“An unforgettable literary festival!” CULTUREFOX.IE Artistic Director – Paul Perry

Every March something special happens in Ennis. Readers come together to celebrate their love of books. Not all, but many are members of book clubs. We are after all the only book club festival in the country. Audiences in 2017 will be guaranteed their festival favourites – the perennial 10 Books You Should Read, as well as a stellar line up for our Sunday Symposium on Sports & Politics. 2017 is also a year in which we evolve in new directions: we host our first Children’s Book Club, welcome the Laureate for Irish Fiction, The Irish Times and the Rick O’Shea Book Clubs, and we’re delighted to be collaborating with Clare County Library on Teen Week. Throw into the mix Paul Durcan, Rose Tremain, Little John Nee and the arrival of thousands of book club members, and you’re in for something singular in Irish literary culture. It’s been a pleasure and privilege working with the Festival Team in bringing this programme to you: they are an extraordinary NEVER committee of volunteers, for what is an extraordinary festival.

Chairperson’s Welcome – Emer O’Connell MISS Fáilte is fiche go hInis! It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since our hugely successful 10th anniversary celebration last March. And, we continue to go from strength to strength! 2017 comes with a host of new partnerships, which we look forward to developing further. Critically, those partnerships are rooted in the incredible support network we have built up over many years – with the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, our loyal corporate OUT supporters and our army of volunteers. Most importantly, we continue to work extensively with Clare County Council and the County Library service. We were delighted therefore that the impact of the Festival was recognised at national level last year through an Excellence in Local Government Award. The award is testimony to the vision, hard work and commitment of so many. We wish all our readers and book clubs – be you regular Festival goers or just dipping your toe in the water – a weekend The Arts Council’s new, upgraded CULTUREFOX events guide of inspiration, discovery and good old fun at EBCF 2017. is now live. Free, faster, easy to use – and personalised for you. Never miss out again. 3 Fri 3rd March

Booking Information The Ireland That We Dreamed Of? Full programme details available on Exploring William Trevor’s Fiction - A Talk with Tina O’Toole www.ennisbookclubfestival.com Date: Fri 03 March Time: 2.30pm Booking for all Festival events is through glór Box Office Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Tel: 065 6843103; www.glor.ie Price: Free

We recommend early booking as many Festival events sell out William Trevor was one of the most renowned figures in quickly. Pre-booked tickets can be collected at individual venues contemporary literature, described as ‘the greatest living writer immediately prior to each event. Free events do not require of short stories in the English language’ by the New Yorker and booking, but do come early to avoid disappointment. acclaimed for his haunting and profound insights into the human heart. Join us for a talk with Dr Tina O’Toole – a literary scholar with research expertise in Irish writing, the history of sexualities Festival HQ – The Spás and transnational literature. In 2016, she was overall winner of the University of Limerick Excellence in Teaching Award. Her talk Meet our contributing authors, other avid readers and book club will focus on Trevor’s early iconic short story ‘The Ballroom of members in our Festival HQ – The Spás @ glór over the course of the Romance’. weekend. Share your thoughts on your favourite reading, pick up a new book or indeed why not bring along a wrapped book as part of This event is kindly supported by Clare County Library Services. our EBCF “blind” book swap! Look forward to meeting you there – do introduce yourself!

Keep the Conversation Going… The Forgotten Summer Carol Drinkwater in Conversation #EBCF2017 Date: Fri 03 March Join in the conversation about EBCF 2017 by tweeting to #EBCF2017. Time: 4pm We’d love to hear your thoughts and see your photos over the Venue: Temple Gate Hotel course of the Festival weekend! Follow us on Facebook – Ennis Book Price: €12 / €10 Club Festival – and twitter @ebcf Actress and writer Carol Drinkwater is the author of the autobiographical Olive Farm series which inspired The Olive Route documentaries about her travels in the south of France. The Attic Sessions Its vineyards also provide the setting for her new novel – The EBCF is delighted to welcome Attic Sessions to record events at Forgotten Summer,which contains ‘plenty of page-turning the Festival in 2017. The Attic Sessions is an original web video drama, but also mouth-watering descriptions of Paris and series about curated by award-winning poet Nessa Provence.’ (The Times) Join Nell Regan as she talks with the O’Mahony and BBC trained cameraman Peter Salisbury. Watch out always inspiring Carol about olive-farming, writing and life. for their EBCF review and previous recordings at: theatticsessions.tv 4 5 Fri 3rd March

Festival Official Opening The Readers’ Voice and Opening of CRUX - A Dialogue in Metal , Laureate for Irish Fiction Date: Fri 03 March in conversation with Donal Ryan Time: 5.30pm Date: Fri 03 March Time: 8.30pm Venue: glór Venue: glór Price: Free Price: Free The Laureate for Irish Fiction is proud to present Join us for the Official Opening of EBCF 2017 and The Readers’ Voice, a series of author interviews taking place the opening of CRUX at the glór gallery (see further across the country, which celebrate the reader, local libraries detail under Exhibition Guided Tour on Sat 04 March and outstanding Irish writing. Ireland’s inaugural Laureate in glór). Featuring also a performance from young Anne Enright will interview six writers in six different library participants of Music Generation Clare. related venues, and as part of the series, Anne will be in Ennis talking to Donal Ryan about his novel, All We Shall Know.

The Laureate for Irish Fiction has been developed by the Arts Council and is supported by University College Dublin (UCD), New York University (NYU) and The Irish Times.

Paul Durcan Festival Club Date: Fri 03 March Time: 6.30pm Sarah Clancy, Nell Regan, Jaskane Trio Venue: glór Price: €12 / €10 Date: Fri 03 March Time: 10pm

Venue: Old Ground Hotel Price: €5 Paul Durcan’s public readings are simply

unforgettable. A winner of the Lifetime Join us at our Friday night Festival Club at the Achievement Irish Book Award, he Old Ground Hotel for music, mingling and has been one of the most sustaining performances of the spoken word with poets and forces in Irish poetry for more than four writers Sarah Clancy and Nell Regan. decades. The author of more than twenty

collections of poetry, most recently, The Sarah Clancy was Lingo Poet Laureate of 2016 Days of Surprise, and a former, Ireland and is a page and performance poet from Galway. “Durcan is a God. He can break your Professor of Poetry, he is a member of Nell Regan is a poet and non-fiction writer. They heart in a supermarket or petrol Aosdána. If you have never seen him live, will be joined by the Jaskane Trio who showcase station. He is unafraid, masterful now is your chance. He is introduced by a unique blend of violin, oboe and guitar, while and exactly what this world needs poet Afric McGlinchey. playing an eclectic mix of musical genres. more of: wild abandon, wild love and sheer mad genius.” This event is kindly supported by the 6Alice Sebold Old Ground Hotel. 7 Sat 4th March

Books & Buns Walking Tour Date: Sat 04 March Time: 9.30am with Seán Spellissy Venue: Rowan Tree Café Date: Sat 04 March Price: €10 / €8 Time: 11.30am Venue: Meet @ glór Enjoy a Saturday morning book Price: €8 club gathering and test your knowledge of all things literary in Local historian and author Seán our beloved Books & Buns session. Spellissy provides a unique insight Refreshments included to set you into the medieval streets of Ennis up for a busy day! on this ever-popular walking tour.

10 Books You Should Read CRUX – A Dialogue in Metal with Cónal Creedon & Lisa McInerney Guided Tour of the Exhibition & Artists’ Talk Date: Sat 04 March Date: Sat 04 March Time: 11.30am Time: 11.45am Venue: glór Venue: glór, Studio Price: €12 / €10 Price: Free

Join Lisa McInerney & Cónal Creedon, two of Ireland’s Facilitated by John Tynan, Head of Education & Development most engaging writers, for their must reads in what is at The Crafts Council of Ireland a perennial festival favourite. Lisa’s debut novel The Glorious Heresies won the 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize for In an era steeped in technology, meet five Fiction and the 2016 Desmond Elliott Prize. “Totally and artisans who have their hearts and hands firmly unmistakably the real deal.” – Kevin Barry engaged in the world of the physical and raw. This event is kindly Gunvor Anhøj, Michael Calnan, Moss Gaynor, supported by the Cónal Creedon is a novelist, playwright and documentary John Hogan and Jane Murtagh forge, etch, Rowan Tree Café film maker. His books include – Pancho and Lefty Ride draw and open out metal into three and two Out, The Second City Trilogy, The Immortal Deed of dimensional works. Join these five extraordinary Michael O’Leary and Passion Play. “Comic, dramatic, artist-metalsmiths in glór for a guided tour of the work in CRUX and a fascinating artists’ talk. 8 poetic, and musical.” – New York Times 9 Sat 4th March Frank Golden Poetry Launch and Open Mic with the Clare Poetry Collective Clare Youth Theatre Date: Sat 04 March Time: 2.30pm Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Price: Free Date: Sat 04 March Time: 1.30pm Venue: Festival HQ, The Spás @ glór Price: Free Join us for the launch of gotta get a message to you, Frank Golden’s new collection of poetry, published by Clare-based publisher Salmon Poetry. Frank is a poet, novelist and visual artist. His work has been described by The Irish Times as ‘ambitious and courageous’. He is Head of Creative Writing at the Burren College of Art. The launch Join us for an annual treat where members of CYT present selections from featured of Frank Golden’s new book will be followed by an Open Mic poetry session hosted authors of this year’s festival and dramatise them in their own inimitable way. Clare by Mike Douse and the Clare Poetry Collective. The Clare Poetry Collective aims to Youth Theatre, under the direction of Theatre Artist Eleanor Feely, is an initiative of the promote the work of its members, in particular, and of poetry in general. This is done Clare County Arts Office. The Theatre has a unique artistic vision that is committed to through regular readings in County Clare and elsewhere, the encouragement of book the artistic, personal and social development of the young person. and soft publication, and a weekly section in The Clare Champion.

Writing, Women and Ireland Rick O’Shea Book Club Special Sinéad Gleeson in conversation with Anne Devlin, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Eimear Ryan with John Boyne Date: Sat 04 March Date: Sat 04 March Time: 3.30pm Time: 2pm Venue: glór Price: €12 / €10 Venue: Old Ground Hotel

Price: €12 / €10 RTÉ’s Rick O’Shea convenes the

largest on-line book club in Ireland Join our panel as they discuss the phenomenon of omission and with some 5,000 members. Join him silence in Irish writing, and the emergence and recognition of Irish in a Book Club Special as he talks to women writers in particular. Sinéad Gleeson is an author, editor renowned author John Boyne about and broadcaster. Her short story anthologies The Long Gaze Back his new book The Heart’s Invisible and The Glass Shore have both won Best Irish Published Book Furies – his most ambitious novel at the Irish Book Awards. Éilís Ní Dhuibhne has written several yet. Perhaps best known for his collections of short stories, many novels, books for children, and 2006 multi award-winning book, The plays for stage and radio. In 2015, she was awarded the Irish Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John’s Pen Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature. other novels, notably The Absolutist Anne Devlin is an award-winning short story writer, playwright and A History of Loneliness, are and screenwriter. Her screenplays for film include Wuthering international bestsellers. “No writer Heights, Vigo and Titanic Town. Eimear Ryan’s writing has recently today handles guilt with as much appeared in Winter Papers, The Dublin Review, The Long Gaze Back depth and sadness as John Boyne.” and Granta.com. She is co-editor of the literary journal Banshee. 10 John Irving. 11 Sat 4th March A Book Club Discussion with Rose Tremain The Irish Times in conversation Date: Sat 04 March Time: 5pm with Seán Rocks Venue: Suas Coffee House Date: Sat 04 March Price: €5 Time: 8pm Venue: glór Martin Doyle, acting books editor of The Irish Times, Price: €15 / €12 offers an insight into the thinking behind its literary coverage, from Saturday’s four book review pages, Saturday Night Package: to author interviews and features, to the recent combine with Michael Collins event @ 9.30pm for €20 expansion of its website. How are books chosen for review or to feature as the Book Club’s monthly title? 2017 marks the welcome How do you pick the right reviewer? What makes a return of festival regular The Irish good review? How might your book club use and presenter of ARENA on Times Book Club as a helpful resource? RTÉ Radio 1, Séan Rocks. He will interview Booker This promises to be a fascinating discussion in an Prize shortlisted author award-winning Coffee House. Rose Tremain in an intimate look-back over her 40 year writing life. Rose Tremain’s novels and short stories have been published worldwide in The Greatest Irish Novel Ever 27 countries and have won many prizes, including the A Bilingual Event in Irish and English Sunday Express book of the Date: Sat 04 March Year Award, the Prix Femina Time: 5.15pm Étranger, the Whitbread Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Novel of the Year Award and Price: €10 the Orange Prize for Fiction. Her fourteenth novel, The Join us for a lively discussion of Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s Cré na Cille Gustav Sonata, was published considered by many a great Irish classic and recently translated to wide acclaim in 2016 and by panellist Alan Titley as The Dirty Dust. It is a novel in Alan’s was described by The Times words “in which all the characters are dead, and buried in as displaying “the painterly a graveyard in Connemara who continue with venom the genius of an Old Master… disputes that sustained them in their previous lives. Their only glorious.” EBCF is delighted sustenance is when a new corpse arrives to tell them about the to welcome Rose Tremain in latest tittle-tattle, scandals, suppositions, rumours and even what promises to be a very occasionally the truth about what is happening ‘up there’.” Alan special event. Titley will be joined by award-winning writers Manchán Magan and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, chaired by Nessa O’Mahony. This event is kindly supported 12 by The Ennis Bookshop. 13 Sun 5th March

Sunday Symposium: Sports and Politics with Patrick Deeley, Paul Kimmage, Alison O’Connor, Christy O’Connor & Sonia O’Sullivan Date: Sun 05 March Time: 10am Venue: glór Price: €18

The Irish Times Book Club with Michael Collins Date: Sat 04 March Time: 9.30pm Venue: glór Price: €10 Saturday Night Package: combine with Rose Tremain event @ 8pm for €20 Our Sunday Symposium is a firm Alison O’Connor is a journalist and festival favourite. This year our panel, broadcaster. She guest presents In a festival first, EBCF are thrilled to welcome The Irish Times Book Club chaired by Alison O’Connor, includes the Tonight with Vincent Browne to Ennis. Man Booker Prize and IMPAC Prize shortlisted author Michael some of the most prestigious athletes, programme on TV3, and has a weekly Collins was born in Limerick and emigrated to the United States on an writers and commentators on sport column with The Irish Examiner. athletics scholarship to Notre Dame in Indiana where he still lives. The and politics in Ireland. They will discuss unofficial laureate of the US Rustbelt, he has written 10 novels. An ultra- the current state of sport in Ireland, its Christy O’Connor is a freelance runner, last year he ran a marathon a day for a month, from Grosse Île controversies, governance, and future. journalist based in Ennis. As a quarantine station in Québec to Toronto, to commemorate the deaths of Not to be missed! goalkeeper he played in two All-Ireland tens of thousands of Irish Famine refugees in Canada in 1847. He talks to club hurling finals and was a member Martin Doyle of The Irish Times. Patrick Deeley is a poet and writer. His of the Clare senior hurling panel. critically acclaimed memoir, The Hurley His book on goalkeepers Last Man This event will be recorded for a podcast on The Irish Times website Maker’s Son, was shortlisted for the Standing was published in 2005. as part of the monthly Irish Times Book Club, and is brought to you in Bord Gáis Energy Non-Fiction Book of association with the Irish Writers Centre. the Year Award 2016. Sonia O’Sullivan is a former World Champion, European Champion and “One of the most exciting talents to have emerged not only from Paul Kimmage is a former National Olympic Silver Medallist. A regular Ireland but anywhere in recent decades.” The Times Road Race Champion, Olympian contributor to RTÉ Sport, Sonia’s and professional cyclist. A former two books include Running to Stand ‘Sportswriter of the Year’, his first Still and Sonia, My Story. She writes for book, Rough Ride, is considered a The Irish Times. Festival Club classic of sports writing. He writes for Date: Sat 04 March Time: 10.30pm Venue: Rowan Tree Café Price: Free the Sunday Independent. This event is kindly supported by North Pole Marathon. Join us after a busy day for the Festival Club at the Rowan Tree Café. Catch 14 up on all the day’s events and mingle with authors and readers alike! 15 Sun 5th March

Teen Week with Clare County Library

Walking Tour We’re delighted to be teaming up with Clare County Library to offer workshops with two award-winning children’s and young with Jane O’Brien adult authors, E.R. Murray and Dave Rudden. Events will take Date: Sun 05 March place in Ennis Town Library and Ennistymon Library. Time: 12.30pm Venue: Meet @ glór Price: €8 Write YOUR Way with E.R. Murray Join Jane O’Brien on her award-winning walking tour of Ennis. Praised by the Date: Mon 27 February Date: Tue 28 February Lonely Planet as the best way to appreciate the town! Time: 10am Time: 10am Venue: De Valera Library, Ennis Venue: Ennistymon Library Price: Free Price: Free

Ever been stuck for an idea? Or so full of ideas you don’t know how to get them onto the page? This interactive workshop will Literary Lunch inspire, motivate and encourage you to capture your ideas and start writing the stories that YOU want to tell. Elizabeth will also with Little John Nee read from a selection of her books. Bring your notebook, pen and an open mind. E.R. Murray is an award-winning author and Date: Sun 05 March short story writer; her novels include The Book of Learning – Time: 1.30pm Nine Lives Trilogy 1, The Book of Shadows – Nine Lives Trilogy Venue: Old Ground Hotel 2 and Caramel Hearts. She lives in West Cork where she fishes, Price: €22 (includes lunch) grows her own vegetables and lives for adventure and words.

She believes we all have stories that deserve to be heard and Join us for a unique lunch of songs and can’t wait to hear yours! stories with Little John Nee.

Little John Nee is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s leading solo theatre performers. Dave Rudden His original and authentic contemporary Date: Wed 08 March Date: Thur 09 March style of musical storytelling and theatrical Time: 10am Time: 10am songs has won him national and Venue: De Valera Library, Ennis Venue: Ennistymon Library international recognition, including an Irish Price: Free Price: Free Times Theatre Award. Mick Heaney writes,

“imagine Garrison Keillor relocating to Dave Rudden has worked in the Dublin theatre, spoken word Ulster’s northwest in the company of Tom and storytelling scene since 2010. Knights of the Borrowed Waits and D’Unbelievables and you get an Dark is the first novel in a trilogy about a secret war between idea of Nee’s singularity.” a race of shape-shifting, misery-eating, occasionally-waistcoat-

wearing monsters and the warriors sworn to stop them. “Nee is a genius … mesmeric and hilarious.” 16 The Irish Times 17 Ruaille Buaille i Scéal Eile Books Cartoon Workshop with Aidan Courtney Date: Sat 04 March Time: 9am Venue: Scéal Eile Books Price: €5

Ceardlann spraoiúil, draíochtúil le Aidan Aidan Courtney (Coimicí Gael) will lead Courtney (Comicí Gael) a mhúineoidh this fun, magical workshop teaching le páistí aois 9-13 conas cartúin a children aged 9-13 how to draw a tharraingt. Beidh béim speisialta ar cartoon character through Irish (a few an gcaractar is fearr leat as leabhair words of Irish will be just fine!). The Harry Potter. Is féidir ábhar ealaíona a theme of the workshop is your favourite

thabhairt, ach níl gá. Is leor cúpla focal a Harry Potter character. Some materials EBCF 2017 CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME bheith ag na páistí. supplied, but children are welcome to bring their own pencils if preferred.

The Book Clinic comes to Ennis Date: Sat 04 March Time: 10am-1pm Venue: Visit Clare Premises, Abbey St Car Park Price: Free

The Book Clinic is open between 10am and 1pm for children of all ages.

Are you a young reader? Looking for a new series to delve into? Feeling uninspired by your bookshelves at home? Do you need a prescription for an exciting new read? Then pop along to the Book Clinic! Visit the Book Doctor, The Children’s Book Club with Caroline Busher consult on your favourite reads and come away Date: Sat 04 March Time: 2.30pm Venue: De Valera Library, Ennis Price: Free with a prescription for your next book which you can take to your local bookshop or library! Join us for the festival’s first Caroline Busher is an Irish Times Children’s Book Club where Best Selling author and was recently Children must be accompanied by a parent or Caroline Busher will talk with and appointed the Reader in Residence guardian whilst attending this event. The Book take questions from our younger with Wexford County Council Library Clinic is brought to you by Children’s Books readers about their experience Services. “An excellent and original Ireland, the national children’s book with her debut novel The Ghosts of voice, with shades of Neil Gaiman organisation of Ireland. Magnificent Children. Ideal for 8-12 and Lemony Snicket.” – Eoin Colfer 18 year olds. 19 Old Mill St Mill Old

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Mill Rd Lahinch

Cusack Rd

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Cornmarket St. Cornmarket Market St Market

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Carmody St. Carmody Mill Rd Mill

EBCF 2017 At a Glance … Ennis MapP of Venues St. Columba's Church Friday, 03 March Kilrush Rd P

Bindon St. Time Event Venue Price Rd College

Market Place P 2.30pm William Trevor’s Fiction with Tina O’Toole Temple Gate Hotel Free St Barrack Old P Complex Leisure

Ennis Lwr Market St Market Lwr 4.00pm Carol Drinkwater in Conversation Temple Gate Hotel €12 / €10 M 6 Bindon Ln. De Valera Turnpike Rd Parnell St. 5.30pm Festival Official Opening glór Free Library Upr O'Connell St.

6.30pm Paul Durcan glór €12 / €10 Rowan Tree5 Row Harmony

High St.

HOTEL P Cathedral Café 8.30pm Laureate for Irish Fiction Anne Enright with Donal Ryan glór Free Ground Old 7 Hospital

O'Connell St. 4 Square 10.00pm Festival Club with Sarah Clancy, Nell Regan & Jaskane Trio Old Ground Hotel €5 O'Connell 3 P Dunnes Abbey St Stores Temple Gate Hospital

Limerick Rd Station HOTEL

Museum Clare Newbridge Rd 8 Galway Saturday, 04 March 2

Steele's Terrace

Heritage Site Heritage

Ennis Friary Friary Ennis

Station Garda Time Event Venue Price Gort Rd Tim Smythe Park Friary P

9.30am Books & Buns Rowan Tree Café €10 / €8 P 1. glór Tourist Office

11.30am 10 Books You Should Read glór €12 / €10 2. Temple Gate Hotel

Cusack Park Cusack GAA GAA 11.30am Walking Tour with Seán Spellissy Meet @ glór €8 3. Old Ground Hotel The Causeway 4. Rowan Tree Café 11.45am CRUX – Guided tour of exhibition & Artist’s Talk glór, Studio Free 5. De Valera Library 1 New Rd 1.30pm Clare Youth Theatre in performance glór, Festival Spás Free 6. Scéal Eile Books glór

Tesco Li ord Rd 2.00pm Writing, Women and Ireland with Sinéad Gleeson & friends Old Ground Hotel €12 / €10 7. Suas Coffee House P Aldi 8. Visit Clare Francis St.

2.30pm Frank Golden Launch & Clare Poetry Collective Open Mic Temple Gate Hotel Free P P 3.30pm Rick O’Shea Bookclub Special with John Boyne glór €12 / €10 Clon Rd 5.00pm A Book Club discussion with The Irish Times Suas Coffee House €5 5.15pm The greatest Irish novel ever Temple Gate Hotel €10 Tulla Rd EBCF Children’s Programme Tulla 8.00pm Rose Tremain in conversation with Seán Rocks glór €15 / €12* Quin 9.30pm The Irish Times Book Club with Michael Collins glór €10* in association with Clare County Library Services 10.30pm Festival Club Rowan Tree Café Free Date & Time Event Venue Price *Combine Rose Tremain and The Irish Times events for €20 Mon 27 Feb @ 10am Write your Way with E.R. Murray De Valera Library, Ennis Free Sunday, 05 March Tue 28 Feb @ 10am Write your Way with E.R. Murray Ennistymon Library Free Sat 04 Mar @ 9am Ruaille Buaille with Aidan Courtney Scéal Eile Books €5 Time Event Venue Price Sat 04 Mar @ 10am-1pm The Book Clinic comes to Ennis Visit Clare, Abbey St Car Park Free 10.00am Sunday Symposium – Sports & Politics glór €18 Sat 04 Mar @ 2.30pm Children’s Book Club with Caroline Busher De Valera Library, Ennis Free 12.30pm Walking Tour with Jane O’Brien Meet @ glór €8 Wed 08 Mar @ 10am Dave Rudden De Valera Library, Ennis Free 1.30pm Literary lunch with Little John Nee (includes lunch) Old Ground Hotel €22 Thur 09 Mar @ 10am Dave Rudden Ennistymon Library Free

20 21 Cafés/Restaurants

1 Rowan Tree Café Bar, Harmony Row, 065 686 8669 5 2 Zest Café, Market Place, 065 682 1014 3 Food Heaven Café & Deli, 21 Market Street, 065 682 2722 Mill Road 4 Old Ground Hotel, O’Connell Street, 065 682 8127 5 Woodstock Hotel, Shanaway Road, 065 689 9800 6 Temple Gate Hotel, The Square, 065 682 3300 7 Cairde Caife, Barrack Street, 087 708 3894 8 Peckish Vegan Café, Merchants Square Carmody St. 9 Brogan’s Bar & Restaurant, O’Connell Street, 065 684 4365 Summerhill 10 Tulsi Indian Restaurant, Carmody St, 065 684 8060 11 11 Seasons 52 Restaurant, 76 Parnell Street, 065 684 8477 12 Suas Coffee House, 31 O’Connell Street, 085 148 2677 Parnell St. 13 Relish, 15 Merchant Square, 065 686 6610 14 The Cloister Restaurant, 49 Abbey Street, 065 686 8198 10 Harveys 15 The Dining Room Restaurant, Market Street, 065 689 9393 3 16 YOLO Bar & Restaurant, Abbey Street, 065 679 7999 15 Market St. 17 Auburn Lodge Hotel, Gort Road, 065 682 1247

Quay Harmony Row 18 Raviolo Verde, Causeway Link, 065 686 4400 7

Lower Market St. LowerMarket 28 29 42 Barrack St. 2 8 13 25 Shops 33 High St. 19 38 1 40 34 35 Bank Place 19 County Boutique, 57 O’Connell Street O‘Connell20 St. 12 22 34 17 20 Murphy’s Menswear, 37 O’Connell Street 4 27 O‘Connell39 21 Willow, 4 O’Connell Street 41 24 30 32 9 37 Square 22 Ennis Health Store, O’Connell Square 21 Abbey St. 22 23 16 23 Bambinos, 2 O’Connell Street

Station Road 26 24 Dunnes Stores, O’Connell Street 36 14 25 Nozomi Shoe Boutique, 71 O’Connell Street 6 26 The Ennis Bookshop, 13 Abbey Street Friary Car Pk 27 Kilkenny Shop, 5 High Street

28 Meanwell Wholefoods, Merchants Square FriarsWalk 29 Rochford’s Pharmacy, 21 Parnell Street & Car Park Friars Walk 30 Mulqueen’s Florists, 32 O’Connell Street 31 Mary Jo Duffy’s Pharmacy,Ennis Shopping Centre 32 Mary Kelly Cards, 28 O’Connell Street 33 Shanahan’s Gems, Jewellery & Antiques, O’Connell Street Causeway Link 34 R. Carmody Shoes, Bank Place 18 35 Brass Ladies Boutique, 6 High Street Francis St. 36 Eye Candy Opticians, 25 Abbey Street glór 37 Louise Cremin Brogan Opticians, 26 O’Connell Street 38 Monsai Ladies Fashion & Gifts, O’Connell Square Tesco 39 Eye Care Centre, O’Connell Square 40 Pat MacCarthy Shoes, 53/55 O’Connell Street 22 41 Seoidín, Jewellery & Gifts, 52 O’Connell Street 31 22 42 The Health Connection, Walnut House, Turnpike Road OPEN 7 DAYS fine dining A WEEK in Ennis Food served all day 12pm - 9.30pm

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SOLICITORS ENNIS BOOKS | KIDS WORLD | CARDS John P Shaw 9/10/11ENNIS Bindon Street, Helen Rackard 9/10/11Ennis, Bindon Co S Claretreet

Paul Tuohy Ennisemail C [email protected] Clare For Professional Legal Advice: email [email protected] email [email protected] 065 6846000 Gerard Flynn Tel: 065 6846000 Tel: 065f 065 6846000 6821870 Sinéad Nunan - Personal Injury* Fax: 065 6821870 Rachael Leahy - Property Mairéad Doyle Marina Keane - Wills and Estate Planning Kate McInerney - Commercial Law Emma Colleran - Employment Law Sinéad Glynn Stephen Lo us - Family Law James Barron Em ployment Law GIFTS | STATIONERY Margaret V. O’Connell *In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion Registered No. IE-19.3996 Consultant of any award or settlement. 13 Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare Tel 065 6829000 Email [email protected] The Best Cup of Coffee in Ireland 065 689 3864

Auburn Lodge Hotel & Riverlodge Leisure Complex @SuasCoffeeHouse Ph: 065 68 21 247 Open 7 Days Email: [email protected] Web: www.auburnlodge.com 31 O' Connell Street Ennis, Co Clare

Whether you are an athlete, walker, skateboarder, team player, individual - young or not so young - Active Ennis has a facility designed with your well-being in mind. If you have a query or comment, please contact us.

Tel 065 68 21 604 e-mail [email protected]

The town of Ennis provides a wide choice of top class sports and leisure amenities for you to enjoy. From wooded walks, parks and playgrounds to indoor and outdoor gyms, running tracks and a 25m swimming pool, Ennis now boasts an integrated network of facilities. These are owned and developed by Clare County Council whilst a special unit, Active Ennis, has recently been set up to manage them in a coordinated way. The Active Ennis team is dedicated to maintaining these facilities to the highest standards and to helping you get the most from them. Most of all, make sure to get out there and enjoy what's on offer. The greatest Irish traditional music festival in the world hosted by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

400,000 visitors 400 events over 9 days 9,000 session musicians 6,000 competitors 1,500 volunteers

CÉILITHE SINGING SESSIONS LUNCH TIME CONCERTS www.fleadhcheoil.ie COMÓRTAS RINCE NÁISIÚNTA SEAN NÓS DANCING COMPETITIONS twitter.com/fleadhcheoil FOINN SEISIÚN WORKSHOPS facebook.com/fleadhcheoil.ie PUB SESSION TRAIL www.fleadhcheoil.ie CD LAUNCHES FILM

Tel: +353 65 682 4276 Cois na hAbhna Gort Road Ennis Co. Clare Brimming with character and overlooking the river Fergus, Rowan Tree Café Bar offers a range of delicious dishes based Open 7 days a week on fresh seasonal ingredients from local producers. We have Serving Handmade breads, Soups, Fresh Salads, Cakes, Handmade Desserts a great selection of wines, the and much more...... finest Irish craft beers and the best Illy coffee in town. Zest! @ Market Place, Ennis (065) 6821014 WE STOCK Zest! @ Shannon Airport (061) 472974 The Sheridan Bar @ Shannon Airport Patrick Holford Bio Care Zest! @ Gallery of Art, Pery Square, Limerick (061) 319449 Quest Natures Plus Trilogy Zest! @ EZ Living, Cityeast Business Park, Higher Nature New Vistas Limerick (061) 603370 Solgar A Vogel Weleda Zest! @ Casey’s Furniture, Raheen Roundabout, Limerick. (061) 441019 Terra Nova 065 686 6597 www.zestfood.ie [email protected] Walnut House, Turnpike Road, Ennis FOOD ORGANIC PRODUCTS ECO & BODY

Open 7 days 10.30am to 11.00pm Venture West The 4 star Hotel Woodstock, Ennis, Co. Clare situated on the Reservations 065 686 8669 cliff coast route of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is the ideal base to explore many of Ireland’s natural attractions. Outdoor terrace for • 67 tastefully decorated bedrooms Prices starting from: • Enjoy an unforgettable Dining Experience ‘Al Fresco’ dining in our Hotel Restaurant & Bar pps • Enjoy full use of Hotel Woodstock €99 Leisure Club View our menus on: 2 NIGHTS BED & • Complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel BREAKFAST PLUS www.rowantreecafebar.ie • Golf Course Onsite 1 EVENING MEAL Rates based on Double/Twin occupancy - Single supplements apply. Terms & Conditions apply. #rowan3 To make a reservation today email [email protected]

hotelwoodstock.ie I (065) 689 9800 Supporting the arts, supporting communities.

Printing & Signage Sligo Jazz Project 7 & 8 Abbey Park, Quin Road Business Park, Ennis, Co. Clare. u 065 684 4545 i [email protected] p www.realprint.ie Quality Print & Design at Competitive Prices Galway International Arts Festival All Ireland Drama Festival Ennis Book Club Festival Ballet and Opera Ireland

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RTÉ suppoRrtTsÉ o vseurp 1p0o0r tasr otsv erv e 10nt0s anrattsio envwenidtes neavteioryn yweidaer, in additioenv teor ay rytes,a mr, iuns aicd adnitdio nc utolt uaratsl ,o mutupsuict o ann odu cr u2l5tu trealle ovuistipount, on our 25 television, r raaddioio, ,o onnlilninee a anndd m moobbiliele s seerrvviciceess. .

Find out more at www.rte.ie/about/supportingthearts and follow #rtesupportingthearts via @rte on Twitter. Parnell Street, Westgate Business Park, Corofin, Ennis. Kilrush Road, Ennis. Co. Clare. Organising Team We would like to thank our 2017 ... Ennis Book Club Festival 2017 Principal Funders and Partners Emer O’Connell Chairperson Paul Perry Artistic Director Michael Conneely Corporate Support Coordinator Cora Gunter County Library Representative Mary Henchy Accommodation & Venues Nollag Mac Namara Treasurer

Former Committee Members The reputation of the Ennis Book Club Festival has been built up over many years by a range of different people who have given freely of their time and dedication to ensure the success of the Festival. Festival Cultural Partners

Former Organising Committee members include: Patricia Callaly, Ciana Campbell, Mary Donnelly, Mary Kenneally, Ann Knox, Cathy McDermott, Ruth McDonnell, Frances O’Gorman, Catherine O’Hara, Paula Sheils & Helen Walsh. We would like to thank them for their continued support.

In producing EBCF 2017, we have been significantly helped by …

Clare Arts Office Music Generation Supporters Clare County Library Old Ground Hotel Clare Youth Theatre Realprint Bank of Ireland Perill’s Furniture Lifford Eamon Ward Photography Rowan Tree Café Burren Perfumery Raviolo Verde Emily O’Dwyer Scéal Eile Books Cartridge Blue Roche Ireland Limited Frameworks Media Sinéad Cahill Clare Fruit & Veg Ryan’s Centra Gerry Lundberg PR Suas Coffee House Eason Ennis Shannon Heritage glór Temple Gate Hotel Ennis Gourmet Store Slattery & Partners Accountants Gráinne Heneghan The Ennis Bookshop Home Gallery St. Tola Irish Goat Cheese Liane Bradley Purcell Audio Nora Culligans, Abbey Street The Wine Buff O’Connells Medical Hall Treacys West County Hotel O’Mahony’s Booksellers Ennis Visit Clare Patrick Bourke Menswear 38 39 Ennis Book Club Festival 36 Willsgrove Cahercalla Road Ennis Co. Clare Ireland +353 (0) 87 972 3647 +353 (0) 85 784 2822 [email protected] www.ennisbookclubfestival.com realprint.ie frameworksmedia.ie print frameworksmedia.ie design design

Cover Image: Caroline Criado-Perez book signing at EBCF 2016 by Eamon Ward