Irish Literary Festivals in 2015

Meet your favourite authors, bestselling cookery writers, famous critics, makers and movers of the publishing industry and like-minded book lovers at Ireland’s many literary festivals. Plan your holidays accordingly!

Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival

18-22 March 2015

Website: www.mountainstosea.ie

Twitter: @mountainstosea

Dun Laoghaire has been the birthplace and inspiration for many of Ireland’s most influential, entertaining and popular writers, including James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw and Flann O’Brien. To celebrate its literary heritage and landscape, the Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival invites the audiences for five days of readings, spoken word events and workshops for all ages. Now in its 7th year, the Festival will be taking place in the recently opened dlr LexIcon building.

Doolin Writers’ Weekend

27-29 March 2015

Website: www.doolinwritersweekend.com

Twitter: @hoteldoolin
The 3^rd Doolin Writers’ Weekend offers an eclectic mix of workshops, readings, theatre, music and food and has something for every level of writer from beginners to expert wordsmiths and lovers of literature alike. Located amidst the breathtaking beauty of North Clare, Doolin is surrounded on all sides by natural wonders, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands and the Burren and has always been a tonic for the soul of the weary traveller. Famed for its warm welcome and traditional Irish music, Doolin has also long been a haunt of artists and writers including J.M Synge, George Bernard Shaw, Dylan Thomas, Augustus John and Oliver St. John Gogary.

Cúirt International Festival of Literature

21-27 April 2015

Website: www.cuirt.ie/en
A six day international event that takes place in Galway City every April, Cúirt is one of the oldest and most recognised literature festivals in Europe.

Listowel Writers’ Week

27-31 May 2015

Webiste: www.writersweek.ie

Twitter: @writersweek
Perhaps the biggest literary festival in Ireland, Listowel Writers’ Week was established in 1970 and since then it has attracted international heavyweights such as JM Coetzee, Kazuo Ishiguro, Lionel Shriver and Germaine Greer to its relaxed atmosphere. In fact, it’s the mixture of talent and fun that creates the magic and attracts thousands of book-lovers, critics and writers to this lovely town in County Kerry.

Ballymaloe LitFest

May 15, 16, 17 2015

Website: www.litfest.ie

Twitter: @litfestie
For the third time in a row, artisan food and great literature will be celebrated on the idyllic grounds of Ballymaloe House and Cookery School, attracting foodies, journalists, writers, chef, foragers and wine experts. Visitors enjoyed meeting guests and speakers including Darina and Rachel Allen, Yottam Ottolenghi, Réne Redzepi, Ross Lewis, and many more, and the idea of mixing locally sourced food and literary talks has since established the Ballymaloe Litfest as THE foodie destination de jure!

International Literature Festival Dublin (formerly: Dublin Writers’ Festival)

16-24 May 2015

Website: ilfdublin.com

Twitter: @dubwritersfest
Formerly known as Dublin Writers’ Festival, the International Literature Festival Dublin continues to champion Dublin’s position as a UNESCO World City of Literature, celebrating the local alongside the global and the power of words to change the world. Each year International Literature Festival Dublin assembles some of the finest writers in the world, a tantalizing mix of new faces and household names both home grown and International, in unique, inspiring encounters.

Dalkey Book Festival

11-14 June 2015

Website: www.dalkeybookfestival.org

Twitter: @dalkeybookfest
A local initiative with global impact, Dalkey Book Festival was set up to celebrate and foster the wealth of literary talent in and around the town. Since its launch in 2010, the festival has hosted internationally renowned writers, including Booker Prize winners, a Nobel Laureate, Impac winners, Oscar winners and Tony award nominees.

Dublin Book Festival

November 2015

Website: www.dublinbookfestival.com

Twitter: @DublinBookFest
The Dublin Book Festival is one of Ireland’s most successful and vibrant book festivals, running since June 2005. From lunchtime readings and informal clinics with Irish leading agents and publishers, to a busy programme of public interviews with best-selling writers and poets, history talks, book launches and children’s programme, the Festival offers an entertaining, friendly and accessible environment that reflects the creativity and personality of the Irish publishing sector and its authors.

Pictured: Francis Brennan and Dermot Bannon at the 2014 Dublin Book Festival