Folk festival book signing in Waterstones

The author of a book celebrating the 45-year history of the Cork Folk Festival will sign copies in Waterstones Cork on Friday evening.

The book, Cork Folk Festival 1979-2024 — Reeling Down the Years, is written by festival co-organiser William Hammond. It offers a detailed account of the folk festival’s journey through the decades, documenting its 1,126 artists, 350 groups and bands, and its enduring role in shaping Cork’s cultural life.

“Seven years in the making, that’s how long it took to write the book, and it’s the story of the folk festival,” Mr Hammond told The Echo.

A mainstay in Cork’s music scene for going on half a century, the Cork Folk Festival this year celebrated its 45th anniversary.

Along with an index cataloguing every performance since 1979, the book features a chapter dedicated to each festival year.

For music lovers, the book contains a rich discography that spans recordings from Cork’s vibrant folk scene dating back to 1929. Mr Hammond will be one of several local authors signing books as part of the bookseller’s Christmas customer evening.

Acclaimed Devonshire St playwright and novelist Cónal Creedon, who was recently recognised with the Leonardo da Vinci Award of Arts by the World Cultural Council, will be signing copies of his latest book, Spaghetti Bowl.

Seán Ronayne will be on hand with his autobiography Nature Boy, which recently won biography of the year at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024.

Leona Forde will be signing copies of her bestselling Millie McCarthy series of books for five-to-eight-year-olds.

Eoghan D’Alton will be signing copies of his book An Irish Atlantic Rainforest.

Irish Book Week ambassador Felicity Hayes McCoy will be signing her new novel The Bookseller’s Gift.

The book-signing event will run from 5pm to 6pm this evening in Waterstones, Cork.