Irish Writers' Weekend - Saturday

Please see the programme below. 

Saturday Passes allow access to any of the sessions although entry to specific sessions may be subject to room capacity. Discounts available for British Library Members and half price tickets for Students, Under 26 and other concession groups.   

Weekend online tickets are also available here, that will enable you to watch Piggott Theatre sessions either live or for the next 7 days on catch up. Viewing links for the online version will be sent out in the confirmation email you receive after booking.  

Please note that evening headline events are not included in Saturday in-person passes, and separate tickets are required. These are Graham Norton, Louise Kennedy and Paul Muldoon (Friday 22 November), Muldoon’s Picnic (Saturday 23 November) and Country Girl: A Tribute to Edna O’Brien (Sunday 24 November) Tickets for these events may be booked here.

Book signings will be running throughout the day. 

The Irish Writers’ Weekend is supported by Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in London. 


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PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER   
10:30 doors open

11:00 - 12.15 Small Town Big Stories   
Cauvery Madhavan, Chloe Michelle Howarth and Donal Ryan with Caoilinn Hughes. 
Pigott Theatre 
Ireland’s small towns and communities are a rich source for its literature, and the setting for some of the finest works of writers including Claire Keegan, Edna O’Brien to John Banville. The Irish Writers’ Weekend begins with a session devoted to these fascinating, often beautiful, sometimes claustrophobic places. With Cauvery Madhavan, whose new novel The Inheritance is the tale of an unexpected move into a tight knit community, Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of the acclaimed coming of age debut novel Sunburn, and Donal Ryan, who has now written Heart, Be at Peace as a companion piece to his multi-award-winning bestseller, The Spinning Heart, voted ‘The Irish Book of the Decade’. Hosted by Caoilinn Hughes. 

12:45 - 14:00 Comedy Writing: Dara Ó Briain and Joanne McNally with Séamas O’Reilly 
Pigott Theatre 
Two Irish comedy stars join columnist and author Séamas O’Reilly to talk about life, reading, and writing for the page and the stand-up stage. Both are brilliant performers, broadcasters and writers. 

13:00 - 14:00 Poetry Session
Eliot Room (not online)

14:30 - 15:45 Amnesic: Neil Jordan in conversation with Fintan O’Toole   
Pigott Theatre 
‘Neil Jordan is unique in his success both as a fiction writer and a movie maker. In his new memoir Amnesiac he looks back over his twin careers with a certain amused wonderment - how did he manage all that? The result is a fascinating record of private loves and losses, of public triumphs and lessons learned, in a narrative shaped by the hand of an artist. And yes, there is enough insider Hollywood lore to satisfy the hungriest picturegoer’ (John Banville) He is joined in conversation by award winning author, critic and columnist Fintan O’Toole, who’s own We Don't Know Ourselves is a personal history of Ireland since the year of his birth. 

14:30 - 15:45 Celebrating Diverse Irish Writing
Eliot Room (not online)
Three writers  including novelist Cauvery Madhavan and poet Nandi Jola, who have been part of the Breaking Ground Ireland programme come together to share their unique creative journeys. Since 2022 Breaking Ground Ireland has showcased 90 writers and illustrators from the island of Ireland from global majority and Irish Traveller backgrounds. It is a collaboration between Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the National University of Ireland Galway and Speaking Volumes, a UK-based literature organisation specialising in getting underrepresented voices heard in exciting ways and reaching diverse audiences. 

16:15 – 17:30 Families and their Discontents  
Caoilinn Hughes, Claire Kilroy and Seamas O’Reilly with Elaine Canning 
Pigott Theatre 
Families are complicated: they bring love and exasperation, pride and dismay, often simultaneously. They are also a rich seam of writing material. Caoilinn Hughes’s recent novel The Alternatives tests the bonds between four gifted sisters while her award-winning The Wild Laughter explored the seething relationship between the two brothers. Claire Kilroy’s astonishing Women’s Prize shortlisted Soldier Sailor is an emotional, visceral monologue of early motherhood. Seamas O’Reilly’s bestselling Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? is a memoir about a family of loud, argumentative, musical, grief-stricken siblings. Hosted by with Elaine Canning writer, editor and author of debut novel, The Sandstone City. 

16:15 - 17:15 Capital Vices: Conor Montague in conversation  
Eliot Room (not online)
The Galway born, London based playwright and author talks to journalist Dorothy Allen about his writing life and debut collection of short stories Capital Values. Fierce, funny and poetic, its tales take us on an exhilarating journey in the splendid company of outlaws, chancers, rogues and vagabonds, all the time scavenging for their place in the scheme of things.  
Presented by The Irish Cultural Centre, London where Conor is Playwright in Residence.  

17.45 – 18:45  The Stinging Fly: New writers, new writing
With readings by Eimear McBride, Jess McKinney, Keith Ridgway, Michael Phoenix and Martina Evans. Hosted by Lisa McInerney and Declan Meade. 
British Library Entrance Hall. Not available online.
Join The Stinging Fly, one of Ireland’s most influential literary magazines, for a showcase of readings by contributors to its two most recent issues, including – hot off the press – the Winter 2024-25 edition. First published in 1998, The Stinging Fly has become internationally recognised for playing a key role in supporting the early-career development of many of today’s most prominent Irish writers. 
*Please note. This session takes place in the main Entrance Hall of the British Library.
Seated capacity is limited, and some standing places will be available. 

Followed by Muldoon’s Picnic 19:30 - 21:00. Separate tickets required and available here