Dates are set for West Cork Literary Festival

THE 26th West Cork Literary Festival is to take place in and around the town of Bantry from July 12 to 19 this year.

It is an eight day-long celebration of writing and reading, with a varied and extensive programme, and has become a firmly established highlight of the Irish literary calendar.

Famous Irish and international writers, both established and emerging, gather in the picturesque town each year.

This year’s list of visitors to Bantry includes Anne Enright, Colm Tóibín, Adania Shibli, David Nicholls, Dolly Alderton, Paul Lynch, Rónán Hession, Eimear Ryan, Theo Dorgan, Andrea Mara, Irvine Welsh, Miriam Margoyles, Elizabeth Day, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Jason Allen-Paisant.

The West Cork Literary Festival’s programme includes masterclasses and workshops on topics from poetry writing to publishing your work, as well as talks and interviews with authors, book launches, and a range of other events, with some aimed at children and others aimed at adults.

A huge amount of the events are free, but most still encourage pre-booking, and the full line-up is available on westcorkmusic.ie/literary-festival/programme/.

The opening reception of the 26th West Cork Literary Festival takes place in Bantry Library on July 12 at 5pm, and is a free event.

Festival director Eimear O’Herlihy encouraged people to attend this year.

“It feels like West Cork Literary Festival is becoming a destination festival because what could be better than a week in Bantry in the summer with friends, writers and exciting and inspiring conversations happening on stages and in cafes all over town,” she said.

“Our writers and our audiences make it the brilliant week that it is and we hope that everyone follows the road to Bantry this summer.”