Irish Writers Centre Hits the Road Again with 2025 Festival Roadshow

Fresh from appearances at Galway’s Cúirt Festival with Alan McMonagle, and the University of Limerick’s Creative Writing Festival featuring Suad Aldarra, Afric McGlinchey and Cauvery Madhavan among others, the Irish Writers Centre is once again taking to the road. This year’s Irish Writers Centre Roadshow sees the organisation visit five vibrant literary destinations: Belfast, West Cork, Wexford, Waterford, and a return to Dublin for the ever-popular Dublin Book Festival in November.

These roadshow events form part of the Irish Writers Centre’s ongoing mission to champion writers and readers across the island of Ireland. Festival events throughout the remainder of the year will feature an inspiring mix of masterclasses, writing seminars, panel discussions, spoken word showcases and zine workshops.

Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, said: “Our work is rooted in supporting writers at every stage of their journey, all over the country. By partnering with these brilliant literary festivals, the Irish Writers Centre is able to showcase writers and connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways. Whether you’re just beginning your writing journey or already published, we here to lend support and help build a national community of storytellers.”

In Belfast, the Irish Writers Centre will showcase our Young Writer Delegates as well as presenting readings from its latest programme New Voices, North, and we will also host an Irish Writers Centre Information Session with Sue Divin, Deirdre Cartmill and this year’s Novel Fair winner Andrew Cunning, whose debut novel has just been selected for publishing.  More at: https://belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on

In Bantry, the Roadshow rolls into the West Cork Literary Festival with a rich programme that includes a seminar by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, a zine workshop, and a spoken word showcase spotlighting Raphael Olympio and Kemi George-Simpson. Highlights include a special panel on Island of Many Nations with Cauvery Madhavan and Ferdia Lennon in conversation with Catherine Gander, and Out on the Page, a panel celebrating queer voices with Liz Quirke, Mark Ward and Chloe Michelle Howarth, chaired by the Irish Writers Centre’s own Damien B Donnelly.

More at: https://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literary-festival/programme/

The Wexford stop includes a writing seminar with David Butler, and an engaging conversation with prize-winning writers John Banville (The Sea) and Victoria Kennefick (Sea/Shell). A special panel discussion will showcase contributors to the autistic anthology Wired Our Own Way, including Nuala O’Connor and Niamh Garvey.

The Writers in the Regions programme continues in Waterford with a masterclass by acclaimed author Danielle McLoughlin. This is followed by a return to the capital for the Dublin Book Festival in November.

In Dublin, the Irish Writers Centre will host two panel discussions at its Centre featuring voices such as Sean Hewitt, Anne Walsh Donnelly, Molly Twomey, Sophie White and Sam Furlong. The programme will also include a zine workshop and a creative workshop led by award-winning spoken word artist Cormac Mac Gearailt.

For more information on the Irish Writers Centre’s national programmes and upcoming festival appearances, visit www.irishwriterscentre.ie.

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