All Write: 1. Mairead Buike ; 2. Aoife O'Mahoney and Maeve McDonagh; 3. Noelle Campbell-Sharpe. (Pix. BME)
The
Listowel Writers’ Week launch at Dublin’s Mansion House saw figures from all
walks of literary life celebrating the 42nd edition of Ireland’s oldest literary
festival. Guests were treated to wine and canapés while they were entertained
by the beautiful voice of gorgeous soprano, Mairead Buicke.
Attending
on the night were authors Kathleen MacMahon, Claire Kilroy and Gavin Corbett
who were among the shortlist for the important Kerry Group Irish Novel of the
Year Award, which was unveiled at the event. There were authors from the
festival line up in attendance, with Evelyn Conlon, John Montague and Elizabeth
Wassell at the event, along with journalist Sinead Gleeson who will be hosting
some of events with some of the high profile writers at this year’s
festival.
Listowel
Writers’ Week this year features 130 events in 30 venues over 5 days. Founded
in 1970 to celebrate Listowel’s rich literary history, the Festival has grown
to become one of the most prestigious events in Ireland’s literary calendar,
giving writers from across the globe a forum to develop their talents and meet
new audiences.
This
42nd edition of Listowel Writers’ Week features a wealth of talent from home
and abroad, with appearances from Nadeem Aslam, Dermot Bolger, Marina Chapman,
Emma Donoghue, Honor Donohoe, Robin Dunbar, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Peggy
Gallagher, Thomas Keneally, Gene Kerrigan, Martha Long, Colum McCann, Alison Moore,
Andrew Miller, Rebecca Miller, Peter Murphy, Audrey Niffenegger, Colm Tóibín
and Willy Vlautin.
Listowel
Writers’ Week is from 29 May – 2 June. www.writersweek.ie
