Day Six

It got a little rainy this morning at The Picture Book Picnic - but we didn't let that stop our fun - it was a super morning, so thanks to everyone who came along! Over in County Hall JEREMY STRONG made us laugh when he told us about all the crazy things that his fans like to send him - carrots in skirts were the least of it.

Margaret Ward, Mary Fitzgerald & Lindsey Hilsum

We had a very topical discussion in the Pavilion Theatre with journalists LINDSEY HILSUM and MARY FITZGERALD - Democracy in the Middle East. Both Lindsey & Mary were in Libya during the revolution and spoke about their experiences reporting from a war zone. Margaret Ward was on hand to chair the discussion and put hecklers in their place.
There was not one but two canine themed book discussions - JOHN BRADSHAW talked to GAVIN FRIDAY about his book In Defence of Dogs and EILEEN BATTERSBY told Gerard Smyth about how she came to write her memoir Ordinary Dogs.

We also had two publishing events based in the wonderful world of children's publishing. At the Big Picture Panel Discussion David Maybury found out how Sarah McIntyre, David Mackintosh & Chris Judge got into this illustrating lark, while Paths to Publication explored the current trends in children's and young adult publishing: top tip -  get yourself the current copy of the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook was something all the panellists agreed on.
When all the indoor events were taking place, some people took a chance on the weather (which paid off!) and went on the Saunter to Sandycove  - a Flann O'Brien themed meander along the coast with readings & performance. 

Poets who took part in the Transtromer Tribute

Nerys Williams, wiiner of the dlr Strong Award

It was a busy day for Poetry Now events - the Transtromer tribute in the Pavilion Theatre was a fantastic gathering of visiting and Irish poets to read the poetry of Tomas Transtromer and take part in a panel discussion. The winner of the dlr Strong Award was announced in the afternoon after a reading from the shortlisted poets  - the winner was NERYS WILLIAMS for her collection Sound Archive - Congratualtions Nerys!
We were delighted to be at the launch of Macdara Woods' Collected Poems in the Maritime Museum and we finished on a high at Last Orders with THOMAS LYNCH & JURIS KRONBERG.
There was a captivated audience for Princess of the Pen - PAULINE McLYNN, MARITA CONLON-McKENNA & JUDI CURTIN charmed all the little princesses who had come to see them and Diana Bunici kept everyone in order. Over 300 Cherub fans gathered  eagerly in the Pavilion Theatre to see ROBERT MUCHAMORE - and thanks to Robert for the uber-signing event afterwards.

Kevin barry & Maeve Higgins

DANIEL WOODRELL was on his first visit to Ireland - so we're delighted that it was to visit us! He and DECLAN BURKE read from their work and then Sinead Gleeson was asking the questions - and there was lots.
It was heaven for fans of quality TV drama to hear LISA ALBERT (Mad Men) & JEPPE GJERVIG GRAM (Borgen) tell us about themselves and the shows they write for.
MAEVE HIGGINS & KEVIN BARRY paired up to give us a hilarious event - Kevin read excerpts from his short stories and novel and Maeve gave us a sneak preview of what's in store when her book comes out in October. It was the last event of the festival in the Pavilion Theatre - and it was fantastic to finish with a packed theatre, laughing their socks off.

Day Five

It was a smashing morning in Dun Laoghaire and we got off to a great start with a kids workshop - Comic Jams with Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre showing us how it's done. The annual M2C Literary Tour headed off form Blackrock about eleven - and we wished them luck on their magical mystery tour of the county's literary hotspots. Over in County Hall we got some great tips on writing and publishing short stories from some of the best in the business at The Short Story Seminar.



David Maybury & Sarah Webb at the Monster Book Lunch

We had 100 hungry monsters for the Monster Book Lunch - kids got to eat lunch with their favourite author and ask them questions. A MOST enertaining event - for all concerned.

Gerry Smyth & Michael Longley

The Irish Times Poetry Now award was presented to this year's winner MICHAEL LONGLEY at 1pm in County Hall. He read, very movingly, a poem he had written for one of his granchildren 'The Leveret'.

Over in the Pavilion Theatre DIARMAID FERRITER talked about his forthcoming book Ambiguous Republic:Ireland in the 1970s. Meanwhile at the Independent Publishing Seminar CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD, ARLENE HUNT & ADRIAN WHITE told us about their route to self publishing. Two of Ireland's funniest writers - PAULINE McLYNN & ANNA McPARTLIN kept us well entertained for over an hour interviewed by Roisín Ingle. In the Kingston Hotel SARA WINGATE GRAY gave a fascinating talk on libraries and what the future might hold as the digital landscape changes. GERBRAND BAKKER & JOAO ALMINO told us about their very different approaches to the writing life. Teen curators Sheena McGuirk, Chloe O'Hara & Erin Jennings did sterling work interviewing PHILIP REEVE & MICHELLE HARRISON. We celebrated MARY LAVIN's contribution to children's literature and Robert Dunbar gave an overview of the portrayal childhood and children in her short stories and novels.

Chris Binchy, David Mitchell & Claire Kilroy

DAVID MITCHELL & CLAIRE KILROY gave us some insights into how they work and both read from recent pieces, in David's case he was trying out some unpublished work - 'It's 1984 and I'm a 15yr old girl'. Both JOHN BANVILLE & ESTHER FREUD's latest novels feature actors and the theatre world so it was fitting that they were introduced at their reading by actress Derbhle Crotty.
The two evening poetry readings were once again in the Maritime Museum, beginning with Burmese poet KHIN AUNG AYE who read with LOUIS DE PAOR and followed two hours later by MARK DOTY & PAULA MEEHAN (who memorably described the venue as a cross between a revival meeting and Davy Jones' Locker).

Day Four

Jedwardesque boglin courtesy of Sarah McIntyre

We didn't know what a boglin (a kind of froggy goblin) looked like until SARAH McINTYRE drew one for us - thanks Sarah! Sarah and PHILIP REEVE got everyone in the Pavilion Theatre drawing goblins this morning - they even brought along a mini Bratapult (mini because they don't like you taking massive engines of war on the airplane) to fire goblins at the audience. 

Itinerant Poetry Library

The Itinerant Poetry Library - a guerilla style mobile public library - set up in several different locations around Dun Laoghaire. The rather stern Librarian was on hand for anyone who wished to join!


There was lots of great information about getting published at this afternoon's seminar from EOIN PURCELL, FAITH O'GRADY & IVAN O'BRIEN - it's all about the quality of the writing! It was very interesting hearing what literary agents are looking for - a distinct writing voice and submissions that makes them want to read the next page; and the next.......... 

Declan Burke talked to two Irish journalists who've both just published their debut novels - CONOR BRADY & MICHAEL CLIFFORD in the Pavilion Theatre. Interestingly, both books are crime novels, although Conor Brady's is set in 1887 while Michael Cliffords is more contemporary.

Philippa Gregory

The first Poetry Now reading of the day was a truly memorable evemt with ILYA KAMINSKY & TESS GALLAGHER in the Maritime Museum, followed by JAMES FENTON & MOYA CANNON. 

TESSA HADLEY & KEITH RIDGWAY talked to Sylvia Thompson in County Hall about their writing and recently published work while PHILIPPA GREGORY gave a fascinating insight into researching and writing historical fiction. Patrick Geoghegan, history lecturer in Trinity gave Philippa a lively and enthusiastic introduction and chaired the interview and Q&A that followed.

Day Three

MARCUS SEDGWICK showed us a wonderful slidehow this morning about the creepy and crazy world inhabited by the characters from his Raven Mysteries series of books. Five lucky children were chosen to don wigs, mustaches and bunny ears to act out a chapter from the book! Fantastic fun.

Vaness O'Loughlin, Katie Fforde & Sarah Webb

This evening was the first of 3 sessions of the best of ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival - on in the Kingston Hotel while over in the Pavilion Theatre JOSEPH O'CONNOR & JONATHAN DEE read from recent work and discussed contemporary fiction with Declan Hughes. Jonathan Dee read from 'The Privilages while Joseph O'Connor read a selection of his poetry and a story from his new short story collection (out in Oct 2012)

Back in the Kingston Hotel at the Passion for Books event KATIE FFORDE, CATHY KELLY, SINEAD MORIARTY, SARAH WEBB & MARITA CONLON-MCKENNA were talking about their work with Vanessa O'Loughlin. The evening ended  with each writer talking about their favourite Maeve Binchy book, in a tribute to the Dalkey author who died in July this year.

James Fenton

dlr Poetry Now got off to a fantastic start with JAMES FENTON giving the keynote address - introduced by Dr Philip Coleman. The title of his lecture was 'What are we going to do about the new Philip Larkin' in reference to The Complete Poems of Philip Larkin, a new edition which includes uncollected and unpublished poems. Fenton's talk encompassed the idea of a writers's collected work versus complete work (which is better for their posthumous reputation?) and of the 'judicious bonfire' in relation to curatation of  the work of artists and writers after their death. He finished the evening by reading Larkin's poem Aubade.

The final event of the evening was Tá na Mílte ag Seoladh Anonn (Thousands are Sailing) a unique poetry show featuring the work of Dónall Mac Amhlaigh read by Alan Titley; Mícheál Ó hAodha’s stunning debut Slán le hÉirinn; Rita Ann Higgins and a ‘rhyme essay’ that touches on themes of emigration and language; and Nessa O’Mahony’s acclaimed verse novel In Sight of Home. On in the Maritime Museum with a beautiful onscreen projections by Margaret Lonergan, and music by Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames, this was a truly special night.

Day Two

Steve Cole

The day started with a riotously funny event with best selling kids author STEVE COLE (he's written 164 books!). Steve introduced us to such deadly fruit super villains as Dracu-cumber & Were-nana and his infectious sense of fun had the audience jumping out of their seats when he asked for volunteers. The event ended on a high note when Steve finished with a song containing the memorable words ' a drawstring bag stuffed with killer carnivore squirrels'.

We had a trip down film memory lane this afternoon as David O'Callaghan chatted to DEREK LANDY about cinematic influences on his Skulduggery Pleasent books. Derek treated us by showing some of his wonderful collection of film props (including, OMG, Superman's cape. I kid you not).

Des Bishop, Sophie Gorman & Tom Inglis

Later on in the Maritime Museum Sophie Gorman talked to DES BISHOP & TOM INGLIS about their recent books - both books about their own experience of dealing with grief and loss. Both Des and Tom read movingly from their books and talked about the raw process of writing about such personal memories.

The final event of the night was the SUNDAY MISCELLANY show in the Pavilion Theatre, presented by Clíodhna Ní Anluain and featuring an amazing array of writers and musicians including Richard Bausch, Iggy McGovern, Fergus Linehan, Chris Binchy, Christine Dyer Hickey, Martina Devlin, Sheila Maher, Rita Ann Higgins and Eavan Boland, The Dublin Guitar Quartet and We Banjo 3. It was a sell out show and an absolutely spellbinding mix of music and the spoken word.

Day One

Marita Conlon-McKenna

We had a great start to the festival with MARITA CONLON-MCKENNA talking to a packed out Mill Theatre in Dundrum. Marita talked about her writing and the inspiration for her first book - a promise to one of her daughters to write a book for her and the true story of three childrens skeletons from the famine era which were found under hawthorn tree. One of our favourite quotes from the event was (in relation to her kids running amok with a random wooden legs) 'PUT THOSE LEGS BACK - THEY'RE NOT YOURS'!

Opening night in the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire was both entertaining and engaging - County Librarian Mairead Owens opened the proceedings and then handed over An Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tom Joyce who welcomed all the visiting authors. PAUL MURRAY & HOWARD JACOBSON were on first at 6.30pm and talked about writing their darkly comic novels with Peter Crawley. They each read from work containing (by some kind of mad literary coincidence) failed and disappointed noovelists. Paul Murray went one step further by naming his protaganist 'Paul Murray'!

Richrd Bausch, Jen Coppinger & Claire Keegan

Jen Coppinger chaired the discussion with RICHARD BAUSCH & CLAIRE KEEGAN exploring the short story at 8.30pm. Both writers read from recent work, and then talked about their writing practice. Richard Bausch shared some jokes and a particularly good Hemmingway anecdote about the importance of editing till just the right word is in place.

It was a fantastic evening, with a great energy and buzz about the place - may it continue for the next five days!

Yo Ho Ho...........

The National Maritime Museum is a stunning new venue for the festival. Most of the dlr Poetry Now events will be taking place here and you couldn't ask for a more atmospheric building. Housed in the Old Mariners Church the light is muted and each display case holds an array of nautical treasures from old astrolabes to a faded but jaunty naval hats. The display cases will be rolled back every evening to allow us to set up our chairs and the evening's performer will be looking out at the audience from in front of the imposing eye of the Baily lighthouse Optic.