INAUGURAL DUBLIN BOOK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED

national | arts and media | news report Friday February 15, 2008 16:56 by Gert Ackermann - The Dublin Book Festival

New Festival Will Showcase the Best of Irish Writing and Publishing

DUBLIN – The Irish Book Publishers’ Association (CLÉ) has announced the establishment of the Dublin Book Festival, an annual celebration of the best contemporary Irish writing and publishing.

The Dublin Book Festival, 7-9 March 200, Dublin's City Hall

DUBLIN –
The Irish Book Publishers’ Association (CLÈ) today announced
the establishment of the Dublin Book Festival, an annual celebration of
the best contemporary Irish writing and publishing.

Ireland’s leading writers, poets, journalists and thinkers will
descend on Dublin City Hall between 7 and 9 March 2008, to share their
writing, debate the state of Irish literature and discuss some of the
issues affecting Ireland today.

Dermot Bolger, Joseph O’ Connor, Anthony Cronin, John Montague,
Patricia Scanlon, Cathy Kelly, Kate Thompson, Mary Banotti, Gabriel Rosenstock,
Stephen Price, Margaret MacCurtain, Kevin Barry, Geraldine Mills, Barry
Cummins, Martin Mansergh, Eilís Ní Dhuihne, Sean Kelly,
Karen Ardiff, Weeshie Fogharty, Mary Rose Callaghan, Muiris O’ Meara,
Majella McDonnell, Proinsias Mac A' Bhaird, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin,
Medbh McGuckian, Pat Boran, Joan Newmann and many others will
be contributing to the inaugural festival.

Lively panel discussions will take on issues across a range of topics
including sport, crime, history and politics. Look forward to lots of
highly charged conversation on what matters most, and to whom, with the
great opinion makers of our time.

Readers will have a unique opportunity to interact with book publishing
professionals and their favourite Irish authors during reading group sessions
and the festival will also be the place to meet a host of inspiring children’s
writers, including Marita Conlon McKenna, Judi Curtin, Eddie Lenihan,
Tom McCaughren, Enda Wyley and many others.

All events are open to the public and entry is free.

The festival is organised by the Irish Book Publisher’s Association
(CLÈ), supported by the Arts Council; the Department of Art, Sport
and Tourism; Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge; Dublin City Council; Dublin City
Libraries and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Alan Hayes, Vice President of CLÈ, said the festival is “a
celebration of the diversity and creativity in contemporary Irish writing
and publishing”.

“We are delighted to showcase to the public the immense literary
talent that exists in Ireland today and invite everyone to come along
and see the best of Irish writing and publishing in a great festive and
family-friendly environment”.