Dromineer Literary Festival to Take Place This Weekend

The first event of the Dromineer Literary Festival festival on October 6, is the highly acclaimed Íde na Tine - Tionscadal Joni Michell/Sweet Fire – The Joni Mitchell Project, hosted by the festival in association with IMRAM, the Irish Language Festival.

We will hear the very best of Mitchell’s songs translated into Irish by Liam OÌ Muirthile and Gabriel Rosenstock and performed by singer Caitríona O’Leary and her band, with the addition of stunning screen projections of the lyrics, created by Margaret Lonergan.

Joni Mitchell has been described by Rolling Stone as ‘one of the greatest songwriters ever’. Her intensely poetic lyrics probe romantic themes of longing, joy and disillusion, as well as social and environmental concerns.

Sweet Fire – The Joni Mitchell Project takes place at St. Mary’s, Church of Ireland, Church Rd. Nenagh, October 6 from 8pm. Please note, you can book online by visiting the official website www.dromineerliteraryfestival.ie

The event afloat, Sunday, October 9, features two of Ireland’s most gifted short story writers, Danielle McLaughlin and Orfhlaith Foyle. Each will select their favourite short story by the other and discsuss it in a readerly and writerly way, followed by readings by both authors.  The event will take place on board the Ku-Ee-Tu (weather permitting, we do have a Plan B), where it will depart from the public harbour in Dromineer at 12midday, Sunday October 9.

At 4pm on Sunday afternoon, October 9,  Marita Conlon McKenna will talk about her novel Rebel Sisters, based on the real life Gifford sisters – Muriel, Grace, and Nellie, three young women at the heart of the 1916 Rising. Muriel married writer Thomas MacDonagh, Grace married Joseph Plunkett, hours before his execution, and Nellie fought alongside Countess Constance Markievicz in the College of Surgeons.

This event will take place in the highly atmospheric and recently restored Nenagh Castle. Music will be provided by the talented harpist, Laua O’Sullivan.  Margaret Kennedy, an English and history teacher, and a Dromineer Literary Festival Committee member, will host the event. People are advised to dress warmly for the castle, and consider bringing a cushion. Please note this venue has no wheelchair access.

The festival exhibition, Forgotten Time is by Limerick based artist, Robert Ryan. Lough Gur is a source of inspiration for Ryan’s evocative, otherworldly paintings, which will be available to view and purchase upstairs in Lough Derg Yacht Club throughout the festival weekend.

For full programme details and information visit www.dromineerliteraryfestival.ie