Carlow University MFA in Creative Writing

Another wonderful day for the Carlow MFA community, as we heard a reading from the fabulous Dublin poet Tara Bergin, followed by a conversation with Irish mentor Carlo Gébler and Trinity Alum Virginia Evans, and an incredible performance of traditional Irish music at the James Joyce Center.

A stunning opening dinner for the Trinity residency of Carlow’s MFA. We heard readings from our amazing Irish mentors as well as the fabulous Geeta Kothari, our visiting American mentor. And we had the privilege of eating at The 1592, right on Trinity’s campus.

Our opening speaker was the amazing Sara Baume! Sara shared with us about the writing process and inspiration for her novels and works of creative nonfiction. She was introduced by our program mentor Brian Leyden. We are so grateful to Sara for sharing her wisdom!

Today the is off to see the Book of Kells at the wonderful
The book is a testament to the great artistic and literary legacy of not just Trinity College, but Dublin as a whole. It's a great honor to witness such a gorgeous piece of history, and there's nobody better to share it with than the wonderful writer's of the MFA program!

students arrived today at the beautiful and historic Trinity College in Dublin, where they'll be hard at work at the 2026 MFA residency.
Workshops with our wonderful Irish mentors begin tomorrow, but the fun starts today with a walking tour from James Heaney, and a trip to O'Neill's for dinner.

Current MFA fiction student Theresa Doerfler will complete her final defense and give a defense reading in Ireland on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Trinity College, Dublin.

We expect Theresa's defense reading to begin approximately at 2 p.m. in Ireland/9 am in the U.S. Theresa's reading will be in person and live-streamed via zoom. Below is an eventbrite link if you want to RSVP to attend the reading:
https://bit.ly/3Qwwnco

Theresa's manuscript mentor is our longtime and much-loved mentor Niall Williams. She will be reading from her manuscript of linked short stories titled Visitation.

Congratulations Theresa as you prepare to finish the program.

We are delighted Geeta Kothari will be joining us in Dublin as the visiting American mentor in June.

As part of our June residency, Geeta will be reading on Monday, June 8 at 6pm at Books Upstairs (Dublin's oldest independent bookstore) with Evelyn Conlon and our new mentor in Ireland Sarah Moss. The reading is free and open to the public.

Our longtime mentor Niall Williams bestselling novel This is Happiness makes a cameo in the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. Kenneth Branagh (who plays Miranda Priestley's husband in the film) is seen reading the book!

British Vogue was the first to notice this
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/the-devil-wears-prada-2-questions

This is Happiness is a great novel if you have not read it you must!

Our new mentor in Ireland Sarah Moss has published a wonderful essay in yesterday's Irish Times on the relationship of reading to writing.

Here's a link to the essay:
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/people/2026/05/04/some-students-believe-they-can-be-writers-without-reading-this-raises-many-questions/

Congratulations Sarah, so much truth in this essay! We look forward to welcoming you to our MFA program in June.

Longtime mentor in our program Evelyn Conlon's novel, Not the Same Sky, has been translated into Irish and the Irish translation will launch on May 13.

As part of celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Australian Embassy Ireland will host the launch of the translation into Irish of Evelyn Conlon's Not the Same Sky, Ní hIonnan Spéir on Weds, May 13th. This novel, first launched at NSW Houses of Parliament in 2013, was the subject of the author's series of lectures, Corridors of Truth, What Fiction adds to History.

Many Congratulations Evelyn! We look forward to seeing you in June.