Amazing support and great audiences at literary festival
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Award winning journalist Nicola Tallant, DNLF chairperson Geraldine McNulty and former state pathologist and author of ‘Deadly Evidence’ Marie Cassidy ahead of the DNLF event in Nenagh Arts Centre. PHOTOs: ODHRAN DUCIE Odhran DucieImage 2 of 5
Peter Ward in conversation with JR Ryall (Head Pastry Chef at Ballymaloe House) and Cliodhna Prendergast (award winning chef and photographer) at the Abbey Court Hotel. Odhran DucieImage 3 of 5
Darragh Wynne and Éanna Ní Lamhna with Teddy and Edel Knight ahead of the boat trip on the Ku-ee-tu at Dromineer. Odhran DucieImage 4 of 5
The Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival committee, from left, Ellen Whelan. Carol Dunne, Kate O’Meara, Margaret Folan, Geraldine McNulty, Geraldine Cronin, Virginia O’Dowd and Catherine Lahiff. Odhran DucieImage 5 of 5
Violinist Eilidh Pope and Poet Noelle Lynskey pictured ahead of the Afternoon Tea event in the Abbey Court Hotel. Odhran DucieThe Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival team were thrilled with and very grateful for the brilliant local support for this year’s festival. The festival ran over four days in various venues and many events were completely booked out. There was a great range of events over the festival including poetry, folklore, fiction, cookery, crime, drama and music. Over 1,200 tickets were booked for over the four days.
Poetry opened the festival on Thursday night with a reading by Paul Perry in The Wine Buff. He was joined by novelist Claire Hennessy.
The Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening events in the Nenagh Arts Centre with Marie Cassidy, John Creedon and Martin Hayes were all full and the excitement for all three was palpable. Journalist, author and podcaster, Nicola Tallant, interviewed Marie Cassidy; RTÉ’s Paula Shields spoke to John Creedon and local musician Brian Morrissey was on stage both interviewing and performing with Martin Hayes.
Two events in the Abbey Court Hotel (very generous sponsors) saw Ballymaloe pastry chef, JR Ryall with his photographic collaborator Cliodhna Prendergast in a fascinating conversation with Peter Ward of Country Choice. The panel discussed JR’s beautiful book Ballymaloe Desserts. The ever-popular afternoon tea event on Sunday featured poet Noelle Lynskey and local musician Eilidh Pope.
Film and drama featured on Saturday in Nenagh Arts Centre. Eamonn Dillon introduced his film Frank’s Road and Caran Bermingham brought the house down with his very moving performance in Conal Creedon’s play, The Cure.
The festival’s continued support of new writing saw debut novelists Caragh Maxell and June O’Sullivan in conversation with Paula Shields in Nenagh Heritage Centre on Saturday afternoon. As well as discussing their novels, they described the difficulties but also the pleasure of the writing life.
Sunday morning’s passengers on the KU-EE-TU boat cruise from Dromineer Pier were entertained by Éanna Ní Lamhna and in Muintir na Tíre Community Hall, Ballycommon folklorist Shane Lehane spoke to beekeeper Eimear Chaomhánach. Shane also discussed his own book, Old Way to New Days, on Saturday in Nenagh Castle. Also, in Dromineer - there was a meditation and soundbath class with Nicole from Inner Glow Wellness and the new sauna. The audience in the afternoon travelled to Tullamore Park to listen to Niall Williams read from his beautifully evocative novel, Time of the Child, with musical accompaniment by Mike Hanrahan of Stockton’s Wing.
One of the greatest 20th century patrons of the arts, John Quinn, was the subject of a fascinating bilingual talk by Úna Ní Bhroiméil in Nenagh Heritage Centre. Quinn supported Yeats, Joyce and Lady Gregory among others from his vast fortune in New York.It was a beautiful weekend. Geraldine McNulty (festival chairperson and curator) and her excellent team will have a few days off but will then be looking to DNLF 2026 to build once again on this very successful festival.