Now in its eighth year, the Red Line Book Festival will feature a range of authors taking part in a week of panels, discussions, workshops and theatrical productions. The programme showcases the best of national and international contemporary writers and performers, including both established and emerging talent.

Speaking of the event on the official website, South Dublin County Council Chief Executive Danny McLoughlin said:

“Red Line Book Festival is a fantastic opportunity for the people of South Dublin to engage with the spoken, written, recited and performed word, right on their own doorstep. The richness and diversity of this year’s expanded programme secures the place of the Red Line Book Festival in the cultural calendar.”

Author of two highly acclaimed books, This Is the Ritual and Here Are the Young Men, Rob Doyle will host a Creative Non-Fiction workshop exploring how to push the boundaries of non-fiction. Through a series of exercises and readings, participants will try out a variety of fresh, creative approaches to writing non-fiction such as autobiography, the essay, critical writing, travel writing and more.

Meanwhile, hosted by poet and writer Colm Keegan (Randomer),  This Voice: Writing & The Working Class will feature a panel of top authors exploring the challenges faced by working-class writers and the valuable perspectives they have to offer. Joining Keegan are Polari prize-winner Paul McVeigh (The Good Son), acclaimed author Frankie Gaffney (Dublin Seven) and bestselling writer June Caldwell (Room Little Darker).

Additionally, as part of the Historic Heroines strand, Mná na hÉireann will celebrate the centenary of Irish women winning the right to vote, with a full-day event exploring the changing lives and roles of Irish women in the early years of the 20th century. Leading historians Liz Gillis (Women of the Revolution, The Fall of Dublin), Sinéad McCoole (Easter Widows) and Dr. Kate O’Malley (Ireland, India and Empire) will be joined by RTÉ broadcaster and author Joe Duffy (Children of the Rising) to examine the changing role of Irish women within both politics and society.

Many more workshops and panels will take place throughout the week alongside live performances such as Take Off Your Cornflakes and a special Red Line Book Festival edition of the Rick O’Shea Book Club, with guests Senator Lynn Ruane, Declan Lynch and Tony O’Reilly.

For a full list of events and to book tickets visit: https://www.redlinebookfestival.ie/programme