
education. Prisoners find that the curiosity to read, in order to find out what
happens next, and the camaraderie of book club discussion groups linked to the
opportunity to express themselves, is an antidote for the isolation and boredom
of imprisonment during lockdown. There
are plans to repeat the exercise, to keep the book club together and to
continue to tap into the energy of a large group of readers, teachers and
indeed writers working together, on the same page, across the prison service.”
Sarah Bannan, the Head of Literature at the
Arts Council said: “Since he took up
the position of Laureate for Irish Fiction in 2018, Sebastian Barry has made it
his mission to connect directly with readers. People from every walk of life
have met his books with empathy and imagination, and it has been so heartening
to see the enthusiasm for contemporary Irish fiction up and down the country. The
Arts Council firmly believes that every person living in Ireland has the right to create, engage with,
enjoy and participate in the arts; we could not be prouder to work with Irish
Prison Service on this series.”
Sebastian Barry is delighted to have found a way to
continue with the book club in prisons despite all the challenges presented.
Originally it was planned that he would
visit the four prisons for the book club event.
Following a difficult year, for people in custody, prison
education centres reopened in September which allowed for the book club to
begin in ten locations with assistance from the dedicated teaching staff. The
digital format, while not ideal, has ensured the Laureate event can be
delivered to each location in as safe way.
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