Words, In Other Places, an Irish Writers Centre Literary Festival presented in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland, will take place over one weekend — Saturday 11 April at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, and Sunday 12 April at the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin.
Across one weekend, this tri-lateral festival will bring together writers from the north and south of Ireland alongside international voices, celebrating literary form, cultural exchange and contemporary perspectives. Through panel discussions and creative workshops, Words, In Other Places will explore storytelling across borders, languages and traditions.
Each day will feature three distinct events, offering audiences the opportunity to engage with some of the most compelling writers working today.Saturday 11 April – Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast
12pm – Inside Out: Telling Tales Elsewhere – An hour-long panel discussion featuring Louise Nealon, Patrick Holloway and Rob Doyle, hosted by Martin Doyle.
1.30pm – Creative Writing Workshop – A two-hour workshop with Sarah Moore Fitzgerald.
4pm – Literature in Translation: Words Beyond Borders – A panel discussion with Csilla Toldy, Enrica Maria Ferrara and Rafael Mendes, hosted by Lucy Sweeney Byrne.
Books will be available for sale from No Alibis Bookstore.
Sunday 12 April – Irish Writers Centre, Dublin
12pm – Inside Out: Telling Tales Elsewhere – Featuring Jan Carson, Leontia Flynn and Wendy Erskine, hosted by Neil Hegarty.
1.30pm – Creative Writing Workshop – A two-hour workshop with Paul McVeigh.
4pm – Literature in Translation: Words Beyond Borders – With Hugo Hamilton, Suad Aldarra and Victoria Melkovska, hosted by Adam Wyeth.
Books will be available for sale from Chapters Bookstore.
Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, said: “We are proud to partner with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland on Words, In Other Places. Bringing this festival to both Belfast and Dublin reflects our shared belief in the power of literature to connect across borders, languages and lived experience. By uniting writers from the north and south of Ireland alongside international voices, we are celebrating creative exchange at its very best — open, inclusive and enriched by diversity.”
Fearghas Ó Béara, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland said: “We are delighted to partner with the Irish Writers Centre on Words, In Other Places. The European Union’s motto is ‘United in Diversity’ and we know that literature and translation play a vital role in strengthening cultural dialogue and understanding across Europe. These events in Belfast and Dublin resonate with the EU’s commitment to linguistic diversity, creative collaboration, and fostering cross-border and cross-community engagement on the island of Ireland.”
”Words, In Other Places promises a weekend of conversation, creativity and connection, celebrating storytelling in all its forms while highlighting the evolving literary landscape across Ireland and beyond. The Irish Writers Centre is grateful to the Seamus Heaney Centre for hosting the Belfast event and for its continued support of cross-border literary collaboration.
The Irish Writers Centre is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Bookings for both days will open on Tuesday 10 March via the Irish Writers Centre website. All events are free to attend, but advance booking is required : https://irishwriterscentre.ie/