Award-winning author Colum McCann to headline Mayo book festival

Award-winning writer Colum McCann is to headline the Rolling Sun Book Festival, which takes place in Westport from October 17 to 20.

The New York-based writer’s latest book, American Mother, was recently described by the host of the Anderson Cooper Show on CNN as ‘one of the best books I’ve ever read’.

Colum will talk about American Mother and other books, which include Apeirogon and Let the Great World Spin, at the opening event of the Rolling Sun on Thursday, October 17.

He will be joined by musician, composer and fellow-story teller, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, for the second major event of the festival, Notes of Hope, an evening of words and music in Holy Trinity Church on Friday.

Communications expert and political commentator Terry Prone will also feature in two events at this weekend’s festival.

Terry will talk about her memoir, Caution to the Wind, in an interview with writer and broadcaster Barbara Scully on Saturday afternoon.

And she will join a political panel, which will include historian Diarmaid Ferriter, and Channel 4’s international correspondent Lindsey Hilsum to discuss current world events.

Lindsey, who had planned to travel to Westport for the festival, will now join in by Zoom from Beirut where she is reporting on the war for Channel 4.

“We are really happy to again have writers of such high calibre on the Rolling Sun festival programme,” said Maria Ruddy of the festival committee.

“It is quite a varied line-up with poetry, music, history and politics all featuring, so we hope that there’ll be something to suit all booklovers.”

More details can be found here.

Tickets are available online from the Town Hall Theatre www.westporttheatre.com or in person at the Clew Bay Hotel.