Dublin Book Festival

The Dublin Book Festival is expanding again this year. This is an opportunity particularly for book publishers to do some promotion. The line up is a mixed bag (in a good way) with familiar and not so familiar names.

it runs from Wednesday 2nd March to Sunday 6th March

The Festival includes more than 50 readings, debates, book launches, workshops together with events for children, a special Festival Café at City Hall and the Festival Bookshop with offerings from Irish publishers.

My highlights, if I could go to all of these, would include:

Thursday 3rd MARCH
10.30: Treats for Kids – Pearse Street Library
WRITE YOUR BOOK – IN ASSOCIATION WITH FIGHTING WORDS

6.30pm: Up for Discussion – The Gutter Bookshop
TRUE CRIME: CRIMINAL MINDS
John Mooney, Barry Cummins, Abigail Rieley, Emer Connolly

Friday 4th MARCH
2.00: Come Celebrate – Launch Area, City Hall
LAUNCH OF PLATFORM 14
An Anthology of New Writing By the MA in Creative Writing, UCD 2010

4.00: Come Celebrate – Launch Area, City Hall
INSTITUTO CERVANTES DUBLIN INTRODUCE NOVELIST
MR JORGE EDWARDS

Saturday 5TH MARCH
1.00: Writers’ Choice – Council Chamber, City Hall
WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Sarah Webb, Kevin Stevens chaired by Mags Walsh

1.15: Be Inspired – The Cube, Project Arts Centre
In Association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature:
DUBLIN, ITS PLACE IN POETRY
Peter Sirr, Gerard Smyth, Michael O’Loughlin, Iggy McGovern, Jessie Lendennie, Alan Jude Moore, Máighréad Medbh

2.00: Up for Discussion – Main Stage, City Hall
IRISH CRIME WRITING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Gene Kerrigan, Niamh O’Connor, Paul Charles chaired by Declan Burke

3.10: Be Inspired – Main Stage, City Hall
FICTION: SHORT STORY READINGS
Christine Dwyer Hickey, Martin Malone, Gerardine Burke, Billy O’Callaghan, chaired by Jack Harte

4.00: Up for Discussion – The Cube, Project Arts Centre
THE PAST IS NOW: LESSONS FOR TODAY FROM IRELAND’S PAST
Ryan Tubridy, Diarmaid Ferriter, chaired by Susan Cahill

8.00pm: Evening Entertainment
– The Cube, Project Arts Centre
NIGHTHAWKS AT THE DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Performances by Totally Wired, Colm Keegan, Helene Hutchinson, Foil, Arms & Hog, Colm Liddy, Lennon v McCartney

The Good Room – The Mercantile, Dame Street All Day
Starting with a tea party extravaganza, there will be readings, Lady-dee nov’lists
swanning about in all their glory, literary heads having cosy chats with cuddly writer Brian Leyden, plus all the usual Good Room games such as ‘Bring Your Girl/Boyfriend to Meet The Mammy’ and silent scrabble with the Child Who Can Be Seen and Not Heard. Full programme with participating authors can be found at
www.dublinbookfestival.com.

Personally I'd love to participate in The Good Room. I may drop in with a new hat

Sunday 6TH MARCH
11.15: Come Celebrate – Main Stage, City Hall
THE RATHMINES WRITERS’ WORKSHOP
with short readings to celebrate 21 years of the Rathmines Writers’ Workshop

12.15: Come Celebrate – Main Stage, City Hall
SALMON POETRY: 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Anne Le Marquand Hartigan, Nessa O’Mahony, Maurice Harmon, Patrick Chapman

1.10: Be Inspired – Main Stage, City Hall
FRESH VOICES I / GUTHANNA ÚRA I
Claire Kilroy, Kevin Power, Caitríona Ní Chléirchín,
Proinsias Mac a’ Bhaird chaired by Dr. Adam Kelly

3.10: Writers’ Choice – Main Stage, City Hall
SHORT CUTS TO SUCCESS: HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR WRITING
CAREER WITH WINNING SHORT FICTION
Kate Kerrigan, Mary Malone, Ivy Bannister, chaired by Vanessa O’Loughlin

4.00: Be Inspired – Main Stage, City Hall
FRESH VOICES II
Paul Soye, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Liam Carson, Yvonne Cassidy, chaired by Sinéad Mac Aodha