This weekend the Booktown Festival is back in Ennistymon! Every summer since 2012 booklovers have been travelling to North Clare drawn by the prospect of a town packed with all things books.
Every available space will again be taken over by booksellers from across Ireland bringing books to suit everyone from the general reader in search of a bargain, to the avid collector in search of that rarity to complete their collection. Whether you are looking for fabulous art books, scarce local history or books to keep the children entertained you are sure to find them in Ennistymon.
Previous participants that are returning this year include Joe Collins Rare Books Dublin, Temple Bar Bookshop, John O’Brien Limerick and Clare specialist dealer, Red Books from Wexford, Doolin Dinghy Books, Maurice Regan from Kilkenny, Tallstories, James McBarron and Jim Cooney Rare Books. Ennistymon’s permanent bookshops, Salmon and Banner books will also be open throughout the days and into the evenings.
One new addition this year that will definitely draw some interest is Nerd-Up from Wexford bringing a large selection of Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels etc etc. In addition to the shops in the Court House Gallery, Teach Ceoil and Byrnes Restaurant there will be a number of pop-up shops along the Main Street.
Friday, 4th July.
Salmon Poets’ Reading Party 7pm.
Louis de Bernieres, Anne Fitzgerald, Stephen Powers, Jean Kavanagh, Rachel Coventry and Dairena Ni Chinneide will be reading in the Salmon Bookshop.
Saturday, 5th July 2pm Salmon Bookshop
Reading and Discussion with Novelists Karen Fitzgibbon & Lucy O’Callaghan. Karen Fitzgibbon will read from her new novel ‘Never Look Back’ and Lucy O’Callaghan will read from her new novel ‘Obsession’.
7pm Salmon Bookshop
Launch of Salmon Poetry’s edition of ‘Imagining Alexandria: Poems in Memory of Constantinos Cavafis’ by Louis de Bernieres.
Louis de Bernieres is a British novelist, poet, playwright and musician best known for his international bestseller ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’. He has published numerous novels, short stories, and poetry collections; often blending historical settings with richly drawn characters and philosophical depth.
Also at 7pm in Banner Books Joe Queally on the Songs and Stories of North Clare. An evening of old tunes and tall tales gathered from the people and places of North Clare.
Sunday, 6th
12pm Salmon Bookshop
Launch of ‘Once’ by Jo Slade.
Jo Slade is a poet, a painter, and a multimedia artist, the author of seven collections of poetry.
1pm – Katie Cogan DJ will play sounds and recorded spoken word poems as well as interact with the live poets. Her stunning DJ presentation ‘A passage Underlined’ tracing Salmon’s move to Main Street was a highlight of Arts Night at Salmon. Don’t miss this exciting event.
2pm – Poetry Reading, with music by Katie Colgan
Daniel Tobin, Christine Casson, Grace Wells, and Stephen Powers.
Bookshops are open Saturday from 10am until 5, Sunday 11 am until 5.
