Day Five

It was a smashing morning in Dun Laoghaire and we got off to a great start with a kids workshop - Comic Jams with Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre showing us how it's done. The annual M2C Literary Tour headed off form Blackrock about eleven - and we wished them luck on their magical mystery tour of the county's literary hotspots. Over in County Hall we got some great tips on writing and publishing short stories from some of the best in the business at The Short Story Seminar.



David Maybury & Sarah Webb at the Monster Book Lunch

We had 100 hungry monsters for the Monster Book Lunch - kids got to eat lunch with their favourite author and ask them questions. A MOST enertaining event - for all concerned.

Gerry Smyth & Michael Longley

The Irish Times Poetry Now award was presented to this year's winner MICHAEL LONGLEY at 1pm in County Hall. He read, very movingly, a poem he had written for one of his granchildren 'The Leveret'.

Over in the Pavilion Theatre DIARMAID FERRITER talked about his forthcoming book Ambiguous Republic:Ireland in the 1970s. Meanwhile at the Independent Publishing Seminar CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD, ARLENE HUNT & ADRIAN WHITE told us about their route to self publishing. Two of Ireland's funniest writers - PAULINE McLYNN & ANNA McPARTLIN kept us well entertained for over an hour interviewed by Roisín Ingle. In the Kingston Hotel SARA WINGATE GRAY gave a fascinating talk on libraries and what the future might hold as the digital landscape changes. GERBRAND BAKKER & JOAO ALMINO told us about their very different approaches to the writing life. Teen curators Sheena McGuirk, Chloe O'Hara & Erin Jennings did sterling work interviewing PHILIP REEVE & MICHELLE HARRISON. We celebrated MARY LAVIN's contribution to children's literature and Robert Dunbar gave an overview of the portrayal childhood and children in her short stories and novels.

Chris Binchy, David Mitchell & Claire Kilroy

DAVID MITCHELL & CLAIRE KILROY gave us some insights into how they work and both read from recent pieces, in David's case he was trying out some unpublished work - 'It's 1984 and I'm a 15yr old girl'. Both JOHN BANVILLE & ESTHER FREUD's latest novels feature actors and the theatre world so it was fitting that they were introduced at their reading by actress Derbhle Crotty.
The two evening poetry readings were once again in the Maritime Museum, beginning with Burmese poet KHIN AUNG AYE who read with LOUIS DE PAOR and followed two hours later by MARK DOTY & PAULA MEEHAN (who memorably described the venue as a cross between a revival meeting and Davy Jones' Locker).

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.