Poets Heaney and Longley read in Galway

Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley, Edna O'Brien and AM Homes are among writers and poets due to read at this year's Cúirt International Festival of Literature in Galway.

An Irish, Swedish and Finnish crime fiction writers’ panel chat, a literary tree planting and a poetry grand slam are some of the many events planned for this year’s festival, which will be opened by President Michael D Higgins next month.

Recent TS Eliot poetry prize winner Sharon Olds from the US, Welsh-Gujarati writer and dancer Tishani Doshi, and US poet and novelist Ron Rash are among international participants.

Irish participants include writers Claire Keegan and Mike McCormack and poets Paula Meehan, Leanne O’Sullivan and Matthew Sweeney, with the opening night reading on April 24th delivered by Heaney and Longley.

An Irish-language segment will involve poets Jackie MacDonncha and Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé,while children's writer Trish Forde will introduce a new character as Gaeilge with music by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin.

The festival, directed by Dani Gill, has initiated “labs” for children and young people this year involving Oisín McGann, writer, journalist and musician Anna Carey, monster maker Kate Walsh and Cork comic artist Will Sliney among others.

Celeste Augé, Micheál Ó Conghaíle and Mayo poet Martin Dyar will host a literary brunch, and contributors to the recently published Atlas of the Great Famine will contribute to an afternoon of music and history at Cnoc Suain near Spiddal.

The festival's outreach segment includes kitchen readings in Galway city homes by writer and Irish Times columnist Michael Harding. It runs from April 23rd to 28th.

See cuirt.ie