Goldsmith International Literary Festival

The 35th Goldsmith International Literary Festival takes place this year. It is the third longest running festival of its type in Ireland and takes place over the June Bank Holiday. The festival was founded to celebrate the literary genius of Oliver Goldsmith and to promote Goldsmith Country as tourist attraction. Over the years it has explored many aspects of Goldsmith’s life, society, and writings. A huge variety of renowned critics, politicians, poets, commentators and academics have stimulated audiences over that time.

A full programme of events is in store throughout Goldsmith Country, including readings, talks, competitions and music. The Theme for this years Goldsmith International Literary Festival is…

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no fibs”
Tony Lumpkin – “She Stoops to Conquer” 1773

The festival will be officially opened by Tom McGuire head of RTÉ Radio 1 at 8.30pm in the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule on Friday. Willie Kealy, former deputy editor of the Sunday Independent will give a talk on the night entitled “The Decline of Print and the Future of Good Journalism”, which will be followed by musical entertainment.

Saturday’s events will begin at 11am with a series of interesting talks, in Ballymahon Library including “Press Freedom or a Free Press” and “The Digital Onslaught – What Future for Print Journalism” followed by a dramatised performance of excerpts from “She Stoops to Conquer” performed by members of the Bog Lane Theatre on the site of George Conways Pub, adjacent to the Ballymahon Community Library at 5pm. The annual Oliver Goldsmith Literary Tour will commence at 5.30pm, then rounding off saturday’s events commencing at 8.30pm in the Three Jolly Pigeons pub, there will be a traditional/folk music and ballad seisiún with P.J Shanagher.

On Sunday, the Goldsmith Miscellany in the Goldsmith Room in Ballymahon Library will feature a number of short talks, with musical interludes from Claire Sheerin, Donie Keyes and Padraig Campbell.

The final event of the festival are the poetry readings by the winning entrants of the Goldsmith Poetry competitions, which will round off the Goldsmith International Literary Festival. This will take place at 3:30pm at Oliver Goldsmith’s birthplace in Pallas.

To check out the festival’s programme and for ticket information please visit the Festival website at olivergoldsmithfestival.com. You can also follow on Facebook or Twitter for the very latest information.