 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 3 August). 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.
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
@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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Allingham Festival 3–7 November, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal @AllinghamArts
Dublin Book Festival 11–15 November, Dublin @DublinBookFest
Dingle Literary Festival 19–21 November, Dingle, Co Kerry @DingleLit
Dublin Book Festival 11–15 November, Dublin @DublinBookFest
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:
Aspects Festival, Bangor, Co Down @aspectsfestival
Blueway Poetry Festival, Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin @bramstokerdub
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary @BrewerLaneT
C.S. Lewis Festival, Belfast @CSLewsisFest
Children's Book Festival, Wexford @wexlibraries
Children's Books Ireland International Conference, Dublin @KidsBooksIrel
Cork International Short Story Festival, Cork @MunLitCentre
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
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival, Dublin @ICDublin
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Murder One International Crime Writing Festival, Dublin @MurderOneFest
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival, Belfast Facebook/Noirelandfest
Rolling Sun Book Festival, Westport, Co Mayo Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival
The Lit: Festival of Reading and Writing for Young Adults, Waterford @TheLitYWF
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
Blueway Poetry Festival, Lismore, Co Waterford @BluewayPoetry
Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin @bramstokerdub
Brewery Lane Writers' Weekend, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary @BrewerLaneT
C.S. Lewis Festival, Belfast @CSLewsisFest
Children's Book Festival, Wexford @wexlibraries
Children's Books Ireland International Conference, Dublin @KidsBooksIrel
Cork International Short Story Festival, Cork @MunLitCentre
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
ISLA (Irish, Spanish and Latin American) Literary Festival, Dublin @ICDublin
Leaves Festival of Writing & Music, Portlaoise, Co Laois @leavesfestival
Murder One International Crime Writing Festival, Dublin @MurderOneFest
NOIRELAND International Crime Fiction Festival, Belfast Facebook/Noirelandfest
Rolling Sun Book Festival, Westport, Co Mayo Facebook/RollingSunBookFestival
The Lit: Festival of Reading and Writing for Young Adults, Waterford @TheLitYWF
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
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.
Subscribe
If you would like to receive Letters from an Irish Editor blog posts, please enter your email below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
