The following day’s edition of The Irish Times will feature Michael Longley’s reflections on his expansive and reputable career in the realm of poetry, as well as his most recent compilation of selected poems, Ash Keys. This will be in conversation with Freya McClements. Meanwhile, the celebrated author of Autocracy Inc and Pulitzer prize winner, Anne Applebaum, shares her thoughts on the contrasting natures of Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping in a dialogue with Mark Paul. John O’Beirne Ranelagh, a historian, conducted interviews with 100 past members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood back in the 1970s and now, the unexplored material from these interviews is being put to use. He will discuss this with Mark Hennessy. A question and answer session with Conn Iggulden, one of the authors, who wrote The Dangerous Book for Boys and his recent historic masterpiece, Nero.
Critical assessments include Brendan O’Leary’s commentary on Ireland out of England by John Wilson Foster; Conor Brady’s observations on Irish First Ladies and First Gentlemen 1919-2011 by Bernadette Whelan; Helen Cullen’s review of Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, along with numerous others on a range of works.
The Royal Society of Literature has honoured both Vona Groake and Martina Evans, known for their work in reviewing poetry, with the prestigious title of Fellows. All newly instated fellows are awarded the honour of signing the register using the pen of a renowned writer. Evans was fortunate to sign using the pens of two literary giants, Charles Dickens and George Eliot, however, Groarke could not partake in person due to a prior commitment at a Yeats Society function in Sligo. The register, known as the RSL Roll Book, has accumulated signatures since 1825, a mere five years following the establishment of the charity in 1820. It has a history of collection signatures from elected fellows and honorary fellows over the last two centuries.
Among a distinguished group of Irish authors, such as Bernard O’Donoghue, Michael Longley, Edna O’brien, Eimear McBride, Anne Enright, Nick Laird, and Paul Muldoon, Kennys.ie based in Galway has made a mark in the literary world. As Ireland’s pioneer e-commerce website and one of the first global retail websites, Kennys.ie was established in 1994 as part of Kennys Bookshop and Art Gallery’s 30th online anniversary celebration.
The revolutionary idea to digitise the family-owned business was proposed during a period when e-commerce was relatively unknown. Nonetheless, Barry Flanagan, the founder of Ireland On-Line, identified Kennys as an enterprise he could promote. The bookshop sold easy-to-transport products, had a built-in database, and boasted an existing international clientele. So, in six months, the debut retail website in Ireland came to fruition.
Kennys.ie, now recognized as the world’s oldest online bookstore, emerged on the internet in the summer of 1994 – a year ahead of Amazon. It was also a bit after a Californian bookstore’s website which no longer exists. Over the past thirty years, Kennys.ie has dispatched millions of publications to more than 150 countries around the globe and its online business has grown to be their most dominant and largest sector. The Kennys business also comprises a retail bookstore, an art gallery and a Libraries & Special Collections branch.
The business operates from its Galway city location where they daily dispatch hundreds of books through An Post. Although Kennys concentrates on Irish related materials, they offer a wide range of books including new and used publications, rare books, and archival materials on various subjects. They cater to international customers with their cost-effective delivery service and an independent alternative to multinational companies with their low worldwide shipping rates.
Ever since its inception, Kennys has been a staunch supporter of Irish literature, hosting authors in their store and leveraging their online influence to champion Irish literature both domestically and internationally. Amongst the works they’re presently selling are Limited Editions of new novels by Colm Tóibín, Donal Ryan, Kevin Barry, and Sally Rooney, reaching readers on every continent.
Des and Maureen Kenny first established Kennys Bookshop in Galway’s High Street back in 1940. Later, in 2009, they relocated the entire business to their present location in Liosbán Retail Park in Galway to focus on their online operations. This move was wholeheartedly embraced by Maureen Kenny who believed in adapting to changing times.
The Dublin Festival of History, an initiative by the Dublin City Council, facilitated by Dublin City Libraries in cooperation with the Dublin City Council Culture Company, is now in its 12th year. It showcases genres such as poetry, drama, children’s literature, and historical fiction from September 27th to October 13th. The festival will offer over 220 complimentary events hosted at various venues including libraries throughout the city.
Roger Casement’s biographer, Roland Philipps, will present a talk about his book, Broken Archangel: The Tempestuous Lives of Roger Casement, at the Main Hall, Dublin Castle on September 28th with the event starting at 2pm. The festival will also be featuring talks by historical novelist Kate Mosse about her last novel in the Joubert Family Chronicles, Map of Bones, and Sam Leith, who will discuss his new book, The Haunted Wood, a comprehensive study of children’s literature. Moreover, famous Irish writers from the past like Seamus Heaney, Frank O’Connor, and AE (George Russell) will be discussed, with poet Paula Meehan also participating.
Festivalgoers will also get the opportunity to attend events at historical venues such as 14 Henrietta Street, where Irish Theatre’s From Mountjoy to the Somme – Writing 19th Century Dublin in Fiction will take place, and The Chester Beatty Library, where Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan will be showcased. The festival is set to commence with the Big Weekend at Dublin Castle from September 27-29. You can visit dublinfestivalofhistory.ie for more information.
In 2024, Amazon announced that it would provide grants through the Amazon Literary Partnership to 37 non-profit literary organisations. For the first time, these awards will extend to the Republic of Ireland benefiting the Graffiti Theatre Company and Fighting Words.
A representative from Fighting Words shared their visions regarding how the financial support they received will aid in broadening their initiatives for young individuals in Dublin and Limerick. “The Dublin Centre presently hosts Write Club sessions, both in-person on a weekly basis and online on a bi-monthly basis. Word Warriors also cater to a regular platform for children to uncover their writing creativity with the assistance of our voluntary writing mentors,” commented the spokesperson.
They added, “To further our reach, we intend to start a Write Club in Limerick which will provide a venue for members to read, share and perform their literary work, which will progressively support them to build readership for their writing. Furthermore, we aim to set up additional Word Warriors clubs in Limerick, Tallaght, and the southern inner city of Dublin. This would facilitate more children to not just enhance their writing skills, but also their self-assuredness and resilience.”
In addition, a new initiative entitled ‘Story Slam’ is on the horizon, which is an open mic night event at the Dublin centre. This will involve Write Club members and other young storytellers who wish to share their narratives.
On the 21st of July, the city of Dublin is set to host Children’s Books Day, a day specifically dedicated to Ukrainian children. The Ukrainian Action Ireland Community Centre in Rathmines will be the venue for this event, and it will feature riveting activities as well as reading sessions led by two well-known authors from Ukraine and the US.
The book, Story of Ukraine: an Anthem of Glory and Freedom, by Michael Sampson and Olena Kharchenko will be read at the event, with additional reading and activities carried out by Halyna Budilova. Budilova, writer, and the co-founder of Little Beetle Press will accompany children on a fascinating journey through her latest series that focusses on environmental conservation. She will be reading from her newly translated book ‘Eco-Tales of Giants’.
Moreover, Budilova will introduce new activity books that centre on environmental awareness and feature the Nature Giants of Ukraine, Ireland, and Canada. As a gesture of goodwill, Red Cross will provide all children with books for free. This event serves as a splendid occasion for Ukrainian children to experience the delight of communal belonging, the joy of reading and the significance of environmental conservation.