Cúirt International Festival of Literature 2024

Cúirt – Ireland’s premier literary festival 📖

Cúirt 2024 Programme

The Cúirt International Festival of Literature is Ireland’s premier literary event. The 2024 festival will run from 23 – 28 April, 2024 and feature an eclectic and exciting range of Irish and international writers in Galway for readings, workshops, discussions, book signings and much, much more.

Book Cúirt Tickets

What’s On for Cúirt 2024

The 39th Cúirt programmes will feature over 70 events to choose from, many of them free, ranging across poetry, prose, music, spoken word, theatre, talks, masterclasses, family events and exhibitions as well as the popular annual series of talks and workshops for children and teenagers, the Cúirt Labs. Set up in 1985, the festival is all about shining a spotlight on national and international literary talent, and this years event will explore fiction writing, songwriting, essay writing, poetry and more.

2024 Festival highlights: at a glance 

• Conversation between Booker Prize winners Paul Lynch and John Banville.
• Readings and conversations involving Rita Ann Higgins, Edel Coffey, Elaine Feeney, Mary Costello, Mike McCormack, Paul Murray, Jackie Kay, Sinéad Gleeson, Rafeef Ziadah, Lemn Sissay, Leontia Flynn, and others.
• Elaine Feeney will celebrate the launch of her new poetry collection.
• Nuala O’Connor will launch her new novel, “Seabourne”.
• Colin Walsh will discuss his coming-of-age mystery, “Kala”.
• Mary Costello will discuss her new short story collection, “Barcelona”.
• International guests include German author Clemens Meyer, Man Booker shortlisted Patrick DeWitt from Canada, and Lot Bryan Washington from the US.
• Poetry lineup includes Irish poets Nick Laird, Victoria Kennefick, Scott McKendry, and Leontia Flynn, alongside American poets Brenda Shaughnessy and Erika Meitner.
• Lemn Sissay will perform from his collection “Let the Light Pour In”.
• Conversation between Palestinian writers N.S. Nuseibeh and Rafeef Ziadah.
• Live edition of The Stinging Fly Podcast with Caoilinn Hughes discussing her new book, “The Alternatives”.
• Conversations about the country’s treatment of women and the legacies of the past with Molly Hennigan and Clair Wills.
• Discussion about growing up in the Troubles with Máiría Cahill and Martin Doyle.
• Leon Diop and Brianna Fitzsimmons of the Black & Irish organization will discuss their award-winning book “Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes”.
• Family-friendly events include Kid’s Storytime in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop and Méabh McDonnell’s interactive event inspired by her debut “Into the Witchwood”.
• Bilingual event featuring “The Slug and the Snail” by Oein DeBhairduin and Natalie Ní Chasaide.
• Special day with Ireland’s Children’s Literature Laureate Patricia Forde, featuring interactive storytelling with children’s authors and illustrators.

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Cúirt: What to expect

Cúirt tickets and enquiries

Information for all the Cúirt events is available online at www.cuirt.ie, or from the Town Hall Theatre on 091 – 569777 or from the Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, on 091 – 565886.