Last September, the board of Listowel Writers’ Week disbanded the volunteer committee which has been in place since the festival’s inception in 1970.
This was on foot of a report by consultant Dermot McLaughlin which recommended a restructuring of the organisation.
The chair of the board of Listowel Writers’ Week Catherine Moylan said Mr McLaughlin advised that his recommendations were necessary to ensure the festival’s survival.
Ms Moylan said the report highlighted a negative culture within the organisation.
This is disputed by volunteer committee members who have pointed to the decision of Colm Tóibín to resign as festival president as a result of the controversy as well as the support of 16 authors who called for the committee’s reinstatement.
Treasa Murphy spoke to Moyvane poet and author Gabriel Fitzmaurice who outlined his connections to Writers’ Week.
