The Long Room, Trinity College
GET INSPIRED IN LITERARY IRELAND
The Irish literary traditions are ancient and well-known, from the ancient bards and storytellers to the modern giants of literature. Not surprisingly, these literary traditions are part of Ireland's living culture today, as Ireland continues to spawn talented new generations of writers. You'll find plenty of inspiration at these literary festivals, joining other poets, musicians, storytellers and novelists as well as editors, publishers and booklovers. Enjoy!
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April 18-23
CÚIRT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE
Galway City, Co. Galway
Featuring 70+ events across poetry, prose, music and spoken word, the festival also offers writing workshops for children. Inspired by the Gaelic court of poets, Cúirt is a gathering of like-minded people sharing a love for literature, ideas and debate.
cuirt.ie
May 19-28
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Merrion Square Park, Dublin
Ten days of readings, conversations, debates, screenings, guided walks, events, podcasts and broadcasts mark the International Literature Festival each year. The prestigious Dublin Literary Award winner is announced on May 25, adding to the excitement.
ilfdublin.com | dublinliteraryaward.ie
Entrance to The Book of Kells at Trinity College Library, Dublin
May 31-June 4
LISTOWEL WRITERS’ WEEK
Listowel, Co. Kerry
Actor and writer Stephen Rea receives the John B. Keane Lifetime Achievement Award, and is joined in Listowel by Paul Brady, Paul Muldoon, US National Book Award winner Tess Gunty, Megan Nolan and Michael Magee. Stephen Sexton, Tess Taylor and Wendy Erskine lead poetry workshops.
writersweek.ie
June 12-18
BLOOMSDAY CELEBRATIONS
Dublin, Co. Dublin
Since 1994, Dublin’s James Joyce Centre has organized the annual Bloomsday Festival, a celebration of James Joyce’s masterpiece, Ulysses. Literary exhibits, lectures, readings, reenactments and walking tours of Dublin bring to life June 16, 1904, the day on which the great novel took place.
bloomsdayfestival.ie
The James Joyce Centre
June 15-18
DALKEY BOOK FESTIVAL
Dalkey, Co. Dublin
Founded in 2010, the annual Dalkey Book Festival celebrates and fosters literary talent in Ireland, hosting some of the world’s leading writers and thinkers. As featured musician and writer Bono noted, “the scale of the town is small, but the size of the ideas are gigantic.”
dalkeybookfestival.org
June 16-18
FESTIVAL OF WRITING AND IDEAS
Borris, Co. Carlow
Celebrated historians, activists, musicians, journalists, environmentalists and literary thinkers gather each year at the Borris House in Carlow to discuss their writing and the importance of sharing ideas. Among this year’s lineup are Philippe Sands, Elaine Feeney, Stanley Tucci, Donal Lunny and Monica Ali.
festivalofwritingandideas.com
July 7-14
WEST CORK LITERARY FESTIVAL
Bantry, Co. Cork
Located on the Wild Atlantic Way overlooking Bantry Bay in the heart of West Cork, the festival offers workshops, readings, writing instruction and events for children. Featured writers include Raymond Antrobus, India Knight, William Wall, Maurice Devitt, Cal Flynn and William Keohane.
westcorkmusic.ie/literary-festival
Benbulben, Co. Sligo
July 27-August 4
64th YEATS INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL
Sligo Town, Co. Sligo
Devotees of Irish poet William Butler Yeats gather each summer to attend lectures and seminars, poetry readings, tours, music, readings and cultural events. Yeats won the coveted Nobel Prize for literature in 1923, and organizers plan to mark the occasion.
yeatssociety.com/yeats-summer-school
September 22-24
WRITE BY THE SEA
Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
Held in a fishing village overlooking the Saltee Islands off the Wexford coast, this boutique literary festival offers a platform for established and emerging authors to explore the writing process with a series of talks, readings, interviews and workshops.
writebythesea.ie
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ireland.com