International Literature Festival Dublin

opens Thursday 19 May

with a new literary village that transforms Merrion Square Park into a book lover’s paradise

International Literature Festival Dublin will open next week with the first events taking place on Thursday 19 May.

This 25th Anniversary edition of the festival will run from 19-29 May as authors from around the world gather once again in Dublin city for this 11 day, in-person celebration of writing and literature.
The festival will take place for the first time in its new home in the beautiful and historic Merrion Square Park, with a brand-new literary village which will host more than 160 events for all ages.
Whether dropping in on lunch break or spending a full weekend exploring the Literary Village, there’s plenty to see and do; pick up copies of this year’s books at the Dubray Festival Bookshop, grab a tasty bite at one of the food stalls within Char Food Village, curated by District Magazine, or just soak up the festive atmosphere. ILFDublin 2022 will present a record breaking programme of over 160 events featuring a diverse mix of 175 authors, speakers, creatives, and performers and counting from over 30 countries with discussions, talks, debates and more for all ages and interests.
For the full programme details and to book tickets visit ilfdublin.com

Stories Without Borders

• Bernardine Evaristo, the first Black woman to win the Booker Prize, discusses her inspirational memoir, Manifesto, a blueprint for writers everywhere (Thu 19 May)
• 25 million-selling superstar author Cecelia Ahern joins Louise O’Neill as they present their new books, Freckles and IDOL, respectively, at a very special launch event (Thu 19 May)
• In the perfect metaphor for the power of books, legendary scientist Richard Dawkins lets the mind soar to unknown, magical spaces in his new book Flights of Fancy (Sat 21 May)
• Rwandan-French author Scholastique Mukasonga recovers her lost family’s story from the genocide – part of a new partnership with Trinity College Dublin’s Centre for Resistance Studies (Sat 21 May)
• Emilie Pine talks to Patrick Freyne about her highly-anticipated debut novel Ruth & Pen (Sun 22 May)
• For the first time event, ILFDublin presents the newly crowned Nobel Prize winner and Booker Prize winner at the same festival with Tanzanian author Abdulrazak Gurnah and South African novelist Damon Galgut, (Fri 20 May and Tue 24 May respectively)
• Jennifer Egan explores her latest novel The Candy House, her sibling-novel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit From The Goon Squad (Wed 25 May)
• Ardal O’Hanlon delves into the dark side of small-town Ireland in his novel Brouhaha (Fri 27 May)
• On the closing night of the festival (Sun 29 May) we celebrate the lives and works of Eavan Boland and Thomas Kinsella – two great Dublin poets who were lost to the world of poetry during the lockdown period

Cross cultural conversations are a key element of this year’s programme with authors from different countries dialoguing in events across the festival. Writer Colm Tóibín (Vinegar Hill) and poet Padraig Regan (Some Integrity) will read from their own and each other’s poetry, while reflecting on the creative process; Columbian Margarita García Robayo (Holiday Heart) and Boston native Sandra Newman (The Men) will discuss their two novels, in which two women struggle to find their place in the world; Okechukwu Nzelu (Here Again Now) & Ondjaki (Transparent City) who both write from the margins people their cities with outcasts who deserve to be heard while Mieko Kawakami (All the Lovers in the Night) & Rónán Hession (Panenka), two authors from different corners of the globe share a literary eye for vulnerable, gentle characters in a hostile world.

Nurturing Young Minds

• Dress up as your favourite character to mark the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling’s classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sat 21 May)
• Learn how to navigate 24/7 news and tell fact from fiction with BBC journalist Nick Sheridan (Sat 21 May)
• Join award-winning writer and activist Onjali Q. Raúf for an introduction to some of the most inspiring people in real life and fiction (Sat 21 May)
• Watch stories come to life with Kristina Stephenson as she performs her picture book The Museum of Marvellous Things with music and puppets (Sat 21 & Sun 22 May)
• Dive into poetry with Joseph Coelho whose latest collection, Smile Out Loud, is designed to be read aloud to build confidence and conjure happiness (Sun 22 May)
• Ring in the end of an era with the final instalment of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant fantastical adventures (Sun 22 May)
• Put on your spacesuit and get galactic with 1001 space questions in a fun interactive quiz style event (Sat 28 May)
• Scream for ice cream with Shane Hegarty for the deviously delicious launch of his new book The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams (Sat 28 May)
• Be inspired by French artist Barroux to do your bit to save the planet (Sat 28 May)
• Learn about the fascinating history behind the Irish national anthem and how to sing it in English and Irish in The Soldier’s Song/Amhrán na bhFiann with Rachel J Cooper (Sat 28 & Sun 29 May)
• Let your true colours shine bright with lovable literary icon Elmer the Elephant (Sat 28 & Sun 29 May)

Look out for conversations about comic books, dark magic, world-building and LGBTQ+ good mental health; plus stories about Vikings, superheroes, stinky cheese and many magical worlds. We’ll celebrate languages and learning, but most of all we’ll celebrate our young audiences with space for inspiration, imagination, conversation and community.

Explore New Perspectives

• District Magazine’s Noontide lunchtime sessions feature an eclectic mix of chats, music, and more, including Culinary Antics with GastroGays (Fri 20 May), an acoustic performance from Tomike (Mon 23 May), Sour Grapes Panel Discussion (Tue 24 May), Chef Selection (Wed 25 May) and more
• Celebrate National Drawing Day with Paint & Draw and/or Wine & Design, artist-led sessions to guide you through creating your own masterpiece (Sat 21 May).
• Leave your comfort zone behind you with darkly honest and excruciatingly funny comedy from Marise Gaughan whose brutally life-affirming memoir Trouble is ‘as entertaining as it is illuminating’. (Thu 26 May)
• Holy Show’s Party Piece highlights the traditions of the party piece with performances by writer and actor Michael Harding, musician and novelist Declan O’Rourke, funnyman and folklord Hugh Cooney and other special guests (Sat 28 May)
• Walk in the footsteps of legends with Alternative Dublin Writers Tour (Sat 21, Sun 22, Sat 28 & Sun 29 May)
• Get your heart pumping with a 5K writers run, featuring guest writers / runners Shane Hegarty (Sat 21 May), Frank McNally (Sat 28 May) and Jane Mitchell (Sun 29 May)
• Nurture your mind and body as Lani O’Hanlon guides you through a two-hour session facilitating an embodied, sensual, and meditative approach to voice and writing, perfect for individuals and aspiring writers to break through habitual ways of writing and being (Sat 21 & Sun 22 May)
• Discover some of Ireland’s most exciting new poets writing in both English and Irish in Introductions | Céadlinte, presented in partnership with Poetry Ireland (24 – 26 May)

Grow Your Practice

• Celebrated artists and illustrators Ashwin Chako, Olivia Hope, Lauren O’Hara and Shona Shirley McDonald explore the creative possibilities of drawing and illustration in A Wonderful World of Illustration Seminar (Sat 21 May)
• Get an immersive and practical introduction to Zinemaking in a workshop with Brass Neck Press (Sat 21 & Sun 22)
• Learn how How To Read & Write The News with current BBC Scotland presenter Nick Sheridan (Sun 22 May)
• Join Editor-in-Chief of F(r)iction magazine Dani Hedlund for an in-depth workshop on What Makes a Good Story? (Mon 23 & Wed 25) or Live Flash Fiction Writing (Tue 24 & Thu 26)
• Poets and cultural commentators Áine Ní Ghlinn, David Colmer, and Hans & Monique Hagen discuss the capacity for poetry to transcend borders, linguistic and geographical in a fascinating poetry in translation panel discussion (Thu 26 May)

How To book

Visit ilfdublin.com to book online or email boxoffice@ilfdublin.com

Where To find Us

The festival site is located in Merrion Square Park, with the main access gate located on Merrion Square East. The Park will remain open to the public during the festival dates. Access to marquees and events will only be available to ticket holders.

Facilities Opening Hours (19 – 29 May inclusive)

Char Food Village Mon – Fri 10:30 – 14:30 & 17:00 – 22:00 and Sat & Sun 10:30 – 22:00

Dubray Bookshop 10:00 – 22:00