Services and Programmes

Cork World Book Fest 2012

This year’s Fest ran from the 19^th to 23^rd April 2012 and once again featured internationally acclaimed authors such as Dermot Healy, Paul Durcan, RTÉ European Correspondent Paul Cunningham, acccomplished psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney, Catalan writer Jaume Subirana, and writers who have been included in the Best of European Fiction 2012.   

The Fest was officially opened on Thursday, 19^th April by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Terry Shannon.  The Lord Mayor praised the Fest’s emphasis on the joys and benefits of reading, especially for children and young people.

The opening night saw more than 230 enthusiastic readers attend Paul Durcan's reading.  Paul Durcan, one of Ireland’s foremost poets, read from his brand new collection   Praise in Which I Live and Move and Have My Being,  which finds the poet on the road in Paris, New York City, Chicago, Brisbane, and Achill Island, meditating upon the sanctuary of home and what it means to feel truly at home.     

       
Paul Durcan reading on 19 April                                  

Earlier, young Gaelic-language poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa thrilled a large audience with her passionate and often humorous new poems.  

                               
Doireann Ní Ghríofa reading from her work on 19 April

Earlier that day the Fest began with Teen Day - a range of events for creative teenagers. These included the announcement of the winner of the 5^th Annual Short Story Competition and the winner of My Cork: Teenage Impressions of the City photography competition along with the publication of The Unfinished Book of Poetry 2012, and the 4^th Annual Graphic Novel, a collaboration of graphics and stories from local teenagers. 

Cork City Librarian Liam Ronayne presenting Mirjam Konrad with first prize in the annual teen photography competition

Highlights on Friday, 20^th April, were a special evening in the Library celebrating the life and work of author and artist Brian Lalor , and RTE European Correspondent and author Paul Cunningham in conversation with former journalist and current CEO of Storyful, Mark Little at 8.30 pm at Triskel Christchurch.  Brian Lalor was interviewed by Alannah Hopkin and read from his wonderful memoir Rosenheim and Windermere.  

 
Brian Lalor in conversation with Alannah Hopkin

Saturday, 21^st April, was as always the busiest day of the Fest.  Under the banner Park & Read, there were a host of events for families including three performances of Cork Community Art Link’s The Journey of the Book, a life size book where characters will come to life in Bishop Lucey Park, Niall de Búrca’s magical storytelling, and Dowtcha Puppets Grandma’s Garden at Triskel Christchurch. The WBF street fair attracted droves of browsers to the books stalls, with plenty refreshments on hand from the food and drink stalls on the Grand Parade. 

Book stalls on the Grand Parade

• Saturday afternoon highlights: a well attended reading by Catalan poet and cultural commentator Jaume Subirana;
• three workshops for writers: on the writing lessons of the great writers with Billy O'Callaghan (see extract from Billy's talk here), on writing a cooking blog with Hester Casey, and on getting published by John Stack
• readings and a discussion with highly acclaimed first time novelists Kathleen MacMahon and Greg Baxter, followed by
• a presentation by renowned psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney at Triskel Christchurch.

Later on Saturday Dermot Healy read from his 2011 novel, Long time No See, and a selection of his poetry at Cork City Library.  A huge crowd attended the launch of Jamie O’Connell’s first short-story collection at Christchurch.    

Dermot Healy reading on 23 April

World Book Day, April 23, brought a large crowd to a three-part reading at the City Library:

·         Seisiún INNTI: Liam Ó Muirthile agus Caitríona Ní Chleircín ag léamh dánta úra;

·         readings from the Best European Fiction 2012, a collection of stories from across Europe: Donal McLaughlin and Arno Camenisch. Cork World Book Festival began an association with the publisher, The Dalkey Archive, in 2012, which will grow into the future.

·         Tina Pisco and Kathy D’Arcy reading, in Spanish and English, the poems of Manuel Arana.  

Liam Ó Muirthile agus Caitríona Ní Chleircín  

   
Arno Camenisch and Donal McLaughlin                            

The 8^th Cork World Book Fest had been launched on 31^st March 2012 by Paul Howard aka Ross O’Carroll Kelly, creator, author and journalist, with a reading from his hilarious bestselling book ‘Nama Mia’ and selections from his ‘autobiography’ of Roy Keane’s dog Triggs, at the Triskel Arts Centre, Cork.                            

 
Author Paul Howard at the launch of Cork World Book Fest 2012 on 31 March

Previous Festivals

The first Cork World Book Fest was held in Cork in 2005, when the city was European Capital of Culture.  Cork World Book Fest brings books and reading to the centre of Cork life for four days each April; the highlight is the street fair on the Saturday, with more than thirty stalls plus street entertainment just outside the Central Library, along the Grand Parade, and in Bishop Lucey Park. It is this ‘fair day’ atmosphere that distinguishes Cork World Book Fest from other literary events around Ireland.

Cork World Book Fest 2012 programme (1,455KB)

Cork World Book Fest 2011 programme (485KB)

Cork World Book Fest 2010 programme (425KB)

Cork World Book Fest 2009 Programme (591KB)