Day One

Marita Conlon-McKenna

We had a great start to the festival with MARITA CONLON-MCKENNA talking to a packed out Mill Theatre in Dundrum. Marita talked about her writing and the inspiration for her first book - a promise to one of her daughters to write a book for her and the true story of three childrens skeletons from the famine era which were found under hawthorn tree. One of our favourite quotes from the event was (in relation to her kids running amok with a random wooden legs) 'PUT THOSE LEGS BACK - THEY'RE NOT YOURS'!

Opening night in the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire was both entertaining and engaging - County Librarian Mairead Owens opened the proceedings and then handed over An Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tom Joyce who welcomed all the visiting authors. PAUL MURRAY & HOWARD JACOBSON were on first at 6.30pm and talked about writing their darkly comic novels with Peter Crawley. They each read from work containing (by some kind of mad literary coincidence) failed and disappointed noovelists. Paul Murray went one step further by naming his protaganist 'Paul Murray'!

Richrd Bausch, Jen Coppinger & Claire Keegan

Jen Coppinger chaired the discussion with RICHARD BAUSCH & CLAIRE KEEGAN exploring the short story at 8.30pm. Both writers read from recent work, and then talked about their writing practice. Richard Bausch shared some jokes and a particularly good Hemmingway anecdote about the importance of editing till just the right word is in place.

It was a fantastic evening, with a great energy and buzz about the place - may it continue for the next five days!