Celebrate all things literary
Christine Dwyer Hickey
LITERARY fans across Laois are getting ready for this year’s Leaves festival, which will see readings and workshops from local and national acclaimed writers and poets.
The festival begins this Friday with a launch in County Hall at 7.30pm. The launch of the festival is also the launch of a number of books, including ‘Telling Time’ by former Laois writer in residence Ann Egan, ‘The Wild Pupil’ by Kathy D’Arcy, ‘Some Sort of Beauty’ by Jamie O’ Connell and ‘The Next Life’ by Portlaoise native Pat Boran.
The readings on the night will be chaired by James Ryan, who is a native of Rathdowney. James is currently a director of creative writing programmes in University College Dublin. His most recent novel ‘South of the Border’ was published by Lilliput in 2008. Previously published novels include ‘Home From England’, ‘Dismantling Mr Doyle’ and ‘Seeds of Doubt’.
Saturday evening sees the Arthouse in Stradbally host a literary music evening from 8pm. The evening will feature Christine Dwyer Hickey, Niamh Boyce and Nuala Ní Chonchuír and will be chaired by Seamus Hosey. There will also be music provided by harpist Claire O’ Donnell.
As well as these two events, there are events for younger literary fans, with well known childrens’ authors Roisin Meaney and Niamh Sharkey visiting Portlaoise and Abbeyleix libraries this Friday. There are also adult workshops, outlined here in Stage Left. For more information on the Leaves festival contact the Arts Office in Laois County Council at 057 86 74344.
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Friday 24 May 2013
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