Dublin Book Festival is back from 4 – 8 November, celebrating 20 years of showcasing Ireland’s writers and publishers. Over five days, more than 120 events will take place in venues all across Dublin. Whether you’re an avid reader, more into sitting back and listening to a storytelling session or poetry readings, or just in it for the buzz of book launches, there’s something for everyone on this year’s programme. We’ve picked some highlight events to catch at this year’s festival.
The Festival Hub this year is at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and the line-up includes some household names on the Irish book scene, from Roddy Doyle and Anne Enright to Marian Keyes. Our top picks, catch one of Ireland’s most exciting contemporary authors, Kevin Barry and the Irish Times Books Editor, Martin Doyle at A Hosting on Saturday evening, discussing their own careers and writing, as well as Ireland’s rich literary landscape, past, present and future. On Sunday, lyrical writers Niamh Campbell and Doireann Ní Ghríofa discuss their haunting new novels, exploring memories and voices from the past that linger.
It’s not just the established names though, the festival has become a solid platform for discovering exciting new voices, with writers including Booker Prize longlisted Djamel White on this year’s programme. The DBF After Dark Club is back in Bartley’s Lounge at The Grafton Hotel for another year, and on Thursday evening you can catch authors Ruth McKee, Edie May Hand and Juliano Zaffino discussing their striking debut novels at Emerging Voices.
Ireland’s literary scene is thriving with smaller independent presses and literary journals, so the Indie Press Celebration is not to be missed. This two-part event includes a panel discussion with the editors and publishers from four presses, followed by dynamic readings of fresh new work from writers representing further independent presses. Want to make an evening of it? Stick around for the karaoke evening taking place after.
Book festivals hold space for profound panel discussions on pressing issues, more lighthearted and entertaining conversations, and everything in between. Two events take place next week that will be merging great humour with reflections on life stories and striking moments from our cultural history. On Thursday evening, authors Colm O’Regan and Páraic Kerrigan delve into their new books, uncovering the humour, quirks and contradictions that make Irish culture so distinctive, from the language we use to our unique pop culture. On Saturday evening, award-winning comedian Mario Rosenstock will be in conversation about his new memoir, taking readers behind the scenes on his memorable journey with Today FM’s Gift Grub show.
A full day of events takes place on DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus, with a timely theme. Literature and the Digital Age includes a series of events, including discussion, readings, poetry, and an open mic, examining the fate of the written word and storytelling in the content flood of the modern digital world. How does technology impact writers and storytelling, for better and for worse? Head to DCU next Thursday to find out. Speakers on the day include Colin Barrett, Rob Doyle, Roisin Kiberd, Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, and more.
As well as new and emerging voices, the festival brings diverse and marginalised voices to the forefront. This year’s Thinking Aloud, Thinking Aloud event sees award-winning Irish Traveller writer and curator Oein DeBhairduin, and Swedish Sámi writer, editor and activist Patricia Fjellgren, exploring what it means to create, remember and resist as Indigenous artists in Europe today.
The writing community is at the heart of the programme too, with many events offering writers’ discussions aimed at developing their own practice. At A Sense of Place, writers Danielle McLaughlin, Rob Doyle and Neil Tully join Naoise Dolan to talk about the importance of location and setting as a character. Whether you’re a writer or just a big reader, this event promises to offer a deep dive into how setting can be such a captivating aspect of any read.
Literary events come in all shapes and formats, and we love to see an exciting new literary journal on the scene. Head to PANDEMONIUM: Live Comics Readings to hear first about this new journal publishing later this year, which will feature Ireland’s most dynamic and innovative comics. Experience top comics creators Phil Barrett, Alan Dunne and Katherine Foyle reading from their work, before joining editor Eoin Rogers for a lively conversation about the comics they created for the first issue.
It’s not all listening and watching, though, at this year’s festival, with plenty of opportunity to join in and take part, from creative workshops to open mics. Multilingual Open Mic and Seanachaí Night, Off the Scéal, rounds out this year’s festival on Sunday evening at the Teeling Distillery in the Liberties. Whether storytelling, poetry, singing, or comedy is your jam, this event promises a lively evening of creative expression and community, whether you’re kicking back and enjoying it from the audience or behind the mic up on stage.
Dublin Book Festival takes place 4 – 8 November in venues around Dublin. See the full programme here: https://dublinbookfestival.com/explore-the-programme/
