THE past festive season was extra special for newly- weds Yvonne Coleman and James Twohig as it was on a December 26 night out that the couple first laid eyes on each other.

Life in Listowel conjures images of Synge’s words, ‘the springtime of the local life has not been forgotten’. With cuts to arts budgets around the country, it is more imperative than ever that the likes of Writers’ Week see resources renewed and replenished, writes Jim Kennelly