Listowel Writers' Week


What? The town of Listowel is renowned nationally as a literary hub. The five day festival has been running for almost forty years and each year produces a diversity which continues to inspire an eclectic blend of visitors and clistowel_2011ontributors. The festival attracts acclaimed authors, poets, journalists, artists, singers and storytellers. There are also treats in store for children with award-winning writers, children’s workshops, fun with music and stories. Readings, interviews, workshops, drama, music, poetry slams, exhibitions all combine and the result is often deemed Ireland’s premier literary festival.

When? June 1 -5 , 2011

Who? In 2011, Kevin Barry  Gerry Stembridge, John Boyne, Jackie Kay . Programme below

Where? Listowel (Lios Tuathail, "Tuathal's fort", in Irish) is a market town in County Kerry, Ireland, and is situated on the River Feale, 28 km (17miles) from the county town, Tralee. The combined population of Listowel Urban and Rural Districts is 22,668; the town itself has a population of 4,338 (CSO census 2006).

The town is sometimes described as the "Literary Capital of Ireland", and a number of internationally known playwrights and authors have lived there, including Bryan MacMahon and John B. Keane. Of Listowel, the latter wrote:

"Beautiful Listowel, serenaded night and day by the gentle waters of the River Feale.
Listowel where it is easier to write than not to write,
Where first love never dies, and the tall streets hide the loveliness,
The heartbreak and the moods, great and small,
Of all the gentle souls of a great and good community.
Sweet, incomparable hometown that shaped and made me"

How Much? Below

Literary Workshops:-

Each three-day Workshop will run from 9.00am – 1.00pm on: 

Thursday 2nd June, Friday 3rd June and Saturday 4th June 2011.

Places are limited to 15 per workshop.

Workshop Fee:    €175.00 for each three-day workshop

Festival Tickets

Weekly, 1-Day and 2-Day Tickets will be available for purchase in advance of the festival which will entitle the bearer admission to all literary events with the exception of theatre, concerts, tour and workshops.

1 Weekly Ticket          €100                2 Weekly Tickets          €180
(10% discount on the above tickets if purchased before 20th May 2011)

1-Day Ticket               €40                     2-Day Ticket               €60

These tickets do not guarantee a seat if events are sold out. 

Festival Website? : http://www.writersweek.ie

Past Festivals? Kevin Barry, Leland Bardwell Louis De Bernières Jung Chang Dermot Bolger Carol Drinkwater Christine Dwyer Hickey Martina Evans Damon Galgut Declan Hughes Terry Jones James Kelman Rebecca Miller Mary Morrissy David Park Colm Toibín

2011 Programme

Wednesday
8.00pm Opening Night & Presentation of Prizes The Arms Hotel
Thursday
11.00am RTE Sunday Miscellany The Arms Hotel
11.00am Winners’ Readings The Feale Room, Thel Arms Hotel
11.00am Literary Walking Tour The Arms Hotel
1.00pm Lunchtime Theatre – Who Killed James Joyce St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
1.00pm Book Launch – Kerry Education Service The Community College
2.00pm John Lynch & Catherine Dunne The Arms Hotel
2.30pm Art Exhibition – Liam Jones St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
3.00pm Book Launch – Conor O’Sullivan with John McGrath & The MA Writers NUI Galway The Plaza Centre
3.30pm Blake Morrison The Boys’ National School Concert Hall
4.30pm Photographic Exhibtion – Michelle Edwards The Boys’ National School Concert Hall
5.00pm Kevin Barry & Gerry Stembridge The Plaza Centre
6.00pm Photographic Exhibition – John Minihan The Seanchaí Literary & Cultural Centre
6.30pm John Connolly The Arms Hotel
6.30pm Denis Sexton St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
7.30pm Book Launch – John McAuliffe The Plaza Centre
8.00pm Richard Dawkins The Arms Hotel
8.00pm Literary Pub Trail The Arms Hotel
8.30pm Evening Theatre – Cuckoo Blue St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
8.30pm Film Club – West is West The Classic Cinema
9.00pm Poets’ Corner The New Kingdom Bar
9.30pm Songs to Stories and Back Again with Joe Craig The Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant
Friday
11.00am Literary Walking Tour The Arms Hotel
1.00pm Lunchtime Theatre – I’ll Live til I die St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
1.30pm CD Launch – Brian Burke Kevin Broderick’s Bar
2.30pm Rita Ann Higgins The Plaza Centre
3.30pm Poetry Without Pints The Seanchaí Literary & Cultural Centre
4.00pm Book Launch – Pauline Fayne Woulfe’s Book Shop
5.00pm Harry Clifton St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
5.00pm Book Launches – Paddy Fitzgibbon & Paddy Glavin The Plaza Centre
6.30pm Gerry O’Carroll The Plaza Centre
6.30pm Emily Barr The Boys’ National School Concert Hall
8.00pm Gerald Celente The Arms Hotel
8.30pm Evening Theatre – Dear Frankie St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
8.30pm Film Club – Brighton Rock The Classic Cinema
9.00pm Poets’ Corner The New Kingdom Bar
9.00pm Songwriters’ Showcase The Saddle Bar
11.00pm Film Club – Adam & Paul The Classic Cinema
9.30pm Concert – Julie Feeney The Big Top, Market Place
Saturday
11.00am Literary Walking Tour The Arms Hotel
11.00am Book Launch – John F. McCarthy Woulfes Bookshop
12.00pm John Lonergan The Arms Hotel
1.00pm Lunchtime Theatre – Sean Tyrone St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
1.30pm Three Contemporary Kerry Poets The Plaza Centre
2.00pm The Sheila Barry Memorial Literary Bus Tour Departing Outside The Arms Hotel
2.30pm Michael Holroyd The Arms Hotel
3.30pm Edward St Aubyn St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
4.30pm Robert McCrum The Arms Hotel
6.00pm David Sedaris St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
7.30pm Alice Sebold The Arms Hotel
8.30pm Evening Theatre – The Pitch St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
8.30pm Film Club – My Afternoons with Margueritte The Classic Cinema
9.30pm Concert – Joesph O’Connor, Philip King & Scullion The Big Top, Market Place
Sunday
11.00am Literary Walking Tour The Arms Hotel
12.00pm Jackie Kay St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
1.00pm Cathy Kelly The Arms Hotel
2.30pm Thomas Lynch & John Hartley William St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
3.30pm John Boyne The Arms Hotel
4.30pm Robyn Rowland & Mary Swander St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
5.30pm Maureen Beasley Poets’ Corner The Mermaid’s Bar
8.30pm Evening Theatre – The Seafarer St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
8.30pm Film Club – The Tempest The Classic Cinema
9.00pm The Final of the Adult Storytelling Competition The Arms Hotel


We apprecicate you insights into literary festivals that you might have attended or are hoping to get too, or your views on award winning books.

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