It’s not often the literary holds sway over the sporting on this island but this weekend might prove the exception with two major book festivals topping the bill.
The three-day Dublin Book Festival in the capital's City Hall begins tomorrow and features more than 100 writers and journalists at over 50 readings, debates, interviews, as well as events for children.
Despite the cuts in funding for the arts, organisers are keen to point out the event will be free again this year.
The highlights include an interview with Nell McCafferty (tomorrow, 1pm), and the launch of a new collection of the late Nuala O’Faolain’s writing (Monday, 2.30pm). The full details of events can be found at www.dublinbookfestival.com
Bookish types are expected to descend on Ennis today for the start of the town’s annual book festival.
Among the contributors to the festival this year are Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin , Lionel Shriver; Irish author Joseph O'Connor; Irish American author, Thomas Lynch and Senator Eoghan Harris. The programme of events is available on www.ennisbookclubfestival.com
A literary equivalent to Dublin’s community bike scheme was also launched this week to coincide with World Book Day. Top-selling Irish authors will be leaving signed copies of their books in public places across the country from people to pick up, peruse and pass on.
Book enthusiasts are encouraged to take part in the month-long event by leaving their own used tomes on park benches or in coffee shops for others to enjoy. Books can be registered with the website www.bookcrossing.com, a free online bookclub that spans the globe, and tracked to see who picked them up and where they were dropped off.
A number of events, both musical and non-musical, are taking place across the country this weekend to coincide with International Women's Day on Monday.
In Cork, the Sexual Violence Centre will host a fashion, music and African dance show tomorrow from 12.30pm, while Monday will see the Irish Sopranos provide the entertainment at a charity lunch in aid of Concern at City Hall from noon.
A number of similar events will take place in Dublin and around the country, as well as exhibitions, talks and readings. For more, see www.internationalwomensday.com
Met Éireann is predicting generally dry weather with sunny spells, but warned temperatures would remain below normal for the time of year, with maximum temperatures of between 6 and 9 degrees. It warned temperatures would fall considerably during the night, with slight to sharp frost forecast in eastern and northern parts.
On the sporting front, the Allianz Hurling League refixture between Kilkenny and Tipperary at Thurles looks set to finally go ahead after being cancelled twice because of the weather.
