3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's oldest literary festival adds another memorable chapter to its illustrious story
Listowel town was buzzing with the energy and excitement of another hugely successful festival as people from near and far enjoyed what is a unique celebration.
This year's programme proved so popular that several events reached capacity well in advance – two of which had to be moved to larger venues due to unprecedented demand.
These included the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, proudly sponsored by Kerry Group, and a powerful event called Memory and Forgetting with Fergal Keane and guests.
Another standout moment came from nature writer Seán Ronayne, whose event Nature Boy captivated a full house, underscoring the appetite for stories rooted in our natural world.
St John's Theatre also confirmed full houses for Sharon's Grave, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and events featuring Jimmy Murphy and Eoghan Harris. A number of events had to be moved to larger venues due to soaring ticket demand.
"Listowel was absolutely alive over the weekend. You could feel the sense of pride from the community as visitors filled the town for events, conversations, and connections,' said said Chairman Ned O'Sullivan.
'The support from Minister Patrick O'Donovan was a huge boost to the festival, and we're incredibly grateful for his recognition of the value Listowel Writers' Week brings, not just to Listowel but to the national cultural calendar. I would like to thank Kerry Writers' Museum and St John's Theatre for their collaboration for the Listowel Literary Festival this year,' Ned added.
Listowel Writers' Week is nothing without the brilliant volunteers involved. Together, they imbue the energy, commitment, and generosity that makes the festival a success year after year.
Festival Curator Márie Logue reflected on the remarkable public response saying she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the audiences this year.
'So many of our events were completely booked out, including the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, Brendan Begley's launch, and the Library's double launch on Friday which drew over 800 people,' she said,
'The crowd spilled out onto the street; library staff said they had never seen anything like it in their lives. Other sell-out events included Paul Durcan, Andy Irvine, and Francesca Simon,' Márie added.
