Leitrim welcomes leading voices in Irish writing for Iron Mountain festival
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Carrick-on-Shannon hosts writers, performers and musicians across the October 2–4 weekend
Paul Muldoon, David Park and Carrie Crowley are among the leading names coming to Leitrim for this year’s Iron Mountain Literature Festival. The festival takes place from October 2 to 4 in Carrick-on-Shannon and surrounding areas, with poetry, fiction, history and traditional music on the programme.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Muldoon will give a Saturday night illustrated lecture, A History of Ireland in 12 Poems, tracing the country’s history through his poetry. Novelist David Park, whose books include The Truth Commissioner and Ghost Wedding, will read from his work and discuss his writing.
John McGahern will be a particular focus of the weekend. Professor Frank Shovlin will discuss his new biography of the Leitrim writer, while new editions of five McGahern books will be launched. The winner of the 2026 John McGahern Literary Award will be announced on Saturday evening, when actor Carrie Crowley will read from his work.
Among the emerging writers taking part are Congolese-born poet Nithy Kasa, novelist and poet Jessamine O’Connor, whose debut novel Somewhere appeared in May, and Palestinian poet Fatena Abu Mustafa, who has been living and studying in Galway.
Writer and activist Leon Diop, co-founder of Black and Irish, will read from his memoir Mixed Up: An Irish Boy’s Journey into Belonging and address racism and anti-migrant prejudice in Ireland.
National Archives director Orlaith McBride will discuss The Story of Us: Independent Ireland and the 1926 Census, while musician and author Fintan Vallely will examine how traditional music and song have changed over the past century.
Greek Cypriot writer Nasia Dionysiou will explore the relationship between history and literature through her novel What is a Camp, which draws on the story of British detention camps established in Cyprus in 1946.
The festival will also coincide with the Ballinaglera Traditional Music Weekend. Its Iron Mountain Session of Words and Music will feature Vallely and writer Evelyn Conlon. Singer Cathy Jordan is also among the voices on this year’s programme.