In a forthcoming issue of The Irish Times, renowned author Christine Dwyer Hickey engages in a deep conversation with Edel Coffey about her brand-new publication, Our London Lives. Diarmaid Ferriter converses with Frank McNally about his latest opus on Ireland’s modern history. Brian Rowan, a former BBC correspondent and now an author, shares with Freya McClements insights into his involvement in a project chronicling the Northern Peace process – Impossible Peace, proffered by Ciaran Hurson, available now on The Open University’s OpenLearn platform. A stimulating Q&A session with Robert Harris by Ronan McGreevy additionally discusses Harris’s fresh historical suspense thriller, Precipice.
Various book critiques include Chris Kissane turning his gaze on Irish Food History, edited by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman. Eoin McNamee offers his thoughts on Munichs penned by David Peace. Dan Geary provides critique on Prequel: America’s first battle against fascism, authored by Rachel Maddow. Claire Hennessy casts her eye on the latest in YA literature. Reviews by Catherine Taylor focus on The Voyage Home by Pat Barker. Adrienne Murphy examines Mother State: A Political History of Motherhood by Helen Charman and Kathleen Costello-Sullivan scrutinises Getting the Words Right: A Festschrift in Honour of Eamon Maher. Rugby & Irish Life: A History by Liam O’Callaghan and Together Standing Tall by John Scally come under the critique of John O’Donnell. The Island: WH Auden and the Last of Englishness by Nicholas Jenkins holds John McAuliffe’s attention. Henrietta McKervey reviews Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers. Lastly, Sarah Manguso’s Liars is closely examined by Sarah Gilmartin.
“Letters for Life” is an Irish Cancer Society benefit event designed to celebrate correspondence as a genre of literature. This enjoyable night will unfold a plethora of emotion-provoking, humorous, and unconventional letters, including Stan Laurel’s nostalgic letter about DunLaoghaire, Samuel Beckett’s recount of his trip to Three Rock Mountain, and a frustrated citizen’s grievance about inadequate internet service, among others. The reading will take place at Tullow Church on Brighton Road, Foxrock, Dublin, on the 10th of September, Tuesday, at half past seven. Those presenting the letters include author Joseph O’Connor, actress Geraldine Plunkett, rugby player Andrew Porter, Sunday Independent journalist Madeleine Keane, writer Sinead Moriarty, and Peter Collins of RTÉ Sports. Tickets are priced at €35 and are available on eventbrite.ie.
The Novel Fair has a special place in the heart of Orla Mackey. When reflecting on her experience at the event, she confessed that it had given her the courage to identify as an author. Orla first debuted her novel, Mouthing, at the 2022 Novel Fair. Subsequently, Nicola Barr from The Bent Agency represented her, and Hamish Hamilton published her work later this year.
TG4 will air “Aisling Trí Néallaibh – Doireann Ní Ghríofa,” a heartfelt deep dive into the life and artistic method of renowned writer Doireann Ní Ghríofa. Directed by Ciara Nic Chormaic, the show will be broadcasted on the 4th of September, Wednesday, at half past nine.
In 2020, renowned poet and essayist Doireann Ní Ghríofa emerged on the global literature stage with the release of her first nonfiction book, A Ghost in the Throat, which later won the title of Irish Book of the Year.
A film, Aisling Trí Néallaibh – Doireann Ní Ghríofa, provides a profound look into the poet’s inner life. The film explores the enigmatic origins of her creativity, the influences of motherhood and her reminiscences. It features profound interviews and exposes her creative spark, even tracing her inspirations back to her native Co Clare.
In a recent initiative by the An Post Irish Book Awards, entitled ‘New Voices 20 Best New Irish Writers’, twenty new Irish fiction authors are being spotlighted. This initiative aims to bring forth the new wave of Irish writers that are revolutionising the realm of literature. The list was composed with the suggestions from publishers, booksellers, and librarians across the nation.
The criteria for nomination were that the authors could be involved with any fiction genre, have released a maximum of two works in the last ten years, and be Irish either by birth, residency or citizenship. Esteemed literature experts finalised a list of the top 20 authors, thereby putting a spotlight on some of the most promising emerging talents in literature.
The objective of releasing this list is to observe and celebrate the work of these authors ahead of the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024 campaign – it doesn’t aim to single out a winner. This list will be circulated in bookshops and libraries nationally throughout September. The authors featured are Aingeala Flannery, Alan Murrin, Cathy Sweeney, Catríona Lally, Claire Coughlan, Colin Walsh, Disha Bose, Ferdia Lennon, Fíona Scarlett, Louise Kennedy, Louise Nealon, Megan Nolan, Michael Magee, Michelle Gallen, Naoise Dolan, Niamh Campbell, Nicole Flattery, Noel O’Regan, Sheila Armstrong, and Una Mannion.
The list was curated by a panel inclusive of Maria Dickenson, a member of the Irish Book Awards board; Angus Laverty, the Public Affairs manager at An Post; Breda Brown, the Chair of the Irish Writers Centre; Dawn Behan, the Irish Booksellers Association’s President; Eileen Morrissey, the President of the Library Association of Ireland; Madeleine Keane, the Sunday Independent’s Literary editor; and Sinead Mac Aodha, the Executive Director at Literature Ireland.
The cultural event “Echoes 2024” will be making a comeback at Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre for three days, beginning on October 4th and concluding on the 6th. The first day, Michael Heavey is set to stage Maeve Binchy’s theatrical adaptation “Minding Frankie” by Shay Linehan at 7.30 pm. It will be followed by a practice reading of Maeve Binchy’s latest adaptation “Chancery Lane”, directed by Conall Morrison.
October 5th will be packed with discussions, dialogues, and recitations from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm featuring renowned personalities like Cecelia Ahern, Jan Carson, Colm O’Regan, among others.
On the final day, Rita Biggs will lead a guided tour named “Marvellously Maeve” from Dalkey Castle starting at 11 am. This will be followed by a performance of Maeve Binchy’s “Aches and Pains” at 3 pm. More information can be sought at echoes.ie.
In another facet of literature, Ilhan Sami Çomak, a Kurdish poet and a distinguished member of Irish PEN, continues to be imprisoned in Turkey despite spending 30 years behind bars. The ECHR had ruled out his sentencing to be illegal in 2007, yet his confinement persists. His translator Caroline Stockford notes that despite being a model prisoner, his request for parole was denied recently.
Ilhan, a laureate poet known for his expressive and lyrical style, has supporters worldwide. Smokestack Books has published his first collection in English. He has been invited to speak at the Dublin Book Festival organised by the Irish Pen in November.
Support for the poet Ilhan can be demonstrated by spreading the word about his poetry, inviting him to be a guest speaker at cultural events, and penning letters expressing camaraderie and optimism to him at İlhan Sami Çomak, Silivri 5 No.lu L Tipi Kapalı Cezaevi, C12 Silivri, Istanbul, Turkey. However, remember to refrain from discussing politics or expressing anger in your letters. Additional insights about Ilhan can be procured from Irish PEN, PEN Norway, and PEN International, and social media platforms using @ilhan_comak, #freethepoet, and #freeilhancomak.
The Ennistymon Booktown Festival is scheduled to occur from August 30th to September 1st. Booksellers will be taking over different spaces around town like the Teach Ceoil and the Courthouse Gallery. The Salmon Bookshop, Banner Books alongside around a dozen of other unique and rare book vendors will be present. The shops will be open for business from 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10.30am-5.30pm on Sunday. Additional events will be conducted throughout the festival, including poetry readings and novel reveals.
The Allingham Flash Fiction Competition 2024 will have its entries scrutinised by Nuala O’Connor, a recognised author and the e-journal Splonk’s editor. The deadline for submissions is September 29th. The winners of the competition’s first three spots will present their winning pieces during the literary lunch event at the 2024 Allingham Festival on November 9th at noon. Not only will the winner receive €300, their winning piece will also feature in Splonk.
The festival will be conducted between November 6-10 in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Special attractions include a prominent talk on Artificial Intelligence by Richard Curran of RTÉ and a musical performance by up-and-coming blues singer Muireann Bradley. Check out allinghamfestival.com for detailed information.
Bookselling Ireland, part of the Booksellers Association representing stores around the country, along with Publishing Ireland, have released the dates for Irish Book Week 2024. The event is set to start on Saturday, October 19th and continue until October 26th. The striking artwork for the year’s campaign is the creation of renowned children’s author and illustrator, Úna Woods. Woods also serves as a Campaign Ambassador, alongside children’s writer, Patricia Forde, who is the current Laureate na nÓg, and novelist, Felicity Hayes-McCoy.
The 7th annual Irish Book Week is a celebration that spreads across the nation, encouraging individuals to visit their local bookstores and immerse themselves in the world of Irish literature; from books, authors and publishers to illustrators and poets. It offers a wide range of activities, from readings and parties to displays and much more. Details on the events for Irish Book Week 2024 will be shared on the social media channels of Bookselling Ireland, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
At an unrelated event, the European Association of Archaeologists commenced their annual conference in Rome, where the book, “Death in Irish prehistory,” penned by Emeritus Professor of Celtic Archaeology Gabriel Cooney of UCD School of Archaeology, won the EAA Book Prize 2024. Selected from 25 nominations and among six finalists, the book delves into the extensive wealth of the death rites record from Irish prehistory (8000 BC to AD 500). The EAA praised Cooney’s work saying it was presented in an engaging way including thoughtful musings on how individuals today and in the past cope with death. Cooney expressed gratitude for the award and acknowledged his colleagues’ scholarly work in the fields of archaeology and osteo-archaeology, which provided the basis for the people-oriented approach in “Death in Irish prehistory”.
For two consecutive years, the EAA panel has conferred a pair of awards. The recent recipient is Prof Graeme Warren from UCD School of Archaeology, recognised for his publication, ‘Hunter-Gatherer Ireland’.