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Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2021

12/2/2021

 
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Original photo: Chris Greene
​I've been publishing this list of festivals for six years now. This year's list has been the hardest to compile, given all the uncertainties surrounding lockdowns. And all I'm doing is trying to provide a comprehensive list with links – goodness knows how hard it must be for all the festival organisers trying to plan actual events during these pandemic times.
So this year I've presented the information a bit differently. I've listed month by month those festivals that have already announced their plans for 2021. I've also included a new section listing those festivals held in previous years that have yet to announce plans for 2021 (as of 27 October). Finally, I've included a list of festivals that unfortunately, according to their organisers, are not going ahead in 2021. I'll update these lists throughout the year.

Many of the festivals this year will be digital in nature. While we may have to postpone our trips to these festival locations for another year, this online format gives more people the opportunity to take part in festival events. And by doing so you'll be supporting authors, event organisers and publishers.

​Organising a festival in pre-Covid19 times was hard enough. I can only image the challenges and sleepless nights facing organisers this year. Thank you to all those organisers who supplied me with information. I wish all festivals great success in 2021. Thank you for helping to keep us book lovers entertained and diverted from the trials of the pandemic.
​

February

Between the Red Lines (online) 22–28 February, Dublin @RedLineBookFest
@SDCClibraries

Limerick Literary Festival (online) 26–28 February, Limerick @kobweekend​

March

Ennis Book Club Festival (online) 5–7 March, Ennis, Co Clare @ebcf 

Belfast Children's Festival (online) 5–14 March, Belfast @Young_at_Art

Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival (online) 27–28 March, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin @mountainstosea​

April

One Dublin One Book (online) 1–30 April, Dublin @1dublin1book​

Franco-Irish Literary Festival (online) 15–17 April, Dublin @afdublin​

Cork World Book Fest (online) 20–24 April, Cork @WorldBookFest

Cúirt International Festival of Literature (online and offline) 21–25 April, Galway @CuirtFestival 

Towers and Tales Lismore Story Festival (online) 30 April –1 May, Lismore, Co Waterford @TowersandTales
​​

Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend (online) 30 April–2 May, Achill Island, ​Co Mayo Facebook\AchillHeinrich BöllAssociation​

May

Towers and Tales Lismore Story Festival (online) 30 April –1 May, Lismore, Co Waterford @TowersandTales

Annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend (online) 30 April–2 May, Achill Island, Co Mayo Facebook\AchillHeinrich BöllAssociation
​
Strokestown International Poetry Festival (online) 1–2 May, Strokestown, Co Roscommon ​@Strokestownpoem

Cork International Poetry Festival (online) 10–15 May, Cork @MunLitCentre​

Padraic Colum International Literary Festival 15 May (online), Longford @CreativeLongfd
​
​International Literature Festival Dublin (online and offline) 20–30 May, Dublin @ILFDublin​

Marie Edgeworth Literary Festival (online) 22 May, Edgeworthstown, Longford @edgeworthsoc

June

Listowel Writers’ Week (online) 2–6 June, Listowel, Co Kerry @Writersweek

Goldsmith International Literary Festival (online) 4–6 June, Co Longford ​@Goldsmithfest

Bloomsday Festival (online) 11–16 June, Dublin @bloomsdayfest 

Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas (format to be confirmed) 11–13 June, Borris, Co Carlow @Writingandideas 

Dalkey Book Festival (online) 18–20 June, Dalkey, Co Dublin
@dalkeybookfest​​

July

​Wexford Literary Festival (online and offline) 1–4 July, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford @WexfordLitFest​

West Cork Literary Festival (online and offline) 9–16 July, Bantry, Co Cork @wcorklitfest​ 
​
John Hewitt Society International Summer School (format to be confirmed) 26–30 July, Armagh @The_JHS​

August

Power of Words Festival 20–22 August, Abbeyleix, Co Laois 
​
Facebook.com/powerofwordsabbeyleix

TitanCon, science fiction and fantasy literature festival (limited numbers in person and online), 20 August, Belfast ​@TitanConBelfast

Ennistymon Book Town Festival 28–29 August, Ennistymon, Co Clare 
​@BooksEnnistymon 


Belfast Book Festival, throughout August and September, Belfast @BelfastBookFest

September

Belfast Book Festival, throughout August and September, Belfast @BelfastBookFest

Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts (in person) 10–12 September, Kells, Co Meath @HinterlandKells

Shaking Bog Nature Writing Festival 10–12 September, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow ​@the shakingbog
​
International Dublin Writers' Festival 11 September, Dublin @YourNewBooks ​

Write By The Sea Festival (in person) 24–26 September, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford @write_KQ​

Aspects Festival 24 September–3 October Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival​

Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 30 September–2 October Newcastle West, Co Limerick @EigseMHartnett

​
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 30 September 3–October, Dromineer, Nenagh, ​Co Tipperary @DNLitFest

October

Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival 30 September–2 October  Newcastle West, Co Limerick @EigseMHartnett

Aspects Festival 24 September–3 October Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival​

​Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival 30 September 3–October, Dromineer, Nenagh, ​Co Tipperary @DNLitFest
​
Echoes: Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Festival 1–3 October, Dalkey, Co Dublin @echoesdalkey 

Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention (online) 1–3 October, Dublin @Octocon

Kildare Readers Festival 1–17 October, Co Kildare @KildareReaders

Gerard Manley Hopkins International Literary Festival 8–10 October, Newbridge, Co Kildare

Iron Mountain Literature Festival (online) 9 October, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim 
Facebook/IronMountainFestival

Red Line Book Festival 11–17 October, Dublin @RedLineBookFest 

Cork International Short Story Festival 12–16 October, Cork @MunLitCentre 

ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival 14–16 October, Dublin ​@ICDublin 
​​
Waterford Writers’ Weekend (part of the Imagine Arts Festival) 21–24 October, Waterford 
@Wwritersweekend @Imagine_Fest
​
Bookville Festival Kilkenny (for Children and Families) (online), October (dates to be confirmed) Co Kilkenny @BookvilleKK 

Omagh Literary Festival: Honouring Benedict Kiely (planned for October), Omagh, Co Tyrone ​@kiely_weekend ​​

November

Murder One Crime Writing Festival, events throughout November, Dublin @MurderOneFest 

Leaves Festival of Writing & Music
 2–7 November, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival

Allingham Festival 3–7 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts 

Dublin Book Festival 11–15 November, Dublin @DublinBookFest 

The Lit: Festival of Reading and Writing for Young Adults 17–20 November, Waterford @TheLitYWF
​
C.S. Lewis Festival 18–22 November, Belfast @CSLewsisFest

Dingle Literary Festival 19–21 November, Dingle, Co Kerry @DingleLit 

Previous festivals yet to announce 2021 dates

The 2021 dates for the following alphabetically listed festivals have not been announced yet. I’ll update this list if and when they become available:
Blueway Poetry Festival, Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry 

Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin @bramstokerdub

Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary @BrewerLaneT

Children's Book Festival, Wexford @wexlibraries 

Children's Books Ireland International Conference, Dublin ​@KidsBooksIrel
​
Dalkey Creates Festival, Dalkey, Co Dublin @DalkeyCreates

Doolin Writers’ Weekend, Doolin, Co Clare @HotelDoolin 

Graiguenamanagh Town of Books Festival, Graiguenamanagh,
​Co Kilkenny @TownofBooks ​​​ 

Immrama – Lismore Festival of Travel Writing, Lismore, Co Waterford @lismoreimmrama

Imram Féile Litríochta Gaeilge (Irish Language Literature Festival), Dublin
​
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival, Belfast Facebook/Noirelandfest

Rolling Sun Book Festival, Westport, Co Mayo Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival 

The Write Time Festival, Dublin @fingallibraries
​
Wexworlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival, Wexford @wexworlds 

Words by Water, Kinsale Literary Festival, Kinsale, Co Cork @WordsByWater 

Festivals not going ahead in 2021

Allihies Inspires Festival, Allihies village, Beara, Co Cork

Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival
 Ballydonoghue/Lisselton, Co Kerry
Facebook/BallydonoghueBardicFestival
​

Bray Literary Festival, Bray, Co Wicklow @braylitfest

Féile Fidelma Mystery Fiction Weekend, Cashel, Co Tipperary @Cashelartsfest 
​(Note: Cashel Arts Festival is going ahead 16–19 September.)

Hillsborough Festival of Literature & Ideas, Hillsborough, Co Down 

List your festival

If you'd like me to include your 2021 book, literary, writing or reading festival in my 2021 list, or if you'd like me to amend any of the details for your festival listed above, please send the details to me at info@marymccauleyproofreading.com. ​

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Related posts

Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2020
​Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2019
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2018
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2017
Literary and book festivals in Ireland 2016
Writing courses and literary festivals in Ireland (summer 2015)

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    Mary McCauley is a professional editor and proofreader based in Co Wexford, Ireland. In this blog she shares tips and information on all things writing and editing related.
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