Wild Atlantic Words festival was another great success

There were packed houses and enthralled audiences during the action-packed Wild Atlantic Words (WAW) literary festival.

Now in its seventh year, this year’s line-up was the most diverse and ambitious ever assembled for the Castlebar celebration of the written word.

The festival saw book launches, readings, literary discussion, new writing, poetry, music, and fringe events combine for a thrilling week-long event.

The ever-informative Dr Michael O’Connor kicked off proceedings at Bridge Street bar with an illuminating and heart-rending talking on the Magdalen asylums of Mayo. Inspirational author, Katriona O’Sullivan, who penned the lauded Poor, was in conversation with broadcaster and entrepreneur Áine Kerr at the festival dome.

John McKenna presented an evening of readings and song, with ‘Absent Friend’, drawn on his 30-year friendship with the late Leonard Cohen; while Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick discussed their captivating book of social history, ‘Bad Bridget’, crime, mayhem and the lives of Irish emigrant women.

Darina Molloy directed an evening with Mike McCormack and Donal Ryan in ‘Solar Bones and Spinning Hearts’, while Donal Ryan also presided at the prize-giving ceremony for the WAW short story award.

A host of much-anticipated book launches featured in this year’s programme and drew huge crowds.

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny launched Mairtín Ó Maicín’s On This Day in Mayo. His outstanding work sees a compelling Mayo story attached to each day of the calendar year.

A true hometown hero, Johnny Mee launched a collection of his finest tales and columns. ‘Between Mee and You’ is an enthralling and entertaining read that will jog the memories of many.

Sporting fans were kept gripped when world champion boxer, Carl Frampton, launched his autobiography at the Connacht Boxing Centre of Excellence, Lough Lannagh.

Journalist and author Declan Varley discussed his eagerly anticipated new book, ‘Mayo – A Biography in Nine Lives’, a compelling account of the Mayo football quest for glory, while record-breaking swimmer, Nuala Moore, launched Limitless – Extreme Swimming.

Mary Kennedy hosted the launch by Niamh Holleran-McGing of her searingly honest memoir, 'The Journey to You – a Love Story Through Infertility' and Marie Louise O’Donnell was on hand to host the landmark ‘Birth of a Nation’ at the Courthouse, with EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, historian Diarmaid Ferriter and journalist Justine McCarthy.

Ken Armstrong’s ‘A Poem and a Pint’ proved as popular and rib-tickling as ever and the festival closed with the always well-received, ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’, with John Healy.

John was joined by a panel of Castlebar speakers, including Noel Campbell, Sharon Feeney, Jarlath Killeen and Ger Staunton.