Cúirt International Festival for Literature is returning to Galway next month with an exciting lineup of leading Irish and International writers.
The 38th annual Cúirt Festival will run from April 18 – 23 in Galway City, with over 50 events in a programme of poetry, fiction, theatre, memoir, masterclasses, exhibitions, and family events.
With new Festival Director Manuela Moser at the head, highlights of the programme include two former Laureates for Irish Fiction, Booker Prize-winner Anne Enright, and twice Costa Prize-winner, Sebastian Barry.
Also in the mix are Carmen Maria Machado (USA), author of the Folio Prize-winning memoir In the Dream House; Max Porter; Tara Bergin; Donal Ryan; Vona Groarke; Manchán Magan and Colette Bryce.
Manuela Moser, commented that, “This year Cúirt offers audiences new perspectives, and an opportunity to share a love of literature with the city and with each other.”
“After all, reading is both a solitary and shared act that can bring us closer and widen our appreciation of the world.”
“This idea is reflected in our poster, illustrated by artist Charlot Kristensen, which is an invitation to settle into a book and share the act of reading, and all that it encompasses – ideas, inspiration, conversation – with those around us.”
The Festival will also host a memorial event in honour of local poet, Kevin Higgins, who died last January.
Founder and co-organiser of the Over the Edge literary events in Galway, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, join Susan Millar DuMars and special guests to honour Kevin’s legacy.
This year’s edition of Cúirt will amplify established and emerging Irish voices, among them Emer McLysaght, co-author of the Aisling series; Wendy Erskine; Louise Kennedy(Novel of the Year 2022, An Post Irish Book Awards); Nicole Flattery; Seán Hewitt (Rooney Prize for Irish Literature), and many more.
The poetry line-up includes Pigott Prize-winning Colette Bryce, who will be reading alongside Sarah Clancy and Toby Buckley, in celebration of the landmark anthology Queering the Green: Post-2000 Queer Irish Poetry.
Galway-resident Eva Bourke will be reading with Forward Prize shortlisted Padraig Regan and Tara Bergin, who is shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize.
The festival’s 2023 stage and screen offering includes an exclusive performance of Too Much of Nothing, a play by Mark O’Halloran and David Wilmot and directed by Andrew Flynn, performed in Galway’s renowned Tigh Neachtain pub.
Audiences will also get the chance to see films by Benjamin de Burca and Bárbara Wagner, while visual arts will be represented in talks by Meadhbh McNutt, Jan McCullough, Vanessa Earl and Áine O’Hara.
Festival favourites making a welcome return in 2023 include the New Writing Showcase, highlighting the best in new poetry and fiction.
Family-friendly events include Kid’s Story Hour in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop on the Saturday and Sunday, including scéaltaí as Gaeilge with Irish language author Fearghas MacLochlainn.
That’s just a small taste of all that’s to come with the 2023 Cúirt Literary Festival in Galway next month. Look up the full programme and book your tickets now.
