Music, poetry and desserts!
Further details on the exciting and varied programme at the Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival have been revealed.
On Saturday October 11, at 5.30pm in the Abbey Court Hotel, Ballymaloe House head pastry chef JR Ryall and Cliodhna Prendergast will be in conversation with Peter Ward of Country Choice, Nenagh.
The conversation will focus on Ballymaloe Desserts, JR Ryall’s beautiful book where he presents 130 recipes for his award-winning confections, tested and perfected for the home baker. Eye-catching, elegant, and a bit magical, these inspiring yet accessible recipes range from the delightfully retro Ice Cream Bomb to the showstopping Irish Coffee Meringue Gateau to a Classic Strawberry Shortcake made modern with an edgy geometric presentation. Ryall is an excellent teacher, providing clear, detailed instructions for each dish. Recipes are built to be adaptable, highlighting Ballymaloe’s commitment to seasonality and fresh local ingredients. Now coming back into fashion - the dessert trolley never actually left Ballymaloe House, and this event will send the audience into the kitchen. Cliodhna Prendergast is a food and travel writer and photographer from the west coast of Ireland.
Peter Ward, originally from a traditional farming background in Co Meath, was lured to Nenagh by the love of his life, his wife, Mary. Peter and Mary set up their delicatessen and café, Country Choice in 1982 and they have gained a national reputation for sourcing, cooking and selling the best of Irish food. Peter is a passionate advocate of using local, seasonal, organic produce and he continuously promotes the work of the best of Irish artisan producers. In February of this year Peter and Mary were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Food Writers Guild food awards. This event includes a glass of wine, samples of JR Lyall’s beautiful desserts and spot prizes.
On Sunday October 12, at 5.30pm the ever-popular DNLF ‘afternoon tea’ event brings the poet Noelle Lynskey together with Eilidh Pope for an afternoon of what promises to be full of magic readings and music. Noelle Lynskey is Director of Shorelines Arts Festival and is completing her MA (Creative Writing) in UL and was selected as Strokestown’s Poet Laureate. She is published in many anthologies and journals and works as a community pharmacist in Portumna. Her latest book, Featherweight has recently gone into its second printing. Featherweight is dedicated to Noelle’s late parents, with poems that reflect on her youth in Strokestown. Other verses deal with bonds of friendship, marriage and motherhood.
Eilidh Pope is a violinist, composer and singer-songwriter based in Tipperary. Having spent much of her childhood playing Irish traditional music and partaking in céilí bands, delving into classical repertoire and performing as a member of various orchestras, she then found herself immersed in a realm of infinite musical possibilities when completing a BA in World Music at the Irish World Academy.
FURTHER DETAILS