Ennis Book Club Festival 36 Willsgrove Cahercalla Road Ennis Co. Clare Ireland www.frameworksmedia.ie +353 (0) 87 972 3647 +353 (0) 85 784 2822 [email protected] designed by CULTUREFOX.IE Fáilte is fiche go hInis! We are delighted to welcome you to the 10th annual Ennis Book Club Festival. Over the past ten years, we have gathered guests from near and far to celebrate the NEVER wonderful tradition that is reading. The aim has always been to create a Festival that we ourselves would like to go to – a Festival that combines the warmth and informality of a book club gathering, whilst challenging us to explore new territories as readers. The success of the Festival has been built up by the MISS commitment and dedication of so many different people. As far back as 2005, the wheels were set in motion to bring a new Festival to Ennis. Since that time, so many people have given freely of their time, energy and passion to ensure its success. That success has been underpinned by support from the wider community – youth groups, writers OUT and artists, the County Council through its arts and library departments, the wider business community and our small army of helpers. Equally, the Festival’s success lies in the loyalty of our many contributors and audience members. Year after year, we have seen familiar faces return, committed to ensuring they enter with gusto into the spirit of the weekend. We know that you continue to spread the good word for the Festival! As we gather to celebrate our ten years, we hope that you will relish your visit to the Festival, and indeed to Ennis, again this year. We look forward to meeting you over the course of the weekend. The Arts Council’s new, upgraded CULTUREFOX Míle buíochas, events guide is now live. Free, faster, easy to use – and personalised for you. Never miss out again. Emer O’Connell, Chairperson Ennis Book Club Festival Committee 2016 1 Welcome Authors & Readers 2016 is a year for the curious, designed to give our audiences plenty of food for thought via a whole world of fiction and non- fiction. We take a slightly alternative look at the centenary year and ponder the myriad ways in which ‘revolution’ occurs in our lives. As part of the Festival, we will hear from writers and poets in both Irish and English, and we introduce new writers in our Penguin Debuts’ session. Seans dúinn guth nua a chloisint nuair a léifidh Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh ón a cnuasaigh filíochta. We are honoured to welcome Lemn Sissay, poet, playwright and Chancellor of the University of Manchester. His own story is fascinating and his writing evocative and compelling. We take a ‘Long Gaze Back’, and indeed forward, to celebrate the literary gem that is the short story. We reflect on how both mothers and fathers are celebrated in writing. The role of revolutionary women, past and present, in shaping and continuing to shape our world is also considered. Kate Adie, author and BBC foreign correspondent, will talk about reporting from some of the most dangerous places on earth. Our Sunday Symposium is a double offering in which we critically consider ‘commemoration’ and we ponder those who step out of the shadows and take a brave, and sometimes controversial, stand today. So lots of lively conversation, reading, and friendship are assured this year. Thanks everyone – especially the committee, corporate sponsors, the Arts Council and Clare County Council – for making the Ennis Book Club Festival possible. A special note of gratitude to our beloved authors who, over the 10 years, have reached out to us from the pages of their books to share, talk and help us to better understand our world. Gach rath oraibh, Liz Kelly, Artistic Director Ennis Book Club Festival 2015 and 2016 4 5 Rebel Sisters A Passion for Books Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Date: Friday, 04 March at 14.00 Date: Friday, 04 March at 15.30 Marita Conlon-McKenna opens Festival proceedings with a In this session, Dr Anne Byrne, NUIG, gives a fascinating reading and discussion of her new novel. Set in 1916, Rebel insight into the pen friendship between Nancy Nolan, Dublin Sisters, tells the story of the three Gifford sisters, Grace, housewife and fan of author Virginia Woolf, to Virginia’s Muriel and Nelly, each of whom found herself caught up in husband Leonard Woolf (1943-1944). The correspondence her country’s struggle for freedom. offers a keen insight into her own love of literature and to women’s lives in mid-20th-century Ireland. Marita Conlon-McKenna is one of Ireland’s best-loved authors. Her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree, is now Dr Anne Byrne is Vice President of the Sociological part of the best-selling ‘The Children of the Famine’ series, Association of Ireland and Head of School, Political Science whilst another children’s book, The Blue Horse, won ‘The and Sociology, NUI Galway. Recent publications include ‘A Bisto Book of the Year Award’. Her work for adults includes Passion for Books: the early letters of Nancy Nolan and The Magdalen, The Stone House, Three Women and The Leonard Woolf 1943-1944’, in Virginia Woolf Miscellany, No Rose Garden. 86, and ‘Single Women in Story and Society’, published in Are the Irish Different? Clare Youth Theatre presents The Hours Venue: Temple Gate Hotel Date: Friday, 04 March at 15.00 10th Ennis Book Club Festival Official Opening Venue: glór Virginia Woolf’s The Hours connects three women over Date: Friday, 04 March at 18.00 three different time periods and explores the complex relationship between author and reader. Clare Youth Join us for the official Opening of the Festival and of HOPE Theatre, under the direction of Theatre Artist Eleanor at the glór gallery. HOPE is the result of an open call to Cork, Feely, conceived the piece in 2013. The theatre group is Limerick and Galway printmakers to respond to the theme an initiative of the Clare County Arts Office with over 200 of HOPE – selected by Michael Byrne. Music provided by teenagers as members since its establishment in 2006. The Music Generation Clare. Theatre has a unique artistic vision that is committed to the artistic, personal and social development of the young person. 6 7 Penguin Debuts Marian Keyes in Conversation with Fiona Looney Venue: glór Venue: glór Date: Friday, 04 March at 19.00 Date: Friday, 04 March at 20.00 Meet two Penguin Debuts — Vanessa Ronan and Kit de We are delighted to welcome Marian Keyes in conversation Waal — to be published in summer 2016. Ronan’s Last Days with Fiona Looney. Marian needs no introduction as a of Summer has been recommended by Joseph O’Connor novelist, columnist and hugely entertaining panellist. She as “a seriously gripping debut from a major talent”. Kit de and Fiona discuss her insights on life, love and cake — just Waal’s My Name Is Leon, has been chosen by The Guardian in time for the publication of Marian’s new collection of as one to watch for 2016. Get your hands on a free copy of essays Making It Up As I Go Along. both novels on Festival opening night. Marian Keyes is one of Ireland’s most successful novelists. Kit de Waal was born in Birmingham to an Irish mother A prolific writer, she has published 13 novels, all of which and Kittian father. She has been the recipient of numerous have been bestsellers. Her work is published in thirty-three literary and reader awards, including the Bridport Flash languages. In 2012, she published Saved by Cake in which Fiction Prize 2014 and the Costa Short Story Award 2014. she attributes her good health to baking cakes. Vanessa Ronan was born in Houston and has lived in Texas, Fiona Looney is a writer and broadcaster. Her plays Mexico, New York, Edinburgh and now Dublin. She has been Dandelions, October and Are you there Garth? It’s me, a dancer, a PA, a barmaid and now a writer. Home-schooled Margaret have been hugely successful. She is a columnist by her literature-teacher parents, Vanessa began writing as for various national titles and has a number of television soon as she learned the alphabet. credits to her name. This session will be hosted by Liz Nolan, Lyric FM. This event is kindly supported by the Old Ground Hotel. The Singing Café Venue: Old Ground Hotel Date: Friday, 04 March at 22.30 Join us for The Singing Café - an award-winning cabaret of popular songs from the work of Joyce. Anticipate a theatrical soundscape of parlour song, music hall melodies and bawdy ballads! FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE ON ALL ORDERS OVER €50 Organic - Plant-based - Natural E Wide Range of Beauty Products including Brand New Range Y E www.burrenperfumery.com E X A M Visit our Workshops & Tea Rooms I N A T I O N S in Carran, Co. Clare, Year Round C O N T A C T L E N S E S F U N K Y F R A M E S F O R A L L. Opening Times: Mon – Fri 9.30 – 6.00 Sat 10.00 – 5.00 065 686 8800 25 Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare www.eyecandyopticians.com [email protected] Signature Range created exclusively for O’Briens A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE ... situated right in the heart of Ennis. CHOOSE TO DINE IN: » The Town Hall » Poet’s Corner Bar » Brendan O’Regan T: +353 65 682 8127 Restaurant E: [email protected] Live Traditional Music W: www.FlynnHotels.com in Poet’s Corner Bar Thursday to Sunday OG Dining Experience 86x97mm.indd 1 04/02/2016 11:29 cois na Open 7 days a week BHNA Serving Handmade breads, Soups, hTHE ALIVING TRADITION Fresh Salads, Cakes, Handmade Desserts and much more......