DUBLIN WRITERS FESTIVAL PRESS RELEASES – PRESS RELEASE

Dublin Writers Festival has whole world of words in its hands

Dublin Writers Festival | June 1 -6, 2010 | www.dublinwritersfestival.com

International writers Antony Beevor, Hanif Kurieshi, Yann Martel and multi-award winning Ian McEwan will join Irish writers Jennifer Johnston, Joseph O'Connor and Tom Murphy and dozens more at this year's Dublin Writers Festival.

The 6-day literary Festival, now in its 12th year, features over 40 writers who will read from their most recent works and take part in curated conversations about their writing.

This year's Festival, assembled by Programme Director Liam Browne also salutes significant birthdays for two major Irish writers, Tom Murphy and Jennifer Johnston, as well as The Gallery Press, a publisher that over the last forty years has tirelessly promoted and published the best of Irish poetry.

New initiatives in 2010 include a exploration of song writing with Paul Brady and Neil Hannon in performance and conversation with John Kelly and insights into the art of reading well from Anne Enright and Dermot Healy.

Rounding off the jam-packed programme will be discussions on the new feminism, the ‘tricky' second novel, a detailed exploration of Irish language travel literature and a multimedia bilingual event featuring poetry, song and projections.

Dublin Writers Festival is an initiative of Dublin City Council Arts Office, supported by The Arts Council.

Highlights of the 2010 Festival include:

The multi-award-winning author of Atonement, On Chesil Beach and Saturday Ian McEwan -whose new novel, Solar, addresses the issue of climate change - will join the writer and 1960's counter-culture icon Stewart Brand in conversation with Myles Dungan. Brand argues in his latest book, Whole Earth Discipline that ideology is no longer enough and science-led pragmatism is the only viable solution to our global crisis. Expect some cool-headed thinking on the global warming debate. This will be the first time Brand and McEwan have shared the stage together.

An exploration into the power of the word in song writing by respected musician, singer and songwriter Paul Brady and charismatic front man of The Divine Comedy, Neil Hannon; in conversation with and co-curated by John Kelly.

Celebrations of the birthdays of Jennifer Johnston (80), Tom Murphy (75) and The Gallery Press (40).

Exclusive Irish appearances by Antony Beevor (Stalingrad, D-Day), Spanish-born Canadian writer Yann Martel (Life of Pi) and playwright, screenwriter, novelist and filmmaker Hanif Kureishi (The Buddha of Suburbia, My Beautiful Launderette).

Full List of participating writers:

Sarah Bakewell, Antony Beevor, Dermot Bolger, Paul Brady, Stuart Brand, Ciaran Carson, Michael Coady, Michael Cronin, Gerald Dawe, Mícheál de Barra, Alan Desmond, Anne Enright, Peter Fallon, Alan Gillis, Vona Groarke, Neil Hannon, Dermot Healy, Seamus Heaney, Biddy Jenkinson, Jennifer Johnston, Declan Kiberd, Hanif Kureishi, John Lynch, Manchán Magan, Derek Mahon, Yann Martel, Ian McEwan, Medbh McGuckian, Susan McKay, Máighréad Medbh, David Mitchell, John Montague, Tom Murphy, Paul Murray, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin , Liam Ó Muirthile, Joseph O'Connor, Ruth Padel , Frank Reidy, Natasha Walter

The Dublin Writers Festival runs June 1-6 in various venues around Dublin. Booking opens on Monday April 19, 2010.

More information on www.dublinwritersfestival.com

FULL LISTINGS

Tuesday, June 1st

Wednesday, June 2nd

The Riverrun Project / An Tionscadal Riverrun
Dermot Bolger, Biddy Jenkinson, Máighréad Medbh & Liam Ó Muirthile
With music by Seán Óg and images by Margaret Lonergan
Wednesday, June 2nd | 8.00pm | The Sugar Club | €10 / €8
Booking: Project Arts Centre | 01 881 9613/4 | www.projectartscentre.ie

Thursday, June 3rd

Bíonn Adharca Fada ar na Buaibh Thar Lear: An Litríocht Taistil sa Ghaeilge
/ From beyond our shores: Travel Literature in Irish
Manchán Magan, Mícheál de Barra, Frank Reidy & Alan Desmond with Michael Cronin
Thursday, June 3rd | 8.15pm | Project Arts Centre | €10 / €8
Booking: Project Arts Centre | 01 881 9613/4 | www.projectartscentre.ie

Friday, June 4th

Saturday, June 5th

Reading Stories – Anne Enright on Alice Munro
Saturday, June 5th | 11.00am | Dublin Writers Museum | FREE
RSVP: info@dublinwritersfestival.com

Sunday, June 6th

Reading Stories – Dermot Healy on James Joyce and Aidan Higgins
Sunday, June 6th | 12.00am | Dublin Writers Museum | FREE
RSVP: info@dublinwritersfestival.com

The Gallery Press 40th Anniversary Poetry Celebration
Derek Mahon, Ciaran Carson, Vona Groarke, Michael Coady, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, John Montague, Dermot Healy, Medbh McGuckian, Gerald Dawe, Alan Gillis & Peter Fallon. Special Guest: Seamus Heaney. With music by Bill Whelan
Sunday, June 6th | 7.30pm | Abbey Theatre | €20 / €15

BOOKING INFORMATION

National Concert Hall
(Ian McEwan & Stewart Brand Event Only)
Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
Tel. + 353 (0) 1 417 0000
(Open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm)
Web. www.nch.ie

Project Arts Centre
(includes bookings for The Sugar Club, Liberty Hall, Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane)
39 East Essex Street, Dublin 2
Tel. + 353 (0) 1 881 9613/4
(Open Mon–Sat 11am–7pm)
Web. www.projectartscentre.ie

Abbey Theatre
(Abbey Theatre events only)
26 Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1
Tel. + 353 (0) 1 878 7222
(Open Mon–Sat 10.30am–7pm)
Web. www.abbeytheatre.ie http://www.abbeytheatre.ie

For more information on the Festival visit www.dublinwritersfestival.com

Dublin Writers Festival 2010 - 1st to 6th June

Press Releases

Press Release – April 19, 2010