Hay at Kells

The program for the inaugural Hay festival at Kells is packed but not many appeal to me personally. I've always wanted to go to the festival in Hay-on-Wye so I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest.

Here are some that look worth catching

Friday 28th June
EIRGRID STAGE
€4
Owen Sheers Pink Mist – Reading followed by Q&A
A reading from this verse drama originally broadcast over a week on Radio 4. Three school friends return from Afghanistan to face the consequences of their tours, for them and the women in their lives. Drawn from interviews with wounded veterans, Pink Mist is a lyric narrative of rare dramatic and emotional intensity.
Q&A chaired by Peter Stanford.

8.30PM
EIRGRID STAGE
€8
Jeanette Winterson
The Biggest Book Club In Ireland
The author of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, The Daylight Gate and The Passion introduces her fabulous memoir Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal.

Saturday 29th June
9PM
THE RAILWAY BAR
FREE BUT TICKETED
Poetry At The Railway Bar
An evening of poetry and entertainment featuring Gerry Stembridge, Myles Dungan, Nerys Williams and Sean Rocks, presenter of Arena on RTÉ Radio 1, with music from Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé

Sunday 30th June
12.30PM
BRESLIN STAGE
€5
Karlin Lillington, John Maher and John Kampfner
Blog And Be Damned: Social Media And Libel In Ireland
What constitutes fair comment, as opposed to defamation, on social media and should the standard be the same as for traditional media?
Is the freedom inherent in social media threatened by the chilling effect of potential claims for libel?
To what extent should tweeters and bloggers be as aware of the dangers of libel as are professional journalists?
Karlin Lillington of The Irish Times, barrister John Maher, and Google’s John Kampfner discuss with Myles Dungan

2PM
EIRGRID STAGE
€6
DBC Pierre
The Booker Prize-winning author makes a rare public appearance to discuss his life and work with Sean Rocks, presenter of Arena on RTÉ Radio 1

2PM
CHURCH OF IRELAND
€4
Peter Fallon and Vona Groarke
Poet, editor and publisher, founder of The Gallery Press, Peter Fallon reads poems from his published works alongside award- winning poet Vona Groarke, whose collections include Spindrift, Juniper Street and Flight.

and yer man from the Great British Bakeoff (a secret pleasure of mine)
3.30PM
EIRGRID STAGE
€5
Brendan Lynch
Kells native Brendan, a finalist in 2012’s Great British Bake Off, has been passionate about baking for 30 years. Join him as he demonstrates some of the skills that took him to the final and talks to Fáilte Ireland Food Champion Olivia Duff about his plans to take baking into retirement homes.

5PM
EIRGRID STAGE
€6
John Boyne
This House Is Haunted
The author of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and The Absolutist introduces his new novel. Eliza Caine arrives in Norfolk to take up her position as governess at Gaudlin Hall on a dark and chilling night... He talks to Sean Rocks, presenter of Arena on RTÉ Radio 1.

Also Victorian Afternoon Tea
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY 28–30 JUNE,
2PM–6PM
EDMUND RICE CENTRE
Kells Arts Club are hosting an afternoon tea with literature, poetry and song