Display embraces women as great Irish writers

Reclaiming female writers' rightful place in the pantheon of Irish literary greats is the aim behind a new exhibition running in Johnston Central Library. This is the first time photographer Ursula Burke's exhibition, with the pointedly gender neutral title of 'Irish Writers' has been displayed, and the opening night attracted some of the nation's best wordsmiths to Cavan. The work is the Belfast based photographer's rebuke to the famous poster, also entitled 'Irish Writers' that adorns many classroom walls but doesn't feature a single female. "The idea was to redress that imbalance," explained Ursula, "in terms of representation of literary activity in Ireland, that it's not all men who are involved in literary arts." For more on this story and other Arts & Ents, buy this week's Celt.