The Cúirt International Festival of Literature has announced details of its 2024 programme, bringing an array of Irish and international writers to Galway this April.
Spanning over 50 events, the Cúirt programme includes poetry, fiction, memoir, non-fiction, masterclasses and workshops, exhibitions, and family events.
Programme highlights include appearnces from two Booker Prize winners, Paul Lynch and John Banville; Galway's own Rita Ann Higgins, Edel Coffey, Elaine Feeney, Mary Costello alongside Mike McCormack; Paul Murray, Jackie Kay, Sinéad Gleeson, Rafeef Ziadah, Lemn Sissay, Leontia Flynn, and many more.
Irish literary voices are front and centre, among them Paul Murray, Colin Barett, Edel Coffey, Sinéad Gleeson, Annie MacManus and Ferdia Lennon.
2023 Booker Prize winner, Paul Lynch will speak about his novel Prophet Song and 2005 Booker Prize winner, John Banville will share the Town Hall Theatre stage with author Mike McCormack for a conversation about their most recent works.
Cúirt will also showcase a number of Galway's own writers. 2023 Booker Longlisted Elaine Feeney will celebrate the launch her new poetry collection; Nuala O’Connor will launch her highly anticipated new novel, Seabourne; Colin Walsh will discuss his coming-of-age mystery Kala; Mary Costello will discuss her new short story collection Barcelona.
International guests include German author Clemens Meyer, Man Booker shortlisted Patrick DeWitt from Canada, and Lot Bryan Washington from the US.
The poetry line-up includes Irish poets Nick Laird, Victoria Kennefick, Scott McKendry, and Forward Prize winner Leontia Flynn, alongside American poets Brenda Shaughnessy and Erika Meitner.
BAFTA nominated, award winning writer and broadcasterLemn Sissay will perform from his collection Let the Light Pour In, while Palestinian poet Rafeef Ziadah will return to Galway and two of Galway's most celebrated poets, Elaine Feeney, and Rita Ann Higgins, will be joined by Jackie Kay and Susannah Dickey for a reading that will close this year’s festival.
Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In
— Cúirt Festival (@CuirtFestival) March 6, 2024
Friday, 26 April 2024, 8:30pm
TOWN HALL THEATRE / €16/20https://t.co/ec6g2s7fqN
We are delighted to welcome Lemn Sissay to Cúirt to perform from his latest collection Let the Light Pour In.
#cuirt2024 #lemmsissay pic.twitter.com/RK1YAxOWAn
Elsewhere, special events include a conversation between Palestinian writers N.S. Nuseibeh and Rafeef Ziadah, a live edition of The Stinging Fly Podcast with Caoilinn Hughes to discuss her new book, The Alternatives, conversations about the country’s treatment of woman and the legacies of the past with Molly Hennigan and Clair Wills, and growing up in the Troubles with Máiría Cahill and Martin Doyle, plus Leon Diop and Brianna Fitzsimmons of the Black & Irish organisation, discussing their award-winning book Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes.
Family-friendly events include Kid’s Storytime in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Méabh McDonnell’s interactive event inspired by her debut Into the Witchwood, and a bilingual event featuring The Slug and the Snail by Oein DeBhairduin and Natalie Ní Chasaide. The weekend before the festival, Cúirt presents a special day with Ireland's Children’s Literature Laureate Patricia Forde, when she brings a bus full of children’s authors and illustrators for an interactive storytelling experience.
Festival Director for Cúirt, Manuela Moser, commented: "We're excited to welcome audiences and authors to Galway this April for what is sure to be an inspiring week in celebration of literature.
"Cúirt celebrates stories and ideas, and as ever, we're thrilled to host a wide selection of world-class authors at the pinnacle of their careers alongside exciting new voices."
Cúirt International Festival of Literature takes place in Galway from Tuesday 23 - Sunday 28 April, 2024 - find out more here.
