Kilmore adds Banville and Johnston to festival line-up
TWO MORE top authors have been added to the programme for the third ‘Write by the Sea’ Kilmore Quay Literary Festival, which takes place from September 28 to 30.
Wexford’s own John Banville will be featured in conversation with Derek Hand, Head of the School of English in DCU and author of several books including ‘John Banville: Exploring Fictions’.
2017 was another vintage year for the Wexford-born Banville, with the publication of his new novel ‘Mrs Osmonde’, described as ‘a masterful and luxuriant reworking of the end phase of the Henry James’ 19th century classic The Portrait of A Lady’ He is regarded by many as one of the finest writers of modern times. Meanwhile, John’s alter ego Benjamin Black was equally busy with ‘Prague Nights’, another thriller featuring Quirke the pathologist, set in 16th-century Prague.
Jennifer Johnston has also been added to the line-up; she will be interviewed by Jackie Hayden, who has previously interviewed Dervla Murphy, Paul O’Brien and Cat Hogan at the festival.
Jennifer Johnstown has been a major figure in Irish literature since her debut novel ‘The Captains and the Kings’ was published in 1972. 18 novels later, she has scooped several awards including the Whitbread Book Award for ‘The Old Jet’; a lifetime achievement from the Irish Book Awards; an Irish Pen Award; and a Giles Cooper Award for ‘O Ananias, Azarias and Misael’. She was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize for ‘Shadows on our Skin’.
Write by the Sea chairperson Lucy Moore said she was delighted with the addition of the two authors to what is already a busy programme.
‘Apart from a strong local presence on the programme, the addition of two star names from the Irish literary firmament, alongside such key contributors Kit de Waal, the crime novelist Cath Staincliffe, short-story writer Rob Doyle, Eleanor McEvoy and RTE presenter Rick O’Shea, means that Write By The Sea 2018 is shaping up to be our most exciting year to date.’
The Write By The Sea 2018 committee has expressed gratitude to the festival’s sponsors, and Wexford County Council and Wexford Arts Centre for their support. Details of the programme and booking facilities are on the Write By The Sea 2018 website www.writebythesea.ie.