The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Winning line-up for Writers’ Week
ONE of the most revered American novelists of his generation is to open Listowel Writers’ Week, amid another great line-up set to quicken the literati pulse ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend.
Richard Ford is the big name talent secured to open proceedings, on May 31, on a festival that is also welcoming another huge talent back to Listowel by popular demand – Graham Norton.
Throw in names like Margaret Drabble, Sophie Hannah, Donal Ryan, Granta editor Sigrid Rausing, Booker nominee David Szalay, 2016 International Dublin Literary Award winner Akhil Sharma and Listowel ancestral son Fergal Keane and you’ve all the ingredients for five days of absolute book-lover bliss.
Festival Chairperson Liz Dunn said the event was delighted with the line-up on its announcement on Thursday: “As ever we are delighted to bring both established and emerging talent to be discovered by all book lovers in the heritage town of Listowel.”
Living up to its reputation as one of the liveliest literary festivals in the land, Writers’ Week is planning far more than simply readings and Q&A sessions for its 46th meeting.
Comedy, kids’ fun, drama, music, literary tours, watering-hole stops and much more will abound in a truly festive programme, as every.
Norton returns by popular demand to Listowel as an acclaimed novelist this year after his recently published Holding knocked the socks off readers and critics.
Indeed, demand for his return was so popular that it resulted in early-bird tickets selling out in a matter of hours. Expect a throng.
Opening night is likely to prove everybit as popular with booklovers set to beat a path from across the country to hang on Richard Ford’s every word as he launches proceedings on Wednesday, May 31.
The author of modern classics The Sportswriter and its sequel Independence Day comes will also discuss his latest book Between Them: Remembering My Parents at Writers’ Week.
For fans of the short story, there’s a treat in store as Costa Short Story winner Jess Kidd reads with homegrown talents Mike McCormack and Alan McMonagle.
Workshops are as ever a key part of the festival, with the hilarious duo of comedians Helen Lederer and Ian McPherson on hand to deliver a masterclass in How to Write Comedy among the great programme.
Performances of Bookworms, Awhile with Healy, Letters of a Successful TD and Peter Sheridan’s one-man show Made in Dublin will delight drama fans all week long.
Details of the National Children’s Literary Festival will be revealed later this week, meanwhile.
For the full programme visit www. writersweek.ie.