Drumshanbo Written Word Festival 2023 takes place in August

The Drumshanbo Written Word is fired up for its second literary Festival on August 24-25-26, with a wonderful array of Leitrim, national and international writers coming to town.

There will be writing workshops, reading and interviews, book launches, awards for the best Poetry Film, walking tours of the town, tributes to a highly regarded literary contributor, book signings and an Open Mic for anyone who would like to share their work.

There are ticket events and free events.

The Mayflower begins the Festival on August 24 with a Leitrim Writer's Night featuring "The Ladies of Leitrim Poetry." Three of Leitrim's finest writers, Mary Guckan, Emily Cullen and Roisin Kelly, will be interviewed by Irish Times journalist and author Ronan McGreevey about their craft and inspiration.

Drumshanbo Written Word Press publication of the writings of Mohill's Gerry Bohan will be launched at the event. He will be reading from his first book, The Clainings Tree and Other Stories from the Heart of Leitrim. It will go on sale that night.

The Festival Launch Night free event is taking place on August 25. This evening features two outstanding events. The first is the screening of the finalists for the 2nd Annual Poetry Film Competition. This year, the Festival received 91 entries from around the world. The poetry films are a unique blend of spoken words and film, no more than six minutes in length. Cork-based filmmaker and poet Colm Scully will be back as a curator of this year's competition. This year's cash prize is €400.00.

After the film awards, Stephen Murphy returns to Leitrim and takes to the stage with his first book of poetry, The Sea Hound. Stephen is regarded as the people's poet who brings passion, tenderness and hard-gripping language, full of insights into Ireland and today's world.

Saturday, August 26, beginning in the morning with two writing workshops at Aras Padquic. Stephen Murphy will conduct a Poetry Writing Workshop not to be missed, and returning to the Festival is author Nuala O'Connor to facilitate a Prose Writing Workshop. She is the author of the acclaimed book NORA about Nora Barnacle and James Joyce. These workshops are three hours in length, from 10-1pm. Booking is essential.

At noon, gathering at the People's Park by the Danu statue, the Walking Tour of Town begins. Led by Drumshanbo Glimpses of the Past, this hour-long stroll through downtown brings comprehension and historical observation. One of the stops along the route includes the birthplace of Irish writer Ita Daly. This is a free event open to all.

At 3pm at the Mayflower is the grand event, Readings and Conversation. For this year's Festival, Ita Daly will be back on-stage. She attended the very first Written Word Weekend in 2009, when it was held at Berry's Tavern. This time she will be in conversation with Charlie McGettigan, who returns to the Festival after reading last year at the Festival from his first, very successful book, The Rock N Roll Kid.

Next, Nuala O'Connor will sit down with two leading writers- Emilie Pine and Anne Griffin. Ms Pine has four acclaimed books and is a lecturer at University Dublin College. Ms Griffin's first book made her the winner of the Newcomer of the Year Irish Book Award.

Finally, we are thrilled to have in Drumshanbo internationally celebrated writer John Boyne. He will be in conversation with the Artistic Director of the Glens Centre and the voice of Ocean FM Art Report, Brendan Murray. Mr Boyne is the author of fourteen novels for adults, six novels for younger readers, two novellas and one collection of short stories. His novels are published in over 50 languages. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was adapted into a 2008 film of the same name.

Tickets for this and all other events may be purchased through www.drumshanbowrittenword.ie or at the door.