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The Rolling Sun Book Festival Westport is back—and it’s going to be a good one.

The 2023 festival runs from Thursday 19th October to Sunday 22nd October, and features a great line-up of local, national and international authors with a range of events planned for over the four days.

 

Thursday, 19 October

8pm  Theatre: ‘All The Things Left Unsaid, An Evening with Michael Harding’

Venue: Westport Town Hall Theatre  Admission €22

 

Friday 20 October

6pm Poetry and Music: “This is Writing”-- renowned actor Stephen Rea celebrates the work of Seamus Heaney in the beautiful setting of Westport’s Holy Trinity Church, with music by Coda

Venue: Holy Trinity Church   Admission: €25

 

 

Saturday 21 October

11am Weather Matters: Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly on her new book, From Malin Head to Mizen Head: A Journey Around the Sea Area Forecast, and Colm O’Regan, comedian and author of Climate Worrier, are joined by Gemma O’Connor of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for what promises to be a lively session on all things weather and climate-related.

 

Venue: Clew Bay Hotel    Admission: €15

 

3pm  On the Couch: Psychologist Katriona O’Sullivan, author of best-selling memoir Poor, and psychotherapist, Richard Hogan, whose latest book is Home is Where the Start Is join Barbara Scully to talk about childhood, family, adversity and more.

 

Venue: Clew Bay Hotel     Admission: €15

 

6pm The Big Interview:  Booker Prize short-listed author Paul Lynch talks to Áine Ryan about his chilling novel, Prophet Song, and how quickly the freedoms we value can be taken from us.

Venue: Clew Bay Hotel    Admission: €15

 

 

Sunday 22 October

11.30 am  So You Want to Write?:   Journalist and author Liam Horan is joined by the West Mayo Writers group for readings and to talk about their writing.

Venue: Clew Bay Hotel    Admission: Free

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2.30pm  The Inside Story: Broadcaster, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author Matt Cooper shares fascinating findings from his compelling new book, Who Really Owns Ireland? The author identifies the people and institutions who control the valuable land where we live, work and play, and asks who are the foreign investors, why are they buying property and land in Ireland, and what does it mean for the rest of us.

Venue: Clew Bay Hotel   Admission: €15