WEST CORK LITERARY FESTIVAL
BANTRY, 6-12 JULY 2008
10 th ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
The West Cork Literary Festival’s 10th anniversary is being marked by an exciting programme, with a variety of new events being added to those which have made the Festival so successful to date. There is an extra day this year, making six full days of Readings, Workshops, Seminars, Children’s Events, Exhibitions and Music.
The celebrations begin with the official Festival launch by Senator Eoghan Harris on Sunday 6 July at 18.00 in Bantry Library.
Joseph O’Connor, Colin Dexter, Colum McCann, Dervla Murphy and Paul Durcan lead the stellar line-up of more than 50 authors who will be taking part in this year’s Festival.
The number of five-day Workshops for aspiring writers has been increased, with twelve for adults, including The Thriller, Writing for the Big Screen, The Novel, The Short Story, Poetry, Writing for Women, Playwriting and Songwriting.
The scope of the Afternoon Seminars has been broadened to encompass a Masterclass with Colum McCann, and talks that merge the arts, by Matthew Sweeney on the connection between poetry and film, and the Sculptor Rowan Gillespie on how the written word acts as a source of inspiration to the artist.
The Children’s Programme has five-day Workshops for ages from 4-14, timed so that parents can attend their own events. And for the first time there will a Reading every afternoon by different children’s authors, such as Marita Conlon-McKenna, Oisin McGann and Derek Landy.
A continuing feature of the Festival is the large number of free Readings – at 11.00 each day in Bantry Bookshop, and twice daily at 13.00 and 17.00 in Bantry Library, the hub of the Festival.
"The week of the Festival is when Bantry becomes the Writing Republic of West Cork, a time when readers and writers can come together in an atmosphere of fun and learning", says Festival Director, Clem Cairns.
The Festival is run with support from Cork County Council Library & Arts Services and The Arts Council, and is part of West Cork Music.
website: www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie.
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phone: 027-61157

WEST CORK LITERARY FESTIVAL 
Bantry 6-12 July 2008

Take 10 to celebrate 10th Anniversary

To mark the occasion of the West Cork Literary Festival’s 10th anniversary we have asked 10 of our visiting authors to answer the same 10 questions.  The featured writer here is JOSEPH O’CONNOR, who will be appearing at the Festival on Monday 7 July at 20.30 in the Maritime Hotel.  Tickets cost €12.  No pre-booking required. 

1.  What books do you have beside your bed?
It varies, but often something by Orwell, Colm Toibin, Dickens, Richard Ford, Flann O’Brien, Margaret Atwood, Kingsley Amis, Anne Enright, Raymond Carver, Orhan Pamuk, or Anthony Cronin.

2.  Most over-rated book?
Anything including a hobbit.  

3.  A book that changed your life?
James Joyce’s Ulysses, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, John McGahern’s collection of short stories Getting Through, James Plunkett’s Strumpet City, Roddy Doyle’s The Committments and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. These were all books I first read in my mid to late teens and, along with the journalism of Julie Burchill and the late Bill Graham, I think they collectively made me want to be a writer.

4.  A book you didn’t finish?
Joyce’s Finnegans Wake.

5.  A book you’ve re-read?
Joyce’s Ulysses.

6.  Your favourite author?
If I absolutely had to pick only one, George Orwell. 

7.  Best thing about being an author?
Not having to commute to work.

8.  Worst thing about being an author?
Having to write books.

9.  What do you have strong opinions on, but know nothing about?
I don’t believe in having strong opinions about things you know nothing about. But I have sometimes irritated my wife, usually after I’ve had a few glasses of wine, by giving voice to the opinion that aliens really did land at Roswell.

10. A hero?
Patti Smith.

Biography: Joseph O'Connor was born in Dublin. His books include the novels Cowboys and Indians, Desperadoes, The Salesman, Inishowen, Star of the Sea and Redemption Falls. Star of the Sea became an international bestseller and was translated into 34 languages, winning France’s Prix Zepter for European novel of the year. Redemption Falls was recently published in paperback and has been receiving rave reviews. The Guardian pronounced it ‘A major work of modern fiction from an astonishingly accomplished writer.’

The featured writer here is JENNIFER JOHNSTON, who will be appearing at the Festival on Tuesday 8 July at 13.00 in Bantry Library.  Free entry.

1.What books do you have beside your bed?
Lots.  A mixum, gatherum.  At the moment: Darra Leon (I like detective stories and love Venice), Desmond Hogan, wonderful writer, I would like more and more.  Atonement, which I read when it came ouit and keep by my bed because I love it.  Peter Carey’s new book – I’m not mad about it,it seems very messy to me but I’ll finish it.  It has beautiful moments and then quite a lot of mess.

2. Most over-rated book?
The Bridges of Madison County.  My brother gave it to me for Christmas when it came out and after ten pages I sent it right back to him and asked for an alternative present.

3.A book that changed your life?
Probably Chekov.  In English unfortunately.  The way he looks at people and draws us into their lives is unlike any other writer.

4. A book you didn’t finish?
Lots.  The world is full of books I haven’t finished, nor do I intend to!

5. A book you’ve re-read?
A Room With A View, Pride and Prejudice, Amongst Women.

6. Your favourite author?
John McGahern, Colum McCann, Ian McEwan, A.L. Kennedy.  I like people who use their imaginations.  I like witty writers.  I could make a long, long list.

7. Best thing about being an author?
Lovely tickets to lovely places, where you meet new and splendid people.

8. Worst thing about being an author?
Sitting at home staring at the wall!

9. What do you have strong opinions on but know nothing about?
Almost everything.  Ask my children they will agree with this.

10. A hero?
Mr Darcy, of course.

Biography: Jennifer Johnston was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and currently lives in Derry.  Many of her novels deal with the fading of the Protestant Anglo-Irish ascendancy in the 20th century. She won the Whitbread Book Award for The Old Jest in 1979, and was short-listed for the Booker Prize two years later with Shadows on Our Skin. The Old Jest, a novel about the Irish War of Independence, was later made into a film called The Dawning, starring Anthony Hopkins. Of writing she says: “I find it hard to speak or write about writing. I have never worked out why this should be; possibly because it is like breathing to me and I couldn’t find much to say about breathing except I know I have to do it”.

For full details of the Festival programme: www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie
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Phone: + 353(0)27-61157