Day Four

Jedwardesque boglin courtesy of Sarah McIntyre

We didn't know what a boglin (a kind of froggy goblin) looked like until SARAH McINTYRE drew one for us - thanks Sarah! Sarah and PHILIP REEVE got everyone in the Pavilion Theatre drawing goblins this morning - they even brought along a mini Bratapult (mini because they don't like you taking massive engines of war on the airplane) to fire goblins at the audience. 

Itinerant Poetry Library

The Itinerant Poetry Library - a guerilla style mobile public library - set up in several different locations around Dun Laoghaire. The rather stern Librarian was on hand for anyone who wished to join!


There was lots of great information about getting published at this afternoon's seminar from EOIN PURCELL, FAITH O'GRADY & IVAN O'BRIEN - it's all about the quality of the writing! It was very interesting hearing what literary agents are looking for - a distinct writing voice and submissions that makes them want to read the next page; and the next.......... 

Declan Burke talked to two Irish journalists who've both just published their debut novels - CONOR BRADY & MICHAEL CLIFFORD in the Pavilion Theatre. Interestingly, both books are crime novels, although Conor Brady's is set in 1887 while Michael Cliffords is more contemporary.

Philippa Gregory

The first Poetry Now reading of the day was a truly memorable evemt with ILYA KAMINSKY & TESS GALLAGHER in the Maritime Museum, followed by JAMES FENTON & MOYA CANNON. 

TESSA HADLEY & KEITH RIDGWAY talked to Sylvia Thompson in County Hall about their writing and recently published work while PHILIPPA GREGORY gave a fascinating insight into researching and writing historical fiction. Patrick Geoghegan, history lecturer in Trinity gave Philippa a lively and enthusiastic introduction and chaired the interview and Q&A that followed.