Books by the barrow-load for Listowel

BOOKS are going into Listowel by the barrow-load as Writers’ Week announces the full line-up for the 46th annual festival – opening on Wednesday night, May 31 and running until Sunday, June 4.

Little Becky Grainger was on hand to provide a face for all this wordy excitement on the announcement of the full line-up at Listowel Garden Centre (above); where she was joined in an exploration of the many titles - for young and old - featuring in this year’s festival by Laura Enright and Writers’ Week Chairperson Liz Dunn.

“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” Ms Dunn said in announcing the full line-up.

Award-winning American novelist Richard Ford – a regular visitor to the west of Ireland – will do the honours when it comes to opening the festival at the Listowel Arms Hotel on the Wednesday night. Ford, author of The Sportswriter, Independence Day and Canada, will also be reading from his latest book Between Them: Remembering My Parents during the festival.

Alan Cumming and Graham Norton are some of the other massive names Kerry-bound, with IMPAC winner Akhil Sharma, Granta Editor Sigrid Rausing, Booker nominee David Szalay, BBC’s Fergal Keane and Sophie Hannah all having confirmed their attendance too. Other names on the way include Festival President Colm Tóibín, Dame Margaret Drabble, MJ Hyland and Donal Ryan.

Costa Short Story Winner Jess Kidd will read with Mike McCormack and debut novelists Alan McMonagle and Lisa Harding will read together and Lisa McInerney will read from her second novel on the Sunday of the festival.

Comedians Helen Lederer and Ian McPherson will meanwhile facilitate the self-explanatory workshop ‘How to Write Comedy’ and they will also interview each other in what’s sure to be a rather mirthful event.

The National Children’s Literary Festival, running as part of the Week will feature favourite writers like Holly Webb, Nick Sharratt, Sarah Webb, Oisin McGann, Ryan Tubridy and PJ Lynch among others.

Tickets are now available online at www.writersweek.ie.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Becky Grainger delves into the magical world of reading at Listowel Garden Centre with Laura Enright and Writers’ Week chairperson Liz Dunn equally transfixed behind. That literary feeling is in the North Kerry air once more just weeks out from the...