{"id":125,"date":"2024-10-28T12:03:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T11:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/?page_id=125"},"modified":"2026-02-24T07:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T06:38:07","slug":"home-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"is-style-default wp-swiper is-style-default is-style-default\" id=\"home\"><div class=\"wp-swiper__wrapper\"><div class=\"swiper-container swiper\" data-swiper=\"{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:true,&quot;pagination&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;},&quot;delay&quot;:3000,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;loop&quot;:false,&quot;direction&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;slidesOffsetBefore&quot;:0,&quot;slidesOffsetAfter&quot;:0,&quot;autoHeight&quot;:true,&quot;spaceBetween&quot;:0,&quot;releaseOnEdges&quot;:false,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;}\"><div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\n<div data-tab=\"slide-1\" class=\"wp-swiper__slide swiper-slide\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-gradient-scaled.jpg);background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%\"><div class=\"wp-swiper__overlay-color\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-swiper__slide-content\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-d4cfc3d2\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-10dee0c0 gb-headline-text\"><strong>THE JOHN STEINBECK FESTIVAL LIMAVADY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3a1904f4 gb-headline-text\">Festival Programme<\/h1>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-37d85d28\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-b5400a28 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/#FestivalProgramme\">Find Out More<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btns125_cd59eb-e2{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns125_cd59eb-e2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btns125_cd59eb-e2\">\n<style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn125_56ea4f-27.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn125_56ea4f-27.kb-button{background:#3d0808;}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn125_56ea4f-27 kt-btn-size-large kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/cc\/steinbeck-festival-2933679\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Buy Tickets<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div data-tab=\"slide-2\" class=\"wp-swiper__slide swiper-slide\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-trio-of-books-scaled.jpg);background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%\"><div class=\"wp-swiper__overlay-color\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-swiper__slide-content\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-1f835842\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-542759f6 gb-headline-text\"><strong>THE JOHN STEINBECK FESTIVAL LIMAVADY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-6fb53c6b gb-headline-text\">Douglas Bartlett&#8217;s new book is now available in local stores.<\/h1>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-9788a986\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-f1a98163 gb-button-text\" href=\"#paypal\">Purchase the Book<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp_swiper__navigation\"><div class=\"wp_swiper__navigation-container\"><div class=\"swiper-button-prev \"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-button-next \"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-299a6d1d\" id=\"thebook\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-3147b25e\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-db0e7644\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-1b812bac\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-1b812bac\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-9640c985\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1045\" height=\"1435\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-9640c985\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett.png 1045w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett-218x300.png 218w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett-746x1024.png 746w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/steinbeck-ulster-ireland-book-cover-douglas-bartlett-768x1055.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1045px) 100vw, 1045px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-4ebbb586\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4ebbb586\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-9a1430c4 gb-headline-text\">CELEBRATING JOHN STEINBECK<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5484ebce gb-headline-text\">The Ulster and Irish Influences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-ad99e7a6 gb-headline-text\">All his life Steinbeck would \u201cclaim the Irish as his own\u201d and with some justification. This book examines the extent of Steinbeck\u2019s Ulster roots, his \u201cIrishness\u201d and the influence all this had, both on his sense of himself and also on certain aspects of his creativity.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4fecd74f\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-7d53376f\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-beb598a0 gb-headline-text\">Content Covered<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-4400a05a\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-50834388\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-50834388\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-95d56768 gb-headline-text\">A European Tour<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-e60e8e37\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-e60e8e37\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b741204f gb-headline-text\">Steinbeck &amp; Northern Ireland<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-dc4562d5\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-dc4562d5\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-27ede20d gb-headline-text\">John &amp; Elaine In Derry<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-878a6825\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-878a6825\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3866d6ad gb-headline-text\">John Steinbeck in Ballykelly<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-6e271aed\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-6e271aed\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-1a45bf48 gb-headline-text\">Samuel Hamilton<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-5f67bb74\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-5f67bb74\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-9e7a3a57 gb-headline-text\">The &#8216;Ulster Scots&#8217; influences<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-5b4597eb\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-5b4597eb\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b9314697 gb-headline-text\">Steinbeck in Ireland<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-4409edad\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4409edad\">\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-47284e4b gb-headline-text\">Steinbeck&#8217;s Irishness<\/h3>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-09a36234\" id=\"chapters\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-ada7872f\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-5c6e82e8\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-8575cfb9\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8575cfb9\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-aacb01f8 gb-headline-text\">CHAPTER 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-a2cec26d gb-headline-text\">A European Tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-c26d83f8 gb-headline-text\">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\u2019s Magazine and Elaine had been employed to take accompanying photographs. The trip had&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to arriving in Belfast, the couple had driven \u2018all around Scotland\u2019, but there is no record of them having visited Burns Cottage in Ayrshire, the birthplace of Robert Burns. This seems a strange&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that the family name was Hamilton, is it more than likely that Steinbeck&#8217;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 &#8216;demi-Irishness&#8217; ever-present in his life. Aged fifty, this was an appropriate time to investigate the roots of this Irishness first-hand&#8230;<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-19d63620\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-19d63620\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-fe04ce3f\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"575\" height=\"673\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-fe04ce3f\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/john-steinbeck-portrait.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"john-steinbeck-portrait\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/john-steinbeck-portrait.png 575w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/john-steinbeck-portrait-256x300.png 256w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-28616c63\" id=\"founder\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-fe5393bf\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-e6b041ee\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-c3d85f8c\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-c3d85f8c\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-01692a77\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"876\" height=\"1335\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-01692a77\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder.png 876w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder-672x1024.png 672w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/dougie-bartlett-author-festival-founder-768x1170.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-98c21f82\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-98c21f82\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-210704ac gb-headline-text\">BOOK AUTHOR \/\/ FESTIVAL FOUNDER<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-89cd43b0 gb-headline-text\">Douglas Bartlett<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d3e1f977 gb-headline-text\">Douglas Bartlett founded the Steinbeck Festival Limavady in 2019. As well as this booklet on Steinbeck, he is the author of &#8216;A History of Limavady and the Roe Valley (Prehistory to 1900)&#8217;, which is available to purchase at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.limavadyhistory.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>www.limavadyhistory.com<\/strong><\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-108dd541 paypal\" id=\"paypal\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-9d5e11ed center-form\">\n\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"_top\">\n  <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cmd\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/>\n  <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"hosted_button_id\" value=\"37PTMGWDYTZ5J\" \/>\n  <table>\n    <tr>\n      <td>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"on0\" value=\"Purchase your copy of Steinbeck Ulster and Ireland now!\"\/>\n        Purchase your copy of Steinbeck Ulster and Ireland now!\n      <\/td>\n    <\/tr>\n    <tr>\n      <td>\n        <select name=\"os0\">\n          <option value=\"Ireland\/United Kingdom\">\n            Ireland\/United Kingdom \u00a38.50 GBP\n          <\/option>\n        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width=\"724\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963.jpg\" data-id=\"373\" class=\"wp-image-373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963-724x1024.jpg 724w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963-768x1086.jpg 768w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963-1448x2048.jpg 1448w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028963.jpg 1587w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/li><li class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item\"><div 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kadence-blocks-gallery-intrinsic\" style=\"padding-bottom:140%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028966.jpg\" width=\"368\" height=\"518\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028966.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028966.jpg\" data-id=\"375\" class=\"wp-image-375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028966.jpg 368w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028966-213x300.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/li><li class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item-inner\"><figure class=\"kb-gallery-figure kb-gallery-item-has-link kadence-blocks-gallery-item-hide-caption\"><a 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height=\"512\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028965.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028965.jpg\" data-id=\"377\" class=\"wp-image-377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028965.jpg 369w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028965-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 369px) 100vw, 369px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/li><li class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item-inner\"><figure class=\"kb-gallery-figure kb-gallery-item-has-link kadence-blocks-gallery-item-hide-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-scaled.jpg\" class=\"kb-gallery-item-link\"><div class=\"kb-gal-image-radius\" style=\"max-width:768px;\"><div class=\"kb-gallery-image-contain kadence-blocks-gallery-intrinsic\" style=\"padding-bottom:133%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-768x1024.jpg\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-scaled.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-scaled.jpg\" data-id=\"378\" class=\"wp-image-378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1000028711-1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-c3f4a954\" id=\"program\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-a69b33af\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-4da664fc gb-headline-text\">Dust Bowl Photographic Competition 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3de8e4e4 gb-headline-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/roevalleyarts.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/roevalleyarts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre<\/a> in partnership with The Steinbeck Festival are thrilled to announce the Dust Bowl Photographic Competition 2025. The Festival events celebrate Steinbeck\u2019s connection to the Limavady area through art, music, literature and film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-0853a371 gb-headline-text\">Entries are invited for the fourth annual John Steinbeck Dust Bowl Photography Competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-14c4e405 gb-headline-text\">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\u2019s 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 \u201cHome Place\u201d Steinbeck claimed he had found, \u201cthe seat of my culture and the origin of my being and the soil of my background\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5e91a250 gb-headline-text\">This year\u2019s competition theme is \u201cLeaving\u201d, 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\u2019s works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-53507f2d gb-headline-text\">Entry to the competition is free and there are no age limits on participant entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-323b1a0a gb-headline-text\">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; <a href=\"mailto:steinbeckfestival@gmail.com\">steinbeckfestival@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-04b3b28a gb-headline-text\">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&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinbeckfestival.com\/Steinbeck_Photo_Comp_Press_Release_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Steinbeck_Photo_Comp_Press_Release_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\/<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.steinbeckfestival.com\/Steinbeck_Photo_Comp_Press_Release_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">terms and conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-30a38dd4 gb-headline-text\">The closing date for the competition is Sunday 8th December 2024.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-97393ecb\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-eac0b825\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-98322e48\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-364824c5\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-364824c5\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-d4dc32a9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"249\" height=\"114\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-d4dc32a9\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-bass.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-bass\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-613495e5\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-613495e5\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-ca2a512f\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"252\" height=\"122\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-ca2a512f\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-roe-park-resort.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-roe-park-resort\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-692df5a2\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-692df5a2\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-999818d2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"196\" height=\"106\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-999818d2\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-us-embassy-1.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-us-embassy\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-5b72ac53\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-5b72ac53\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-57045b5c\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"214\" height=\"120\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-57045b5c\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-limavady-friends-of-steinbeck.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-limavady-friends-of-steinbeck\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-1a5df06d\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-1a5df06d\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-78e14c99\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"227\" height=\"122\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-78e14c99\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-roe-valley-arts-cultural-centre.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-roe-valley-arts-cultural-centre\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-532d50c2\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-532d50c2\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-a437c40a\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"129\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-a437c40a\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/client-ulster-university.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"client-ulster-university\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-4e688f22\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4e688f22\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-b3686b9e\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"129\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-b3686b9e\" src=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/cafe-steinbeck.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"cafe-steinbeck\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Content Covered Purchase your copy of Steinbeck Ulster and Ireland now! Ireland\/United Kingdom \u00a38.50 GBP European Union \u00a310.45 GBP United States of America \u00a312.20 GBP Australia \u00a313.25 GBP 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. &#8230; <a title=\"Home\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Home\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-125","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":89,"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":379,"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions\/379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/steinbeckfestival.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}