We are looking forward to welcoming old friends and new to this year’s festival – taking place from Thursday, October 5th to Sunday October 8th.

We have many fantastic authors, writing in a variety of genres, coming to read and be interviewed at events taking place across the weekend – we are confident that this year our programme will have something to suit all tastes. 

Returning favourites include Donal Ryan, who will be in conversation with Shane Coleman on Friday night. We know how much our audience loved Donal’s previous visit to us in 2019 and we look forward to catching up with him about his writing. 

Shane will be back in the interviewer’s chair on Saturday when he sits down with Sophie White for what should be a fascinating conversation with an author who has wowed critics and readers alike in recent years. 

On Saturday afternoon, journalist Sally Hayden will be with us to talk about her multi-award-winning book ‘My Fourth Time, We Drowned’, on migration and human rights.

Fíona Scarlett and Elaine Feeney also join us that afternoon while later on Saturday night we have one for the sports fans. Paul Howard, who was one of the stars of our inaugural festival in 2017, will be joined on stage by the one and only Roddy Collins. The pair will be discussing Roddy’s memoir The Rodfather, written with Paul and published to acclaim last year. 

As always, our festival welcomes visiting literary figures and also promotes the many talented writers based closer to home. This year we are looking forward to hearing from Disha Bose, Mary Morrissy, and Sara O’Donovan at our Local Voices event on Sunday. Mary will also be with us on Saturday for an event devoted to the work of the late Hilary Mantel. 

Another local writer joining us this year is Jerome Lordan, while Alice Taylor is making the short trip from Innishannon for what should be a lovely event in Friar’s Lodge on Friday. 

Workshops have always been an important part of the festival and this year we are offering learners the chance to take part in a book-binding class or learn about the fascinating art of Haiku poetry. 

And not forgetting the next generation – in addition to our schools programme we have an enchanting story time in the library on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon, Paul Howard will delight the younger readers with his event in the Trident.

Events are taking place at a number of venues, including The Lord
Kingsale, The Trident Hotel, The Methodist Church and Prim’s Bookshop.

We know many of our loyal audience like to go to multiple events so this year we will be offering a great-value festival pass (excluding workshops) for those who want to make a weekend of it.

So please take the time to browse our programme and get booking – see you in October!