Celebrated Mayo author Sally Rooney to attend literary festival in home town
A reading from her latest book by acclaimed writer, Sally Rooney, will be a major highlight of the Wild Atlantic Words festival which takes place in Castlebar early next month.
The celebrated author will read from the newly-published Intermezzo as part of the festival programme, her reading to be followed by a book signing.
Festival chairman, Kevin Swift, said it was a signal honour to her home town that Sally Rooney would perform the only reading from Intermezzo outside Dublin.
The Wild Atlantic Words Festival kicks off on Monday, October 7, and runs through until Sunday with a sparkling programme of book launches, poetry, celebrity appearances, short story readings and prizegiving.
The landmark festival, now in its ninth year, has gained an enviable reputation for its format and content, and this year promises to deliver to the same high standard as that of earlier years.
The week opens with the launch on Monday by Isabela Basombrío Hoban of her fourth bilingual book of poetry, Another Type of Abbreviation.
The award-winning poet, originally from Peru but now resident in Castlebar, is a talented multi-disciplinary artist whose previous books of poetry have been warmly received.
Tuesday promises to deliver something special with the launch of Pat Butler's The Fighting Fitzgerald, the story of the life and times of the most colourful and dangerous personality of 18th-century Ireland.
George Robert Fitzgerald lived a turbulent life and suffered a terrible death, and this book by Pat Butler contains much new and unpublished material.
This is followed by the launch by Cormac O'Malley of The Enchanted Bay, a compilation of Irish folk tales collected by his late father, the freedom fighter Ernie O'Malley.
The stories are centred on O'Malley's native Clew Bay and its islands, and are testament to the breadth and diversity of interests of the man so prominently associated with Irish revolutionary history.
On Wednesday, Alice Kinsella and Daniel Wade perform readings from their captivating book on whaling in Mayo, Wake of the Whale.
The book takes its origins from the little known fact that, for two decades, two Norwegian owned whaling stations operated from the coast of north Mayo.
This event is followed by the popular, laidback, ‘A Poem and a Pint’, hosted by Ken Armstrong, when anybody who feels like reciting their favourite poem is free to take the podium.
Thursday again provides a double-starred evening of book launches. Hayley Kilgallon's Unladylike – a History of Ladies Gaelic Football, is a lavishly illustrated, engagingly written account of a branch of Gaelic football which has taken on a life of its own in recent years.
The author is a PhD student at UCD, who has herself played Gaelic football at club level in Sligo, Boston and Dublin.
This event leads on to the launch by Kevin McDonald – soldier, mountaineer and archaeologist – of his eagerly awaited A Life Less Ordinary, and rarely has a book lived up so well to its title.
To be launched by Retired Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, the book brings readers along the Castlebar man's incredible and perilous adventures over forty years.
From early days in the FCA to serving on UN missions in the world's most dangerous locations, there was also time to go climbing in the Himalayas, taking a degree in archaeology, and discovering Megalithic tombs in County Clare.
The presentation of the festival short story winner prizes (judged by Mike McCormack) on Friday yields centre stage to what will be a huge welcome for Sally Rooney, following which down-to-earth wine expert, Brigid O'Hora, launches The Home Sommelier.
Described as the essential guide to making the best wine choice without breaking the bank, the event will also include an optional wine tasting.
Journalist, broadcaster and sports enthusiast Edwin McGreal takes centre stage on Saturday for a panel discussion around his comprehensive Our Finest Hour.
The book chronicles the glory days of all 54 football and hurling clubs throughout the county, as well as paying tribute to the clubs themselves and what they give to their local communities.
Featuring memorable moments across seven decades, the book traces the good times and the bad, the fun and laughter, the sorrows and disappointments of sport at its most intimate level.
The panel will include a number of GAA legends, including Aidan O’Shea, and will be hosted by Mike Finnerty.
This is followed by another gem, when George Hamilton discusses his life and times in conversation with Aidan Crowley.
The incomparable Hamilton has been at the centre of Irish sport, culture and music for half a century, and the audience can be assured of a mesmerising menu of travails and anecdotes, told in his trademark style.
The festival closes with the traditional ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’, when John Healy shares with his audience some hometown banter with his selected panel – this year consisting of author Geraldine Lavelle, journalist Tom Rowley, screenwriter Ray Lawlor, and author Kevin McDonald.
With the exception of Friday night (pre-booking essential – see website for details), all events are on a first come, first served basis, but early arrival is recommended.
All events are free of charge and take place in the festival dome at Bridge Lane, Castlebar (next to Bridge St Bar, F23 PN20).
For more details, see www.wildatlanticwords.ie.