International Literature Festival Dublin celebrates its 26th year this year with a stellar line-up.
The festival features 10 days of readings, interviews and panel discussions; with highlights featuring novelist and Schitt’s Creek screenwriter Monica Heisey; actor and foodie Stanley Tucci; American legend Richard Ford; Scottish writer Kirsty Logan; Roddy Doyle; Joseph O’Connor; Marian Keyes; Ben Miller and childrens’ writers Shane Hegarty, Ashwan Chacko and Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon.
What: International Literature Festival Dublin
Where: Merrion Square Park, Dublin
When: May 19-28
Explore the full programme at ilfdublin.com
How to Book: Visit ilfdublin.com to book online or email [email protected]
How to Get There: The festival site is located in Merrion Square Park, with the main access gate located on Merrion Square East.
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So, pick up a programme and pop down to the Literary Village to soak up the atmosphere, liven up your lunch break, and spend the day, a few hours or the entire weekend wandering amongst the past, present and future of literature. Enjoy a cocktail from The Big Romance bar or stop by one of the many food stalls to savour some street food. With events for readers of all ages and interests, including an out-of-the-box Fringe programme and events for Kids & Family, more highlights from this year’s programme include:
- NON/TRADITIONAL: Strange Boy (Friday, May 19th) – One the most unique voices in Ireland’s exciting hip-hop scene, Strange Boy marries traditional Irish arrangements with powerful social commentary and brings his unique blend of traditional Irish instrumentation and provocative lyricism to the ILFD main stage, along with a DJ set from Robbie Kitt.
- New Nurturing: FELISPEAKS (Friday 19th May) – Led by poet, performer & playwright FELISPEAKS, and joined by Farah Elle, Anna Mullarkey, and Tobi Bello for an evening of enchanting performance celebrating the contributions of women to Irish society and imagining the possibilities that lie ahead.
- Really Good Actually: Monica Heisey (Saturday, May 20th) – Schitt’s Creek screenwriter Monica Heisey discusses her debut novel Really Good, Actually, a painfully relatable romp through the peaks and pitfalls of modern love, friendship, and happiness.
- You Don’t Know What War Is: Yeva Skalietska & Roddy Doyle (Sunday, May 21st)- On the 24th of February 2022, 12-year-old Yeva Skalietska woke to the terrifying sound of shelling. The Russian invasion of Ukraine had begun. Yeva Skalietska details twelve days in Ukraine that changed European history in You Don’t Know What War Is: The Diary of a Young Girl from Ukraine.
- Bad Gays LIVE with Ben Miller & Maurice Casey (Sunday, May 21st) – Writer and researcher Ben Miller, co-host of the acclaimed Bad Gays podcast explores the fascinating history of the queer community in Ireland with historian Maurice Casey at this live podcast recording.
- The High Cost of Living: Santis O’Garro & Katriona O’Sullivan (Wednesday, May 24th) – In little more than a generation, Ireland moved from being one of the poorest countries in Europe to a haven for tech giants and financiers, a land riven by housing shortages and massive inequality. How did we get here, and how do we cope? Commentators Santis O’Garro & Katriona O’Sullivan analyse some of the biggest questions in Ireland today.
- Birth, Rebirth: Claire Kilroy & Alice Kinsella (Thursday, May 25th) – Working in different genres, two authors find common ground as they confront questions of love, identity, and autonomy for mothers in contemporary Ireland.
- Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Niamh Mulvey & Joseph O’Connor (Sunday, May 27th) – Celebrate the influence of writers upon each other across generations, Niamh Mulvey and Joseph O’Connor and join Niamh Mulvey and Joseph O’Connor in conversation as they reflect on their lives and influences as writers.
- Teachers and principals are also reminded about the ILFD schools programme which welcomes the youngest of readers to delight in stories of hope, adventure, identity and resilience from their favourite authors like Francesca Simon, Sibéal Pounder, and Horrible Histories’ Martin Brown. Lindsay Galvin Rediscovers the Titanic (Friday, May 19th) and will hold budding historians enthralled in a presentation that offers a fresh take on the historic tragedy of the Titanic; Find Your Voice with Aoife Dooley (Tuesday, May 23rd), the comic creator and illustrator who knows just how hard it is to find yours when practically everyone around you is telling you to be quiet; have A Whale of a Tale with Benji Davies (Monday, May 22nd) where the illustrator will keep budding naturalists enchanted with live drawing, music, tales of friendship, adventure, and baby whales; or bring your class along to Finding Blackbeard’s Treasure with Iszi Lawrence (Thursday, May 25th) where the comedian, podcaster and history presenter will take them on a swashbuckling adventure through history to meet the real pirates of the Caribbean! Visit ilfdublin.com to see the full school programme. ILFD is Ireland’s leading literary event. Since 1998, it has brought the world’s finest writers together to enthral, engage and excite audiences. The festival is a programme of the City Arts Office, part of the Culture, Recreation & Economic Services Department of Dublin City Council.
