The annual Cúirt International Festival of Literature has not been cancelled for April 23–25 2020, but will instead occur virtually for participants and speakers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As one of the oldest and most recognised literature festivals in Europe, the Cúirt Festival was founded in Galway in 1985. It aims to feature both national and international literary talent while celebrating and promoting written word within the poetry, literary fiction, non-fiction, and genre writing forms.
Today is the last day to register for the 2020 Cúirt International *Digital* Festival of Literature.
Here are some events to look forward to:
‘Mothertongues’: Ciara Ní É, Ifor ap Glyn and Pàdraig MacAoidh
On Thursday, April 23 from 1:00–2:00 pm, these three poets dive into the idea of language from Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Irish language point of view. Presentations will explore identity and the evolution of language. They will be held in English, with on-screen translations of the poems
This event is in partnership with British Council, Welsh Government and Literature Wales. Learn more about this event here.
Anne Enright, in conversation with Rick O’Shea
On Friday, April 24 from 7:30–8:30 pm, register now to see Anne Enright and Rick O’Shea in a discussion about her latest novel Actress— a novel set between post-war America and 1970s Dublin as it examines life lived in celebrity.
Read Joanne O’Sullivan’s review of ‘Actress’ here. For more information on this event, click here.
Ireland of the Welcomes: New Communities Writing Home
Tune in to this podcast on Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 am to noon to listen to writers Melatu Uchenna Okorie and Owudunni Mustapha discuss the best new writing Ireland has to offer, and share stories of what making a new place home mean to them. Explore new definitions of Irishness and ponder on the topic of growth and change for societies.
Learn more information about the writers and this event here.
To see a full list of the events for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, click here.
By Alex McKenna
