The Galway City Council Arts Office and Áras Éanna Arts Centre on Inis Oírr are launching a new Emerging Writers’ Residency in memory of the late Pat Coleman, a well-known and popular figure in Galway City who died in 2022.

An electrician who worked as a projectionist, Pat loved books and especially loved Irish writers including Brendan Behan, Mary Lavin, Patrick Kavanagh and James Joyce.  His grá for the arts and music eventually led him to work at Galway Arts Centre.

When Pat began suffering from health issues that required long periods in hospital and ultimately changed his life, his many friends organised fundraising events to help him meet the costs of independent living.  However, Pat died on December 19,2022, something that had not been expected, despite his ill health.

Pat’s friends decided that the money they had raised to support him, would instead celebrate his life and love of the arts, and so they set up this residency. It’s a three-year programme, and the first residency, running for three weeks, will be next May.

The successful applicant will receive:  A return bus and ferry from Galway City to Inis Oírr, Self-catering accommodation for the duration of the residency; A €2,000 stipend; Dedicated studio space at Áras Éanna Arts Centre; Mentoring workshops.

Applicants must be resident in Galway City and be available to take up the full residency in May 2025.

To apply, people should email arts@galwaycity.ie with the following: A cover letter and proposal on what you hope to work on during the residency; A CV; Samples of your work.

The closing date for applications is  Friday, March 14, and the name of the successful applicant will be announced on Thursday, March 20.

For more information, go to galwaycity.ie/artsgrants.

Pictured: The late Pat Coleman.