The Waxed Lemon

The Waxed Lemon Literary Journal

The Waxed Lemon is an Irish literary journal based in Waterford, Ireland, that publishes contemporary poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. The journal focuses on nurturing emerging and established writers, with an emphasis on innovative and diverse voices.

History

Founded in 2020 by editors Joanne McCarthy and Derek Flynn, The Waxed Lemon has become an important platform within Ireland’s literary scene.

Joanne McCarthy is a poet, editor, moderator and facilitator. She holds a M.A in Poetry and a M.Phil in Geography and writes bilingually in English and Irish. She was selected for participation in Céadlínte, Poetry Ireland Introductions in 2024.

Derek Flynn is a Waterford author, playwright, and musician with a MA in Creative Writing. He is the author of six novels, including the John Ryan series featuring the eponymous ex-cop turned private detective. His award-nominated plays have been performed in Garter Lane Art Centre, Waterford, and Smock Alley, Dublin, amongst other venues.

Since its establishment, the journal has published numerous issues featuring a curated selection of poetry, short stories, flash fiction and art.

The journal is known for its close ties to the Waterford arts community and its engagement with local cultural initiatives.

Content and Contributors

The Waxed Lemon publishes original creative writing across genres. Its contributors include a range of Irish writers, and the journal blends international and national voices with writing from the southeast of Ireland. The journal highlights new voices in poetry and prose, emphasizing quality and innovation.

Cover Art and Design

The Waxed Lemon features distinctive cover artwork for each issue, often showcasing visual artists from the Waterford region and beyond. The journal's covers have included original paintings, photography, and mixed-media pieces that complement the literary content.

Cover artists include:

• Ruth Flynn, Ken O Neill, Christopher Woods, Nerosunero, Aisling le Gros, Emma Eustace, John Bermingham,Silvio Severino and Julianne Guinee.
• The editors often collaborate closely with these artists to select or commission artwork that reflects the themes of each issue, reinforcing the journal’s commitment to interdisciplinary creativity.

Collaborations and Projects

Ekphrasis Project 2022

In 2022, The Waxed Lemon collaborated with the Waterford Gallery of Art and Summer in the City on the Ekphrasis Project, an initiative pairing visual artworks from the Waterford Municipal Collection with newly commissioned poetry.

Key aspects of the project included:

• Free guided writing workshops and public poetry readings hosted by editors Joanne McCarthy and Derek Flynn.

• Commissioned poems inspired by artworks and written by poets such as Molly Twomey, Frank Farelly, Joe Meagher and Christa de Brun.

• Community engagement activities including art activity packs in English, Irish, and Ukrainian for children.

The project was supported by Creative Ireland and Waterford City & County Council, aiming to foster creative dialogue between literary and visual arts within the community.

Community Engagement and Events

The Waxed Lemon actively participates in regional cultural events, helping to promote literature and the arts within Waterford and beyond. Its involvement includes:

• Poetry Day: Hosting readings, workshops, and other poetry-focused events to celebrate National Poetry Day in Ireland.

• Culture Night: Participating in the nationwide event by organizing literary activities, including public readings and community workshops.

• Culture Night 2023: Hosted an Erasure Poetry Workshop at Waterford Gallery of Art on September 22, 2023, engaging participants in creative writing through erasure poetry.

• Waterford Writers' Weekend: Collaborating with this annual festival by featuring readings from contributors and supporting workshops that highlight new writing and emerging voices.

• Cork World Book Festival 2024: Joanne McCarthy represented The Waxed Lemon at the "Spotlight on Literary Journals" panel discussion, held on April 24, 2024, at Cork City Library. The event explored the dynamics of publishing literary journals in the contemporary digital landscape.

• Write By The Sea Festival 2024: In 2024, The Waxed Lemon partnered with the Write By The Sea Literary Festival in Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford. The journal published the four category winners of the festival's writing competition in its Winter 2024 edition. Joanne McCarthy and Derek Flynn also joined the judging panel for the competition.

Recognition and Funding

The Waxed Lemon received initial funding from Creative Waterford through their Open Call grant programme. Subsequent issues have been supported by the Arts Office, Waterford City and County Council; supporting its role as a significant literary platform in the region.

Notable Events

• Issue 5 Launch at The Book Centre 2023: The journal launched Issue 5 at The Book Centre in Waterford on March 3, 2023, featuring poetry, short stories, and songs by contributors.
• Issue 6 Launch at Waterford Writers' Weekend 2023: The Waxed Lemon launched Issue 6 as part of Waterford Writers’ Weekend (October 26–29, 2023), among other events such as a Speakeasy Open Mic event at The Book Centre. The weekend featured the announcement of the Waterford Poetry Prize 2023, workshops with poets including Colm Keegan, Lani O’Hanlon, Louise Bradley, Joanne McCarthy, and Patrick Holloway, plus a poetry jam with Luke Morgan and Molly Twomey.
• Issue 7 Launch at The Book Centre 2024: The Waxed Lemon launched Issue 7 in August 2024 at The Book Centre, Waterford. The journal posted: “AND ISSUE 7 IS LAUNCHED!!! Huge thanks to everyone who came along, including our contributors who read and spoke about their work. We would like to extend our gratitude to The Book Centre for hosting us and to the Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council, for their continued support.”
• Issue 8 Launch at Waterford Writers’ Weekend 2024: The Waxed Lemon launched its eighth edition at the closing event of Waterford Writers’ Weekend on October 27, 2024, at the Waterford Gallery of Art. The journal hosted readings, coffee and treats, and the announcement of winners of the 2024 Waterford Poetry Prize adjudicated by Colm Keegan.
• Issue 9 Launch at Seán Dunne Literary Weekend 2025: The Waxed Lemon Issue 9 was launched on June 13th during the Seán Dunne Literary Weekend at the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore. The event included readings from contributors and live music performances.

Contributors by Issue

Issue 7

Features the work of Gail Purdy, Frank Farrelly, Vicky Morris, A.N. Grace, Stephen de Búrca, Simon Maddrell, Sorcha Hartley, R. A. Allen, Mary Howlett, Cathy Fowley, Marie Dolores, Micheál Ó hAodha, Katherine Kelly, Victoria Sellar, Abigail Denniston, Edward Denniston, Conor Griffin, Mona Lynch, Edward Lee, Fionn Andrews, James Croal Jackson, Suzanna Fitzpatrick, Andreas Pargger, Nicole Ardiel, Margaret Galvin, Nessa O’Mahony, Marie Le Men, Jorge Leiva, Daragh Byrne, Eric Gabriel Lehman, A.M. Cousins, J.C. Alfier, C.E. O' hAodhagáin and Michael G. Smith.

Issue 8

Features work by Ronán P. Berry, Katie Beswick, Faye Boland, R.J. Breathnach, Rose Butler, Miranda Corcoran, Carmel Cummins, Maurice Devitt, Abbie Doll, Seán Dunne, Eleanor Fuller, Bex Hainsworth, Jen Herron, Jim Xi Johnson, Carella Keil, Annmarie Lally, Esther Lay, Christopher Linforth, Kevin MacAlan, Lorraine McArdle, Nuala McEvoy, Alan Murphy, Amanda O’Callaghan, Tomás Ó Coileáin, Lani O’ Hanlon, Elizabeth Oxley, Cáit Pléimionn, Silvio Severino, Lasairíona Scarff, Gail Sheridan, Anne Tannam, Joanne Touhey, and Elaine Westnott-O’Brien.

Issue 9

Features the work of Alison Burns, Alice Huntley, Kate McHugh, Jeff Tobin, Louie Rudge, burke, Mandy Beattie, Kerri Sonnenberg, Catherine Daly, David Ryan, Wes Lee, Pauline Flynn, Breda Spaight, Hazel Falkiner, Rachel Burns, Finola Cahill, Brad Gray, Gail Sheridan, Lorcan Walshe, Mícheál Ó hAodha, Nuala O Connor, Breda Joyce, Lesley-Anne Evans, Barbara Browne, Michael Conley, Hannah Doherty-Greene, Catherine Ronan, Siobhán Twomey, Laoighseach Ni Choistealbha, Kate McAllan, Gormfhlaith Ní Shiocháin Ni Bheoláin, Kevin McAlan, Lauren O' Donovan, Molly Corlett, Louise Neiland, Barry Lennon, Annette Condon, Patrick Agnew, Catherine Cronin, Terri Metcalfe and Jessica Foley.

File:Waxed Lemon 9 Cover.jpg

Waxed Lemon 9

References

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