Event Theme

The Opening Ceremony of Writers' Week promises to be an evening of expectation, celebration, entertainment and music. The presentation of the Writers' Week Literary Awards will add sparkle to the opening ceremony, the highlight being the announcement of the winner of the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award for 2010.

This years' festival will be opened by Mr Justice Bryan McMahon the son of writer Bryan MacMahon and a native of Listowel. He received his BCL and LLB degrees from UCD and later undertook postgraduate study at Harvard Law School. He returned to Ireland in 1967 to take up a post as a Statutory Lecturer in the Law Faculty of UCC. During his time at UCC Mr. Justice McMahon went on to become Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Law. In 1987 he joined the law firm of Houlihan & McMahon as a Senior Partner. In 1999 he was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court and in 2007 a Judge of the High Court. Mr. Justice McMahon has co-authored many legal texts including Law of Torts and Casebook on Irish Law of Torts (both co-authored with W Binchy) and European Community Law in Ireland, co-authored with F. Murphy. Mr Justice McMahon is also Chairman of the Board of the Abbey Theatre.

Entertainment on the evening will be provided by The Listowel Singers directed by Colm O'Brien. Winners of many Awards, the Listowel Singers appeared twice on The Late Late Show. They sang High Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Rome, had a private audience with the Pope and performed a number of Concerts during a Tour of Rome. The Listowel Singers have also performed in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York.

Entry Fee

€10

Venue

The Arms Hotel

Time

Wednesday 2nd June 8.00pm