The Irish Writers Centre will provide 20 bursaries for beginner and emerging writers. These bursaries will enable writers to develop their skills through funded places on Irish Writers Centre creative writing courses, and open access to individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford it. Each awardee will receive course credit worth €190 towards a course. The Irish Writers Centre facilitates up to 150 courses a year for writers at every stage of their career. We provide a range of in-person and online courses including novel writing, short story, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Browse our courses here.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- Beginner and emerging writers*
- Over the age of eighteen
- Living on the island of Ireland, and are either from or based in the North of Ireland.
- From a background typically underrepresented in the arts in Ireland.**
*Emerging writers are those who can demonstrate a commitment to writing e.g. creative writing courses undertaken, journal publications, awards or notable mentions, or other recognisable achievements.
**We aim to provide equality of opportunity for all those living in Ireland, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, as well as socio-economic background. This scheme is specifically for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in the arts on the island of Ireland: Minority Ethnic, Black or Person of Colour, D/deaf, neurodiverse or disabled, LGBTQIA+, Member of the Travelling Community, Roma and Unwaged / Low-Income.
Deadline: Wednesday 12 November at 11.59pm
Irish Writers Centre membership connects our community of writers. Benefits include discounts to our courses, masterclasses and events, as well as discounts with selected Irish bookstores. Members can also avail of exclusive member networking events or simply enjoy writing time in our beautiful building in Parnell Square, Dublin.
Under this year’s Membership Support Scheme, we are offering 20 memberships for eligible writers, each valid for one year (from 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2026).
Eligibility:
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- Over the age of eighteen.
- Living on the island of Ireland, who are either from or based in the North of Ireland.
We are taking steps to promote equality of opportunity for all those living in Ireland, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, as well as socio-economic background. This scheme is specifically for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in the arts in Ireland: Minority Ethnic, Black or Person of Colour, D/deaf, neurodiverse or disabled, LGBTQIA+, Member of the Travelling Community, Roma and Unwaged / Low-Income.
How to apply:
Applicants must apply via the Submittable link below where they will be asked to write a short answer on why they would like to receive an Irish Writers Centre membership and how it would benefit them (aprox. 200 words).
Please click here for the application form for the ACNI Membership Support Scheme.
Deadline: Wednesday 12 November at 11.59pm
Under this year’s Membership Support Scheme, we are offering 20 memberships for eligible writers, each valid for one year (from 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2026).
Eligibility:
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- Over the age of eighteen
- Living on the island of Ireland, who are either from or based in the North of Ireland
We are taking steps to promote equality of opportunity for all those living in Ireland, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, as well as socio-economic background. This scheme is specifically for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in the arts in Ireland: Minority Ethnic, Black or Person of Colour, D/deaf, neurodiverse or disabled, LGBTQIA+, Member of the Travelling Community, Roma and Unwaged / Low-Income.
How to Apply
We ask that all applicants apply via Submittable form by 11.59pm on 12 November 2025.
What is Submittable?
Submittable is an online platform that the Irish Writers Centre uses to collect and review submissions and applications. To submit your application via Submittable, applicants will need to create a Submittable account. It’s free and easy to use but if you have any issues with Submittable, please email projects@irishwriterscentre.ie. Applications will be acknowledged via an automatic email. If you don’t receive a confirmation of receipt, please contact us to check if your application has gone through.