This time of year there seems to be a rash of literary festivals. We just had Red Line Book Festival run by South Dublin Libraries in Tallaght last week and now we have three more festivals coming up in Limerick, Sligo and Dublin.
The Cuisle International Poetry Festival is on in Limerick from 24th to 26th October. Poets featured include Anthony Cronin, Biddy Jenkinson, Macdara Woods, Hugh Maxton, David Wheatley, Adam Wyeth, Jo Slade, Ron Carey and Kerrie O’Brien. Among the other highlights of the festival is a young poets award and the launch of the Stony Thursday Book 2013 on the evening of 24th October. This year the editor is Paddy Bushe and I’m delighted to have a poem included, a sestina, The Poet’s Work. I’m looking forward to being there on launch night. A full programme of events is here.
Shore Writers’ Festival is now in it second year and takes place in the Ocean Sands Hotel, Enniscrone, Sligo, between 1st and 3rd November. Shore is the brainchild of Elizabeth Reapy, founder and editor of Wordlegs online literary journal. I had the pleasure of meeting and reading with Liz at Listowel Writers’ Week earlier this year and she is an immensely talented writer, brimming with energy and ideas. Unfortunately I can’t make it along this year, but I recommend it highly for those interested in writing, whether it be to hone one’s skill at a poetry or story workshop or listen to a panel discussion or just to enjoy the performances of a wide variety of very talented writers who will be there. There is a very interesting interview with Liz at Short Story Ireland and the full programme of events is here.
The Dublin Book Festival is also coming up soon. It will be held between 14th and 17th November at the Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar, and has a hugely impressive list of events. Authors include Patrick McCabe, Paul Howard, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Jennifer Johnston, Niamh Boyce, Sinead Morrissey and Leanne O’Sullivan. You can view the complete programme here.
There’s bound to be something for everyone in one of these.
