What's On

Three contemporary poets whose work incorporates archival or contemporary documentary material give short talks on their writing process. Bebe Ashley, Julie Morrissy and Cherry Smyth discuss their inspirations, raw material and references, drafts and rewrites, aspects of presentation and publishing, and other elements framing their recent work. Devised, programmed and hosted by Christodoulos Makris. Christodoulos

Join us for an evening with Booker-longlisted No.1 bestselling author of Strange Flowers, Donal Ryan, as we explore his most recent novel The Queen of Dirt Island. It is a story of terrible betrayals and fierce loyalties, of isolation and togetherness, of transgression, forgiveness, desire, and love. About all the things family can be and

Sinéad Gleeson and Kim Gordon’s collection of essays by female writers about female artists that matter to them, This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music was published in April this year. The book “seeks to challenge the male dominance and sexism hard-coded in the canons of music, literature, and film and has forced women to fight

Join us for this year’s Ten Books where former Irish Censor, John Kelleher and self-declared ‘dirty-minded historian’ and host of the Censored podcast Dr Aoife Bhreatnach discuss their top picks from the world of banned books. Dr Aoife Bhreatnach is a researcher, writer and podcaster. Since March 2020, she has written and presented Censored podcast,

Author Marguerite Penrose in conversation with Noelle Brown reflects about her life, work and inspiration in her memoir ‘Yeah, But Where Are You Really From’ – an open and thought provoking read which explores Marguerite’s life and her thoughts and experience of; needs of people born in institutions, on being a Black Irishwoman and about

Regarded as one of the best European poets of his time, Dennis O'Driscoll was a poet, essayist, critic, editor and mentor who made Naas, Co Kildare his home until his death. The Dennis O'Driscoll Literary Bursary Award, an initiative of Kildare County Council, is open to both established and emerging writers and critics in all

Recent years have seen an unprecedented volume of exciting new fiction coming out of the North. Kildare Readers’ Festival is delighted to welcome Derry writer Kerri ní Dochartaigh speaking with Michelle Gallen and Olivia Fitzsimons about their new books and the current thriving literature scene in Northern Ireland. Kerri ní Dochartaigh is from the North

Kildare Readers Festival regular Dermot Bolger returns with Sunday Sessions for a conversation with our guests Billy Roche and Bernard Farrell about life as playwrights, seeing the work on stage and how plays appear and disappear. In this relaxed and intimate discussion, Dermot and guests will look at how past life experience has influenced their

Since 2015, Maynooth University Department of English and Kildare County Council Arts and Library Service have collaborated on an annual writers-in-residence programme, supporting writers in their practice and to bring their work to university and community audiences. The resident writers in 2022/23 are Fíona Scarlett and Catherine Talbot. Recently appointed Associate Professor of Creative Writing/