Cúirt International Literature Festival returns to Galway this April, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a stellar lineup of Irish and international literary talent.
Running from April 8th to 13th, 2025, this year's festival showcases the best in contemporary literature, hosting an array of distinguished Irish and international writers, offering readings, lectures, discussions, book launches, and workshops across Galway city.
To celebrate its 40th year, Cúirt will welcome writers from Zambia, the USA, UK, Canada, Nigeria, Palestine, Galicia, and Algeria. International guests include Palestinian writer Ahmed Masoud, who will deliver the prestigious Cúirt Lecture, alongside Kaya Chingonyi (Zambia), Gustav Parker Hibbet (New Mexico), Ali Watkins (USA), Clara Kumagai (Canada/Japan), Salim Bachi (Algeria), Denis Riley (England), Brenda Romero (USA), Stuart Murdoch (Scotland), Kathryn Tann (Wales), and Luisa Castro (Galicia).
They join a line-up of Irish literary luminaries that include Sally Rooney, Paul Muldoon, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Eimear McBride, Kevin Barry, Donal Ryan, Nuala O'Connor, and Naoise Dolan.
Since its founding in 1985 as a three-day poetry festival, Cúirt has grown into a week-long literary celebration, and a cornerstone of Galway's busy cultural calendar.
In a statement, Cúirt Director Manuela Moser said: 'Cúirt was founded in 1985, and was initially held as a three-day international poetry festival in Galway. It has since evolved into a week-long programme of events celebrating a mix of literary arts across the city's favourite venues. With readings, lectures, discussions, launches, and workshops, Cúirt has welcomed thousands of guests, as well as Irish and international writers of exceptional talent. The festival, since its conception, has ushered in 40 Galway springs with a celebration of literature. With the history of Cúirt only as rich as the lives that wander in and out each April, this year, to mark its 40th anniversary, we invite you to continue to tell the story with us. We’re celebrating 40 years of Cúirt with special archival projects and programming.’
The event's ongoing commitment to the Irish language will be evident in several events as Gaeilge. Highlights include Dinnseanchas, an exploration of the lore of place in contemporary Irish-language literature, as well as Ar Thóir Bhríd Ní Mháille / In Search of Bríd Ní Mháille, a dramatic reading of the forthcoming novel by Micheál Ó Conghaile, and Ceiliúradh ceoil agus filíochta, an evening of music and song celebrating Leabhar Mór na nAbhrán.
The festival will also feature workshops in partnership with the Faber Academy and the O'Donoghue Centre at the University of Galway, while children's events include readings by Chrissy Ward Donoghue, Gránne O'Brien and current Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde.
Poetry lovers can look forward to the Cúirt Poetry Session in collaboration with Poetry Ireland, and the festival will also host events with literary magazines such as Folding Rock, Poetry Ireland Review, Ropes, Tolka, and Threshold, while the Cúirt Labs Writers in Residence will discuss their latest works, addressing themes of identity and cultural belonging.
Festival venues will span Galway's vibrant cultural landscape, including The Town Hall Theatre, Mick Lally Theatre, Nuns Island Theatre, An Taibhdhearc, Charlie Byrne's and Kennys Bookshops, and Galway University Hospital.
For more on this year's Cúirt programme, go here.
