UL creative writing job to carry €100k salary

A position of ‘Chair in Creative Writing’ at University of Limerick — in memory of author Frank McCourt — has been advertised with a starting salary in excess of €100,000.

The post, in honour of the Pulitzer Prize winner, has a pre-arranged requirement that up to €800,000 would have be to raised to fund the chair.

The position carries an annual salary, ranging from €106,516 — €136,276.

Funding for the initial five-year term has been sourced from private interests in Ireland and the US.

The closing date for applications is Monday, Sept 30.

Professor Tom Lodge, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, said the successful candidate will be teaching creative writing to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The chair will also be expected to work on their own personal projects, and, to foster links between UL and the artistic, cultural community in Limerick.

Professor Lodge said UL has already had a number of enquiries from established writers in Ireland.

Writers, poets, and novelists are all invited to put their name in the hat for the prestigious position.

A shortlist of about nine candidates is expected to be drawn up by the end of September.

The shortlist will be interviewed by the board, which is to include a representative of the McCourt family.

Ex-United States President, Bill Clinton, remarked on a recent visit to UL: earlier said: “I love that the University of Limerick will bring creative writing and storytelling back to Ireland in a fresh way through this chair.”

It’s hoped the chair’s trial period of five years will become a long-term commitment provided funding can be met.