The Writers

Sebastian Barry read from his Costa Award-winning novel The Secret Scripture, while Colm Tóibín read exciting excerpts from his forthcoming novel, Brooklyn. Children's literature writers Siobhan Parkinson and Celine Kiernan also read and talked about their intriguing work, while poet and translator Peter Sirr talked about poetry and the intricacies of poetry translation. 

First time novelists Kevin Power and Karen Ardiff read key passages from their novels, Bad Day in Blackrock and The Secret of My Face, while Claire Kilroy gave a preview of her third novel, All Names Have Been Changed. John Boyne spoke of his bestselling Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, his experience of having a movie made based on the novel, and also read from his new novel for adults, The House of Special Purpose. 

Glenn Patterson talked about his body of work and the Japanese translation of The Third Party, and read an extract from his journal writings. Julia Kelly and Peter Murphy read from their first novels, With My Lazy Eye and John the Revelator.