Cork World Book Festival is back!

5th April 2022

Cork World Book Fest is back in person this April 19th - 24th for its 18th edition.

An initiative of Cork City Libraries, in association with Triskel Arts Centre and supported by funding from The Arts Council, this year’s programme is a celebration of new and familiar voices from home and abroad and of our wonderful cultural city. The events take place in Cork City Library, Triskel Arts Centre, St. Peter’s and Fitzgerald’s Park.

The line-up features writers the world over including Jan Carson, Jose Maria Gallego, Catherine Prasifka, Itamar Veira Jr, Miriam Alves, Edel Coffey, Martin Veiga, Nithy Kasa, Keith Payne and more in a series of readings, workshops, translations, illustration and family friendly events during Teen Day at the library on Wednesday 21st.  Closer to home, we will celebrate three of Cork’s finest writers during our City of Writers event on 21st April in Triskel. This features Catherine Kirwan, Billy O’Callaghan and Grainne Murphy.

We welcome One City One Book 2022 author, Conal Creedon, Cork’s first Poet Laureate, William Wall, Danny Denton and James Harpur as they launch their latest books.

ECM Recording Artist and Saxophonist Iain Ballamy has composed a setting of the poem ‘The Owl’ by the late Matthew Sweeney which will premiere on Saturday 23rd in Triskel Arts Centre. A cultural street fair will take up position on the Grand Parade over the weekend. The weekend also includes the ever popular How to Get Published and Meet the Agents workshops. On Saturday there is a celebration of translation, Catalan programming celebrates Sant Jordi - the tradition of swapping books and red roses with loved ones in praise of literature and love. The festival concludes with an event with ‘Fiction at the Friary’ extraordinaires Madeleine D’arcy and Danielle McLoughlin showcasing Lost Launches - the books that were missed during the pandemic.

There are events for kids and families, for poets and crime readers, for bibliophiles and music lovers. There is something for those looking to broaden their horizons and discover new languages as well as new names and voices. Most events are free to the public and will be available to book online at Eventbrite soon. Stay up to date online @corkworldbook on Instagram, @WorldBookFest on Twitter and Cork World Book Festival on Facebook.