Festivals

Jackie Campbell Images

Since I began this website, Festivals are something that have exploded and now offer writers and readers fantastic opportunities to attend or participate all around the country. They are too numerous to mention, but the increasingly imaginative use of venues from Merrion Square Park in Dublin for the Irish Literature Festival in May – make these events so much more accessible to walk-ins or people who might not consider themselves ‘literary festival’ types. This is fantastic as it broadens the appeal and brings writers new readers!

Likewise, the use of Libraries to hold events when a festival is taking place – has the dual function of being a familiar environment to regular users in which to hear and meet the authors of many books they may have read and enjoyed in the past.

I think particularly of the use of Bantry Library at one of my all-time favourites – the West Cork Literary Festival – held annually for over a week in mid-July. The festival opening takes place in the library – where all reading should begin. Whether it’s the charm of West Cork or the fact that I’m away from mundane home life, but I’m gluttonous to attend as many events as I can – fuelling myself in between at the various great eateries in the town and local hotels. The venues vary from The Maritime Hotel to St Brendan’s Hall and the Methodist church, to The Westlodge hotel and the sun-terrace of Bantry House –all do-able on foot – an added joy, being able to wander from a book launch to lunch to an afternoon event without stressing about moving a car or topping up parking fees!

The beauty of West Cork is all around – and respite from words is easily attainable in Glengariff, Durrus or the Mizen Head peninsula and its magnificent Barley Cove beach.

www.westcorkmusic.ie for the programme and bookings.

My second beloved festival has to be Write by the Sea, Kilmore Quay, in my beloved county Wexford. On a different scale entirely to West Cork, this friendly, intimate gathering of writers and readers doesn’t stint in the calibre and variety of artists contributing or attending. The programme is extensive and often presents dilemmas when two sought-after speakers are on concurrently! I have been saying for years that this is the best ‘boutique’ literary festival in the country, organised and run by a dynamic year- round voluntary committee with great support and increasing financial support from Rosslare Municipal District for the range of literary competitions it runs.

Held over a weekend in late September, the Stella Maris centre is the Festival hub, where participants are provided with lunch as part of their day or weekend pass. This encourages ‘mingling’ and chat among attendees at the long tables. As Kilmore Quay is synonymous with delicious seafood – this is my favourite option for the choices pre-booked when you purchase your ticket. (I did mention that this was a highly-organised festival!!)

Apart from the Stella Maris, Write by the Sea use other venues in the village – the adjacent church, the Harbourmaster’s office and the RNLI lifeboat station – all highlighting the integral part these places play in the life of Kilmore Quay.

When one of their regular venues – a local hotel – ceased to be available to the Festival as it was home to the village’s new Ukrainian residents, instead of bemoaning its loss, the committee invited the new villagers to volunteer or contribute to Write by the Sea, which provided the professional photographer, many stewards and catering assistants and a fantastic event with Yeva Skalietsa, author of You Don’t Know What War is: The Diary of a Young Girl from Ukraine in conversation with children’s author Caroline Busher.

Other highlights from 2023 were Aingeala Flannery with Rick O’Shea, and Charlotte Mendleson with Roisín Ingle.