POLITICAL REFORM, starting a business, encouraging children to read and what Fine Gael should do next will all be up for discussion at the fourth Dublin Book Festival, which starts today.
The five-day festival is, organisers say, the State’s largest literary gathering and features more than 40 readings, debates, workshops and performances.
This evening, writers Dermot Bolger and Anthony Cronin open the festival with a debate on Dublin's place in literature, at the National Library, Kildare Street. It will be chaired by Irish Timesliterary correspondent Eileen Battersby.
Tomorrow, World Book Day, journalists Vincent Browne, Shane Coleman, Justine McCarthy and Ken Foxe and economist Stephen Kinsella will debate what the new government should do to return Ireland to economic and social health. On Saturday broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and historian Diarmaid Ferriter will discuss the lessons Ireland can learn from its history. On Sunday, journalists Fintan O’Toole, Pat Leahy and Kevin Rafter and political consultant Naoise Nunn will discuss political reform.
“Despite deep cuts in funding for the arts and the closure of a number of prominent booksellers and publishers in recent months, our capital remains one of the world’s great literary cities,” said Jean Harrington, president of Publishing Ireland. Event details are at dublinbookfestival.com
Separately, a project aimed at promoting reading in primary schools in Ballybough, Dublin, gets under way tomorrow.
One Book Community will see pupils, staff and parents from 19 schools reading Across the Divideby Brian Gallagher, set in 1913 Dublin during the lockout strike.
“It should prove to be extremely relevant to the children in the schools,” said Mary Collins, a home school liaison teacher in the area and organiser of the project.
In Galway next month, acclaimed writer Paul Murray, author of Skippy Dies, Booker-winning Anne Enright and poet Simon Armitage are among participants confirmed for this year's Cúirt International Festival of Literature.
A literary-inspired theatrical troupe, “kitchen readings” in several suburban houses and events in outlying communities to the east and west of Galway city are among new dimensions to the annual week-long event.
The programme planned by new director Dani Gill includes readings for sports enthusiasts by John Doyle, author of The World is a Ball, and Steve Bloomfield, author of Africa United.Details are also at cuirt.ie
Opening on April 12th, the festival will host the publication of Kevin Barry's new novel, City of Bohane, published by Random House, and a reading by Dermot Healy from his first novel in 11 years, entitled Long Time No See.
An initiative known as “Read Me, I’m Yours” will involve distributing books by visiting authors in cafes, pubs and hotels in the city, where they can be picked up, read and left for the next participant.