34 Writers Selected for Irish Writers Centre’s National Mentoring Programme 2025
The Irish Writers Centre has today announced the 34 talented writers chosen for its prestigious National Mentoring Programme 2025, following an exceptional response to this year’s nationwide callout, which attracted 354 applicants. Each selected writer will receive one-to-one mentoring from an established writer, offering invaluable creative and professional guidance over the coming months.
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Now in its eighth year, the National Mentoring Programme (NMP) has become one of the most significant supports for emerging and mid-career writers across Ireland. Run by the Irish Writers Centre – the country’s leading organisation for writer development – the initiative plays a crucial role in shaping Ireland’s literary landscape by nurturing talent at pivotal stages in a writer’s journey. Since its founding in 1991, the Irish Writers Centre’s mission has been to support the life of the writer – those whose ideas and words illuminate and influence the culture around us.
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The impact of the National Mentoring Programme is evident in the success of its alumni, many of whom have gone on to be published and celebrated widely. Past mentees include Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Fíona Scarlett, Will Keohane and Victoria Kennefick – all of whom are now recognised names in Irish writing.
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Colin Barrett, the acclaimed novelist and short story writer who was longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize for Wild Houses, served as a mentor last year. Reflecting on his experience, he said: “The National Mentoring Programme helps connect aspiring writers with the larger Irish literary community. It offers new writers a way into the contemporary writing landscape. For my part, I enjoy discovering the work of new voices, and helping them refine and develop that voice.”
One of his mentees, 2024 recipient Eimear Arthur, praised the mentoring experience, stating: “Colin Barrett has been generous and knowledgeable in answering my questions, from the mundane to the philosophical…. Seeing my stories through Colin’s lens has been hugely helpful.”
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The 2025 programme is co-funded by a remarkable collective of county arts offices, libraries, arts centres, and other cultural bodies across Ireland, ensuring that local talent from diverse counties is identified and nurtured. This model of partnership makes the programme unique and inclusive, with representation from:
Carlow County Arts Office, Dublin City Libraries & Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Arts Office, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Libraries, Droichead (Louth) Arts Centre, Fingal Arts, Galway City Arts Office, Kildare Arts Service, Kilkenny Arts Office, Limerick City & County Arts Office, Mayo Arts Office, Meath Arts Office, Roscommon Arts Centre, Sligo Arts Office, South Dublin Arts Office, The Source Arts Centre (Tipperary), Westmeath Arts Office, Wexford Arts Office, Wicklow Arts Office and the Arts Council of Ireland.
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Commenting on the announcement, Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, said: “We are hugely grateful for the funding support for NMP from the county councils all over Ireland. We see the appetite for creative writing mentoring increasing significantly across all our programmes and are aiming to meet those demands”.
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With the 2025 cohort now confirmed, the Irish Writers Centre continues to celebrate the power of mentorship in fostering the next generation of Irish literary talent.
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For more information about the Irish Writers Centre’s National Mentoring Programme, visit irishwriterscentre.ie.
