Ten years of the Wild Atlantic Words Festival
At the launch of the Wild Atlantic Words literary festival in Castlebar were, from left: Siobhan Foody, Kathryn Brennan, John Healy, Austin Vaughan and Marie Farrell. Picture: John Mee Photography
A special photo exhibition to mark its tenth year will be a centrepiece of this year’s Wild Atlantic Words Festival in Castlebar.
The exhibition is now on display at the Castle Bookshop on Market St and at Mayo County Library during opening hours. Additional photographs will also be on display in the Festival Dome at Bridge Lane every evening during festival week, which runs from October 6th to the 12th.
The photographic display covers the past ten years of the festival activities and features the many guests, authors, short story winners, columnists and literary contributors who have made the event such a standout success. The images were captured by local photographers, John Mee, Alison Laredo and John Moylette.
Among the prominent portraits on show is that of the late Michael Mullen, the first recipient of the Wild Atlantic Words appreciation award, one of Ireland’s most esteemed writers.
Since its inception in 2016, the Wild Atlantic Words Festival has enjoyed tremendous success with a host of top literary figures, as well as many well-known Irish personalities from the worlds of politics, sport, etc, , taking part in the annual celebration of top-class writing.
This year’s festival boasts a wide and varied literary menu designed to cater for every reading taste. Castlebar-born Sean Lyons will launch his much anticipated A Stranger Walking the Roads; Conor Niland renews his links to Castlebar with his book, The Racket, winner of the prestigious Sports Book of the Year in 2024; and Sean Cadden will discuss his new book, Seventy Years in the Wild West.
Elsewhere, Eimear McBride will present the annual short story awards, which this year has attracted a record number of entries; the colourful David McGowan will speak on his career as an undertaker and entrepreneur; and Richard Hogan, the well-known psychotherapist and regular contributor to radio and TV programmes, including the Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ Radio, will be a major attraction.
The festival programme also includes an antique books fair; a song-writing workshop with John Spillane; and the talented short story writer, John Patrick McHugh talking about this debut novel, Fun and Games. The Linenhall Arts Centre will also take up residence at the festival dome for two events this year, the World Book Club and the inaugural Linenhall Storytelling Circle, hosted by Carolyn Claire Mitchell.
The festival kicks off on Monday, October 6th, with ‘Wilder Ways’, featuring RTÉ’s Harrison Gardner, Lisa Clancy and Sean Lysaght, followed by ‘Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Islands’ with author Brian Dornan. There may also be another surprise or two in store!
Apart from the song-writing workshop (pre-booking essential – see website), all events are on a first come, first served basis, but early arrival is recommended. All events in the festival dome are free of charge. The dome will be once again situated at Bridge Lane, Castlebar (next to Bridge St bar). See www.wildatlanticwords.ie for more.
