The walls of Elizabeth Fort welcome Cork World Book Fest on Sunday April 28th with a wide variety of activities for all ages to enjoy. Check out the line up below.
Drop-in all-ages programme from 1.00pm – 4.00pm no booking required
Pop-Up Poetry 1.30pm, 2.00pm, 2.20pm and 3.00pm.
Curated by award-winning poet Molly Twomey with readings from @mollytwomey herself, Cork writer Lauren O’Donovan, Cork-based poet and multi-disciplinary artist Michelle Delea, and DeanJames Browne.
Vital Signs 1.15pm - 4.00pm
Published by Poetry Ireland, Vital Signs is an anthology of powerful and courageous responses to the human experience of illness and healing. Award-winning poet and writer Eleanor Hooker will be offering 10-minute Poetry S.O.S sessions as poetry pharmacist, selecting and prescribing a Vital Signs poem which participants can bring home and read at their leisure. Running from 1.15pm (last slot 4pm) on a first come first served basis.
Nature Tales 2.00pm and 3.30pm
Drop in sessions by Arran Towers of nature inspired story and crafts with tales will be told inspired by Irish wildlife and clay creatures will be crafted inspired by the tales told. Suitable for all ages.
Book Doctors 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Calling young readers! One of Children’s Books Ireland’s friendly Book Doctors will be on site from 1pm - 4pm to offer advice to young readers so they go away with a list of potential new books to read and discover. Children (with their parent/guardian) are invited to drop by for a consultation.
Let's Play Cork 1.00pm - 3.00pm
Let's Play Cork will be creating a free pop up play ground in Elizabeth Fort, with a variety of games for the young and young at heart.
Pop Up Book Fair
Activities at Elizabeth Fort On will also include a pop-up book fair with a wide range of literary finds from some of Ireland’s finest book sellers and Exile’s pop-up bookshop of photography books, illustration and graphic works.
Live Music 1.15pm & 2.45pm
World music group Citadel, who bring together a diverse range of voices from Kinsale Road Direct Provision Centre, will be on stage at 1.15pm, while one of Ireland’s leading guitarists Colm McClean will perform from 2.45pm. Colm has performed at every major concert hall in Ireland including National Concert Hall, Cork Opera House and the Concert Hall Limerick.
Cork City Spoken Word, 4pm - 5pm
Ó Bhéal will present a showcase of spoken word performances from four regular Cork City poetry events: Sling Slang, Ubuntu Sessions, The Underground Loft and Ó Bhéal. Featured performers include: From Sling Slang (emcee: Richard Pierce, poets: Philip Spillane and Alana Daly Mulligan; from Ubuntu (emcee: Outsider YP, poets: Cliff Masheti and Raphael Olympio); from The Underground Loft (emcee: Cian Walsh, poets: Em Egan Reeve and Ciarán Shanahan); and from Ó Bhéal (emcee: Rosie O'Regan, poets: Jim Crickard and Cathal Holden).
Lifting the Gate 5.15pm – 6.15pm - Free & Pre Booking Required
Lifting the Gate by bilingual poet Ben MacCaoilte is a storytelling performance poetry and music show that has performed at venues across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Ben had the pleasure of supporting for Declan O Rourke on his Irish Tour 2023. “Impossibly detailed worlds about people and place are revealed in tight verses wrapped in warm violin strings by Lily Brodie-Hayes” . Book online through eventbrite.