Poetry readings, workshops, writing awards, interviews, book launches, story-telling...the written word is celebrated across the Allingham Festival weekend in Ballyshannon. Susan Mc Kay will talk about her experience as a writer from the border on Thursday night. The Fighting Words team will hold information sessions on Friday morning on setting up and running writing workshops for children. Olive Travers will guide writers through an engaging workshop focusing on creativity on Friday afternoon. Festival favourite Mick Delap returns to host Wild Atlantic Writers in Diceys at 4pm on Friday. Marc Geagan will launch his book and CD, 'Songs of the Erne' in Dorrian's at 6 (followed by the 'Songs of the Erne' concert at 8pm in St. Anne's).
On Saturday morning, Moya Cannon hosts a sold out poetry workshop. The Primary and Secondary School Art, Poetry and Fiction awards will begin at 12pm, and is always a highly enjoyable event. At the Literary Lunch, the winners of the Allingham Fiction & Poetry competitions will read their work and receive their awards from judges Moya Cannon and Paul Lynch. Lynch will also launch his latest novel, 'Grace', at the lunch. Mike Mc Cormack will be interviewed by RTÉs Sinead Gleeson in the Abbey Centre at 3.30pm. On Saturday evening, John D. Ruddy will launch the latest in his series of Manny Man books, 'Manny Man Does Revolutionary Ireland 1916-1923'. The weekend is nicely rounded off with a gentle morning of stories and songs in the Thatch Bar from 12pm.
What more could you ask for?