Man Booker winner and Ireland’s inaugural laureate for fiction Anne Enright and novelist Ruth Gilligan discuss the writing life at ILFDublin’s celebration of the trans-generational influence of writers on each other. Anne Enright published her first novel The Wig My Father Wore in 1995, the same year Bealtaine was founded. Her most recent is Actress, her long-awaited “theatre book”, which explores the dark side of showbusiness. She reflects on her 25 years as a writer with author, journalist and university lecturer, Ruth Gilligan. Ruth Gilligan’s latest novel, The Butchers, is set against the BSE crisis in 1996, when Ireland was busy trying to cast off its old ways. Its compelling story pits folklore and tradition against  modern capitalism. In conversation with novelist and playwright Declan Hughes, their reflections on starting and continuing the writing life are not to be missed.

Presented by Age & Opportunity, in association with ILFDublin.

The Gutter Bookshop is sad they can’t be at the festival in person this year but you can browse (and purchase!) books by the featured authors at the special ILFDublin festival shop - CLICK HERE. And remember that there’s no postage to pay in Ireland if you spend over €30 or if you choose to collect your books from either of our bookshops. Just choose the ‘Free Shipping’ or ‘Click & Collect’ options at checkout!