CELEBRATING JOHN STEINBECK
The Ulster and Irish Influences
All his life Steinbeck would “claim the Irish as his own” and with some justification. This book examines the extent of Steinbeck’s Ulster roots, his “Irishness” and the influence all this had, both on his sense of himself and also on certain aspects of his creativity.
Content Covered
A European Tour
Steinbeck & Northern Ireland
John & Elaine In Derry
John Steinbeck in Ballykelly
Samuel Hamilton
The ‘Ulster Scots’ influences
Steinbeck in Ireland
Steinbeck’s Irishness
CHAPTER 1
A European Tour
In August 1952, John and Elaine Steinbeck came to Northern Ireland intent on visiting the tiny village of Ballykelly. Their visit was part of a working holiday that had begun in March of that year. John had been commissioned to travel Europe writing articles for Collier’s Magazine and Elaine had been employed to take accompanying photographs. The trip had …
Prior to arriving in Belfast, the couple had driven ‘all around Scotland’, but there is no record of them having visited Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, the birthplace of Robert Burns. This seems a strange…
Given that the family name was Hamilton, is it more than likely that Steinbeck’s Ulster Scots ancestors came from Ayrshire. Steinbeck may, or may not have been aware of this connection, but by this point he was focused on a long-cherished mission to uncover the reality of his Irish ancestry and its background. He said he had grown up with a strong sense of ‘demi-Irishness’ ever-present in his life. Aged fifty, this was an appropriate time to investigate the roots of this Irishness first-hand…
BOOK AUTHOR // FESTIVAL FOUNDER
Douglas Bartlett
Douglas Bartlett founded the Steinbeck Festival Limavady in 2019. As well as this booklet on Steinbeck, he is the author of ‘A History of Limavady and the Roe Valley (Prehistory to 1900)’, which is available to purchase at www.limavadyhistory.com. The author is a native of Limavady and a former Vice Principal and Head of History in Limavady High School where he worked for thirty five years.
Dust Bowl Photographic Competition 2025
Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in partnership with The Steinbeck Festival are thrilled to announce the Dust Bowl Photographic Competition 2025. The Festival events celebrate Steinbeck’s connection to the Limavady area through art, music, literature and film.
Entries are invited for the fourth annual John Steinbeck Dust Bowl Photography Competition.
John Steinbeck was a US Nobel Prize Winning author whose work includes; Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. Steinbeck’s maternal grandfather, Samuel Hamilton, was born in Ballykelly in 1830, and his influence on the author, and his Irish roots generally, had a profound effect on the creativity and passion in his writing. His work, though often describing grim reality and disappointment, usually expresses sympathy for the oppressed. It celebrates the simple joy of life and reveals a great fondness for the natural environment. John Steinbeck visited Ballykelly in 1952, the same year he published the novel East of Eden whose main character was named after his grandfather and was attributed many mannerisms of his Ulster heritage. On his visit to his “Home Place” Steinbeck claimed he had found, “the seat of my culture and the origin of my being and the soil of my background”.
This year’s competition theme is “Leaving”, and the judges would like to encourage the widest possible interpretations of this idea. Emigration, separation from family, embarking on journeys, memories of home or the past are some thoughts to suggest suitable subjects. A first prize will be awarded on merit and outstanding runners up will also receive commendations. The judges will consider general photographic and artistic merit as well as relevance to the recurring themes in Steinbeck’s works.
Entry to the competition is free and there are no age limits on participant entry.
A maximum of three original Single Digital Images that have not been used commercially or been entered in any other competition may be entered. Digital images should be submitted along with full name, contact details and image title to the following email address; steinbeckfestival@gmail.com.
The sender must be the owner of the photograph(s) and if applicable, hold the portrait rights. Commendations and prizes will be awarded on the basis of general photographic and artistic merit as judged by the jury, as well as on their specific relevance to the literary legacy of John Steinbeck and the recurring themes in his work. For further information please refer to the press release/terms and conditions.
The closing date for the competition is Sunday 8th December 2024.
