New novels from some of Ireland’s best known authors, intimate readings from revered poets and writers, cracking political debates, an exhibition of gorgeous picture book art and a rather interesting tour of Dún Laoghaire real estate from the nineteenth century onwards are just some of the highlights of this year’s Mountains to Sea Dlr Book Festival.
One of the best-loved names in both children’s and adult literature, John Boyne will read from his new book The Heart’s Invisible Furies alongside bestselling author Chris Cleave whose latest book Everyone Brave is Forgotten was an instant hit last year. Another stellar pairing will be John Banvilleand friend Neil Jordan who will discuss their new books Time Pieces and Carnivalesque. Joanna Trollope examines the psychology of contemporary friendship and Roy Hattersley tells the story of Catholicism both here and in the UK.
The inevitability of death is examined by Tim Parks with recent award-winning author Mike McCormack while death of the murderous kind will be explored through real historic events by Kate Summerscale and Graeme Macrae Burnet.
The historic Northwest Passage Expedition is at the heart of Ed O’Loughlin’s new book Minds of Winter which he discusses with Michael Smith - an unrivalled authority on polar expedition. Adult entertainer AND children’s author Julian Clary will be in conversation with Abie Philbin Bowman, while Mark O’Connell talks transhumanism and how technology will change the human condition with Patrick Freyne.
The momentous political events of the last six months will be discussed by some of the most widely respected commentators writing today. David McWilliams will lead a discussion on the implications of Brexit for Ireland with Martina Devlin, Diarmaid Ferriter and David Murphy which will be followed by an examination of how Trump’s election came to pass by those who witnessed it at first hand - Mark Little, Simon Carswell, Gary Younge (The Guardian) and Amy Chozick (Political correspondent of The New York Times).The theme is continued when The Dublin Review leads a discussion on post-truth and non-fiction in an Age of Lies with Rob Doyle, Caelainn Hogan and Joanna Walsh.
Some of our finest writers including Sarah Maria Griffin, Vona Groake, Declan Hughes and John Kelly will pay tribute to people we have lost and how we memorialise them in Heroes and Paul Howard, along with Roisin Dwyer, David Brophy and Lisa Lambe will look at the on-going influence of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
New writing at its most lively and inventive will be celebrated by Martin Doyle when he meets with Karl Geary (Montpelier Parade), Rory Gleeson (Rockadoon Shore) and Ciaran McMenamin (Skintown) and Mia Gallagher will chair a session with Michèle Forbes (Edith & Oliver), Lisa Carey (The Stolen Child) and Yvonne Cassidy (I’m Right Here) to discuss how questions of marriage, sisterhood, oppression and freedom inform their work.
The festival will come to a close with veteran writer and broadcaster John Bowman’s illuminating Ireland: The Autobiography – eyewitness accounts of Irish life over the last 100 years. Assisting John in the telling of our national story will be actors Owen Roe, Cathy Belton, Karen Ardiff and writer Joseph O’Connor.
As always, the Poetry Now strand is an important keystone contributing towards the ongoing success of Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival. In 2017 we are delighted to welcome Michael Longley, Fanny Howe and Nick Laird to read new works and reflect on their careers to date.
Throughout the festival they will be joined by other wonderful poets such as Vona Groake, Paula Meehan, Harry Clifton, Katie Donovan, Sarah Howe, Mairéad Byrne and Matthew Welton. Poetry Now always provides an excellent opportunity to meet poets who are new to the Festival or those who are experimenting with the boundaries of performance, art and poetry. We welcome Aidan McArdle, Christodoulos Makris, Claire Potter, Vahno Capildeo and Stephen Sexton, all sharing new poems and collections.
The Schools and Families’ programme is honoured that a true legend of children’s literature, 93 year old Judith Kerr, author and illustrator of The Tiger Who Came To Tea will be visiting Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival for the first time. Broadcaster and author Ryan Tubridy and Laureate na nÓg P.J. Lynch will present Patrick and The President, a gorgeous new picturebook that evokes President John F. Kennedy’s return to Ireland.
But that is not all; throughout the festival young audiences and their families will be entertained by some of the most exciting writers and illustrators working here in Ireland and throughout the world. They include the UK Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, illustrators Beatrice Alemagna, Chris Haughton, Oisín McGann, Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve, Niamh Sharkey and Margaret Anne Suggs, Young Adult writers Holly Bourne, Brian Conaghan and Sarah Crossan and local legends Eoin Colfer, Matt Robertson, Roddy Doyle and Chris Judge. They feature in a programme packed with readings, workshops and writing masterclasses, all designed to encourage a love of reading and inspiring creativity in our young visitors.
Tickets on Sale from Wednesday February 15th 2017 on www.mountainstosea.ie or (01) 231 2929