David Butler is being supported with time, space, and financial support to concentrate on his own writing as well as a programme of engagement and interaction with the local community.

Laois is a county where culture and creativity are recognised as being integral part of life. The Creative Ireland vision for Laois is to nurture and foster creative expression in all its diversity; to embrace and welcome new ideas; and to create the conditions to help turn those ideas turn into reality and embed creativity into all aspects of the social, economic and cultural life of the county. The new writer-in-residence programme will draw inspiration from this theme in a variety of ways over the months ahead. 

Laois Writer-in-Residence 2020 is jointly funded by Laois County Council and Creative Ireland Laois and is hosted by Dunamaise Arts Centre.

Originally from Kilminchy, Portlaoise, now living in Bray, David Butler is a multi-award winning novelist, poet, short-story writer and playwright. His novel, City of Dis (New Island) was shortlisted for the Irish Novel of the Year, 2015. His second poetry collection, All the Barbaric Glass, was published in 2017 by Doire Press. His second short story collection, Fugitive, is forthcoming from Arlen House.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.