Dalkey is drawing on its wealth of local literary talent this weekend in the first ever Dalkey Book Festival. The three-day event kicks off today with Michael James Ford’s performance of The Happy Prince, and promises all sorts of local legends, including Robert Fisk, John Connolly, Maeve Binchy, Conor McPherson and Joseph O’Connor. Tonight there’s some nods to nostalgia with a discussion of Italia ’90 and the role of football in culture, featuring Eamon Dunphy, Des Cahill and Declan Lynch. Tomorrow Lynch pops up again with John Connolly talking about the ten crime novels to read before you die, while Mark Little will be holding forth on ‘The Wisdom in the Crowd: How to deliver your message online.’  There’ll be children’s storytelling, wine tasting, current affairs and a DJ set from Ross O’Carroll Kelly creator Paul Howard, and the ubiquitous David McWilliams’ will be chairing a discussion on how local communities fight back. An apposite subject, considering this new and determinedly local festival. For more information, click here.