Eileen O’Toole
Event Manager
Born in Wicklow. Immigrated to Toronto. Returned to Ireland in 1999. Took advice from a stranger and landed in Drumshanbo summer of 2000.
One of the original organisers of the first Written Word Weekend’s 2009-11.Sound effects performer for RTE Junior Star- Jay Ryan (Living with a Fairy and the Musicians of Brementown).
Singer/songwriter/stand-up/storyteller/sound therapist. Philosopher of the unsaved and not so brave.
Conor McManus
Event Manager
Conor Mc Manus is a writer of short stories, memoir and poetry. He has had work published in; Southword, The Moth, Crannog, Stinging fly, Force Ten. He has read on RTE radio, and in the U.K. as part of and artist exchange programme. Has had his story; ‘Tea Break’ read by a troupe of actors in public performance at the Glens Centre Manorhamilton. He has been short listed for the Fish short story competition on two occasions and won a bursary to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. He published a chapbook in 2020 with a bursary from Roscommon County Council. He is author of DRUMSHANBO, a collection of twenty five short stories narrated in a boys voice. He is presently working on a novel.
Catriona Kelly
Festival Treasurer
Our Treasurer is a native of Drumshanbo and has volunteered in this capacity for various groups previously. We are delighted to have her on board to keep the paperwork in order.