Dingle Feile na Bealtaine

I spent a wonderful few days down in Dingle in Co. Kerry at the Dingle Feile na Bealtaine Festival, which involves the whole town and local community in a celebration of writing music, art and literature for all ages and interests.

Dingle is such a special town. It is one of the most stunning places  to visit in Ireland as the landscape and ocean and sea and sky and cliffs and fields and golden beaches and mountains all combine to take your breath away.

I visited two great schools one overlooking the ocean in Clochan and then on to the wonderful Bunscoil Bricluin, in Annascaul.

Bookshop owner Camilla Dinkel organised a wonderful event in her lovely Dingle Bookshop, where I got to meet and talk with so many lovely readers both young and old.

Later I was in the Dingle Courthouse for a packed court session with  Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, the two very talented authors of the bestselling novel  ‘Oh My God What a Complete Aisling.’

I loved the book and was delighted to act as interviewer with the three of us adjourning from the judge’s bench to conduct the proceedings.

The fact that Aisling happens to admit in the book that she is a big fan of my books and takes comfort from reading them is great.  Emer and Sarah are so good to give me such a lovely mention in their novel.  Like everyone else I can’t wait to see Aisling up on the big screen.

Saturday night was a real treat getting to a concert in the famous St. James’ Church where the wonderful singer Cat Dowling performed. Then Kerry poet Brendan Kennelly who was in the audience, gave us a few of his poems, before singer Camille O’Sullivan took to the stage and blew us away with an amazing performance.  Thanks to Rachel Ni Fhionnáin, for organizing such a lovely visit.

The famous arch on Dublin’s iconic Halfpenny Bridge was bedecked with books to celebrate the launch of this year’s International Literature Festival Dublin. It was breezy on the bridge but new writer Melatu Uche Okorie and I enjoyed the view. Melatu, who was in direct provision, has just published her first book- which I am dying to read. Later that night, it was great to be back in one of my favourite haunts, for the official  launch for the International Literature Festival Dublin which was held upstairs in the lovely new Bewleys.  My good friend Sarah Webb has organised all the brilliant Family and Children’s events.

The Festival runs from 19^th to 27^th May 2018 with a huge programme of events with both Irish and International writers at a number of venues across the city.

I am doing three events at the festival – Bold Girls- A big panel discussing the women who influenced and inspired us which is on Thursday 24^th May in Smock Alley.

On Sunday 27^th May I am very excited as I will be leading a very special tour of Coming Home- the Great Hunger Art Exhibition which is on in The Coach House in Dublin Castle at 1.pm.  Places are limited and will book out very quickly.

Then at 3.pm,on Sunday 27^th May  I am in the Gothic Room of Dublin Castle showing some of my favourite images from the art in the Great Hunger Exhibition and talking about how they relate to ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’  and help us to understand and  tell the story of the Great Irish Famine . I am hoping that lots of readers will come along for these very special events.

I was really pleased when  a class in  the Convent of Mercy National School got in touch with my publishers  to ask if I would agree to do a  big interview with their class as they  had all read my books and  had  a  mountain  of questions to ask me. Teacher Rachael Leinster helped to set it all up and I was absolutely delighted to take part in such a brilliantly organised interview.

There were all types of question for me about the books and my writing. A few of the girls had written diary entries from the point of view as a character during the famine and read them to me , believe me there is a lot of writing talent  in that that class.  I really enjoyed chatting to everyone and answering all their questions.  Well done to all the girls in the Mercy National School in Belturbet!