11.00 Morning Reading /  Bantry Bookshop / free

PAUL SOYE

Paul Soye will read from his first novel The Boy in the Gap

Paul Soye is the author of the plays Cherished and The Birdcage, which won the Esso New Irish Play Award at the National Drama Festival in Athlone in 1996. In 2002 he was shortlisted for the BBC’s Tony Doyle Award. His play In Irons was broadcast on RTÉ 1’s Sunday Night Playhouse. He lives in Mayo. 

13.00  Lunchtime Reading / Bantry Library / free

PAULINE MCLYNN

Pauline McLynn will be reading from her new novel the time is now

Pauline McLynn grew up in Galway, and first started acting while studying at Trinity College, Dublin. She shot to fame playing the inimitable Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, and has appeared in numerous film, television and stage roles. Known for her wit and acting talent, Pauline packs both humour and drama into her novels. Pauline divides her time between London and Dublin where she lives with her husband. 

‘McLynn bravely tackles some serious subjects with sensitivity, honesty and intelligence.  It is an insightful and ultimately uplifting novel from a talented writer’ The Irish Times

14.30  Afternoon Event /  Maritime Hotel / €18             

47 ROSES – AN AFTERNOON WITH PETER SHERIDAN

Join Peter Sheridan as he conjures up the voices of his 1960’s childhood in Dublin. This is a coming-of-age story, peopled with deliciously eccentric characters and surreally bizarre incidents. Brilliantly funny and seriously moving, it pulls at all the emotions.

‘Peter Sheridan writes at the crossroads where hilarity and heartbreak, tenderness and savagery meet.  The people who live there are often cruel, often magnificent, and always, always human.’  Roddy Doyle

Peter Sheridan is the recipient of the Rooney Prize for Literature (1977), two Arts Council Bursaries and has been writer-in-residence at the Abbey Theatre. His plays have been performed in London, Los Angeles and New York. His film credits include The Breakfast (winner of the Prix Arte Europe at the Brest Festival, 1998 and a Canadian Rocky at Banff, 1999) and Borstal Boy. His books include, 44: A Dublin Memoir (nominated for an Irish Times Literary Award) and 47 Roses.

14.30 Children’s Reading  / St. Brendan’s School Hall / €5

AN AFTERNOON with CATHY CASSIDY

Cathy Cassidy will read from her new book Cherry Crush and talking about inspiration, ideas and the importance of dreams! Find out about her Chocolate Box Girls series, discover what's coming next, and take the chance to ask your own questions! There will be lots of challenges and news of a couple of very cool competitions, too!

Cathy Cassidy wrote her first picture book for her little brother when she was eight or nine and has been writing fabulous stories ever since. Cathy is the bestselling author of Dizzy, Driftwood, Indigo Blue, Scarlett, Sundae Girl, Lucky Star, Gingersnaps and Angel Cake. The Chocolate Box Girls is a sumptuous series starring sassy sisters, super-cool boys and one of Cathy’s biggest loves – chocolate. Cathy lives in Scotland and of all the jobs she’s had, writing has to be the best – it's the perfect excuse to daydream, after all!

17.00 Afternoon Reading / Maritime Hotel / free

BILLY RAMSELL & PATRICK DEELEY

Patrick Deeley’s poems have appeared widely in leading literary magazines in Ireland and abroad, and featured in several anthologies.  His collections include Intimate Strangers, Names For Love, Turane: The Hidden Village, Decoding Samara and The Bones Of Creation, all published by Dedalus Press. He is also the author of a number of works of fiction published by O’Brien Press for younger readers, and his novel, The Lost Orchard, won the Eilis Dillion Memorial Award. He is a native of Loughrea, Co. Galway, and currently works as a primary school principal in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

Billy Ramsell was born in Cork in 1977 and educated at the North Monastery and UCC. Complicated Pleasures, his first collection was published by the Dedalus Press in 2007. He has been shortlisted for a Hennessy Award and a Strong Award. He has been invited to read his work at many festivals around the world; most recently in Shanghai and San Francisco. He lives in Cork where he co-runs an educational publishing company

18.30 Reading as Gaeilge / The Mariner /  free

Dairena Ní Chinnéide and Peadar Ó hUallaigh with Rónán Ó Snodaigh

Dairena Ní Chinnéide is an incantatory presence. Her work is deeply rooted in the language, folklore and traditions of her native Corca Dhuibhne – but also pulses with cutting-edge contemporary rhythms. Her collections include Máthair an Fhiaigh/The Raven's Mother and Bleachtaire na Seirce. Tonight she will be accompanied by Kíla’s acclaimed lead singer and multi-instrumentalist, the mesmeric Rónán Ó Snodaigh.

Peadar Ó hUallaigh’s Tír Tairngre, winner of the 2010 Rupert and Eithne Strong Award, is the most potent début in Irish for some years. Utterly visionary, he is a poet unafraid to take a lyrical voyage to the lands of Avalon. An accomplished traditional musician, Peadar will also play on the flute tonight.

This bi-lingual reading is curated by Liam Carson, director of the IMRAM Irish Language Literature Festival. (see bio page: )

Cuireann Dairena Ní Chinnéide a lucht féachána faoi dhraíocht leis an gcleamhnas a dhéanann sí idir an rud ársa agus an rud comhaimseartha. Más draíochtúil ar an leathanach í is draíochtúla fós beo ar an stáitse í agus munar leor sin chun pobal na féile a shásamh beidh an sárcheoltóir Rónán Ó Snodaigh ó Kíla ina teannta chun dánta sa dá theanga léi a thionlacan. Bhuaigh an cnuasach Tír Tairngre le Peadar Ó hUallaigh Duais Eithne agus Rupert Strong anuraidh. Is beag début a fuair moladh chomh hard leis. Chomh maith le filíocht den scoth gheobhaimid bleaist uaidh ar an bhfliúit. Sároíche ar fad geallta.

Beidh Liam Carson, stiúrthóir na féile litríochta Gaeilge IMRAM, againn mar fhear an tí don ócáid dhátheangach seo.

20.30  Evening Event /  Maritime Hotel / €15

HISHAM MATAR IN CONVERSATION WITH CONOR O' CLERY

Hisham Matar was born in New York City to Libyan parents and spent his childhood first in Tripoli and then in Cairo. His first novel, In the Country of Men, was published in 2006 and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. The book won the 2007 Commonwealth Wr

iters' Prize Best First Book award for Europe and South Asia, the 2007 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, the Italian Premio Vallombrosa Gregor von Rezzori, the Italian Premio Internazionale Flaiano (Sezione Letteratura) and the inaugural Arab American Book Award. It has been translated into twenty-eight languages.  His recent novel, Anatomy of a Disappearance has just been published to rave reviews. He lives in London.

‘Haunting in every sense, Anatomy of a Disappearance, is an absorbing novel that finds its eloquence in what is left unsaid.’ Sunday Times

22.45  Bedtime Story /Maritime Hotel / free.

Bedtime story followed by open mike