From ancient Syracuse to modern day Ballina, some things never change – like the challenges inherent to coming of age and the difficulty of navigating the concept of ‘masculinity’.

In their debut novels, set worlds apart, Colin Barrett and Ferdia Lennon find common ground in stories that examine the complexities of male relationships and what it takes to be a good man in a society with certain expectations. Barret’s Wild Houses, called ‘sublime’ by the Sunday Times, sees a small-town feud turn into full blown revenge fantasy with a madcap kidnapping and an ugly ultimatum. Meanwhile, Lennon’s Glorious Exploits follows two young potters in ancient Syracuse as they form unexpected attachments to enemy Athenian captives when they decide to stage a play to make a little money.

Colin Barrett’s stories have been published in The Stinging Fly, Granta, Harper’s and the New Yorker. His first book, the short story collection Young Skins, won the Guardian First Book Award, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. His second collection, Homesickness, made the New York Times 100 Notable Books of the Year.

Ferdia Lennon’s short stories have appeared in publications such as the Irish Times and The Stinging Fly. In 2019 and 2021, he received a Literature Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. Glorious Exploits is his debut novel.

This event will be chaired by John Patrick McHugh. His collection of short stories, Pure Gold, is published by 4th Estate and his debut novel, Fun and Games, will be published in 2025.