Literary Events during Mountshannon Arts Festival 2025
“Never forget that writing is as close as we get to keeping a hold on the thousand and one things – childhood, certainties, cities, doubts, dreams, instants, phrases, parents, loves – that go on slipping, like sand, through our fingers.”― Salman Rushdie.
In light of this reflection on the power of writing, we are happy to present our fantastic lineup of writers participating in our upcoming events.
Saturday 31 May
Poetry Island - Evolution of a Poet
In association with Poetry Ireland
Anita’s 3pm
The theme of Mountshannon Arts Festival 2025 is ‘Evolution’ and we have invited Limerick poet Michael Dooley, Co winner of Southword Debut Poetry Collection Award and author of recently released first collection In Spring We Turned to Water to join up and coming Belfast poet Niamh McNally in a poetry reading and discussion that charts the evolution of their work so far.
In conjunction with Scariff Bay Community Radio we will record this event for later broadcast/podcast. €10, €8 with writband. Book it here
Sunday 1 June
In Conversation with Juliana Adelman
Anita’s 11am
This event promises to be particularly insightful, as Juliana will engage in a discussion with local artist Helen Blackhurst about her experiences in the fascinating world of writing historical fiction. Free with wristband. Join guestlist here
We Are An Archipelago - Book Launch
Anita’s 5pm
Accompanied by renowned pianist Patrick O'Laoghaire, Erin Fornoff launches and performs We Are An Archipelago, a poetry book with a plot from Salmon Poetry which tells the semi-true story of ninety-nine year old Bill, who moves back to the little island of his birth, after 80 years gone. With a live musical backdrop provided by pianist Patrick O'Laoghaire (of I Have a Tribe) this performance and book imagine his return and his unlikely friendship with young pregnant woman Deena.
Washed up, they wait out a hurricane at the dusk and dawning of their two lives. €10 and €8 with wristband. Book it here
Monday 2 June
Words for Mother E-ART-H – Poetry and Pottery
Anita’s 3pm
What if instead of constantly looking to the Earth for resources we looked to it for inspiration to create ART and gave a little back to our communities?
With thanks to the Creative Ireland Programme, Mountshannon Arts ran three workshops in April with Niamh Twomey, Kerri Ní Dochartaigh and Eibhlín Dunne.
This event is the culmination of these workshops with the participants partaking in a poetry reading and display of pottery.
The vision for Creative Ireland Clare is to “embed culture and creativity into the activities, sustainability and growth of our communities”.
Free with wristband. Join guest list here
The Evolution of Fragments, a novel
Session: Of Trauma, Memory… and Hope.
Anita’s 5pm
Fragments, the new novel by Greg Dinner, has just been published in the US and the UK.
As a sister novel to his previous A Requiem For Hania, in this talk and q&a Greg will discuss with Paul Bugler the evolution of a novel, of a writer’s creative and emotional journey, and how real events evolve into stories of the past, the present, of the future
Free with wristband. Join guest list here
Niamh McNally and Juliana Adelaman will also propose workshops. For more info and booking