The Red Line Book Festival returns this October with a celebration of all things literary! An exciting new programme has been announced for the Festival from October 16th – 22nd with over 40 events in venues including the Civic Theatre, Tallaght Stadium, Rathfarnham Castle, Pearse Museum, the Coach House, Palmerstown and Round Tower Visitor Centre, Clondalkin with a variety of cultural and historical offerings.
The Red Line Book Festival is produced by South Dublin Libraries and Arts and offers a programme of events that appeals to people of all ages and interests, from children to adults, casual readers to bookworms.
The festival this year boasts a stellar lineup of literary luminaries. The festival is privileged to host renowned authors such as John Banville, Emer McLysaght, Sarah Breen, C Pam Zhang, and Andrea Mara, among many others.
Those interested in true crime eagerly anticipate podcaster Nicola Tallant’s discussion with her fellow journalists Nick Foster, Sharon Lawless, and Maresa Fagan. This promises to be a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of unsolved murders in Ireland.
In the festival’s lifestyle strand, the festival is also privileged to have Francis Brennan join us to discuss his new book ‘Age is Just a Number’, and local Tallaght author Jennifer Carroll will take us on her wellness journey through her new book, ‘Jen’s Journey’.
Another highlight of the festival is the Decade of Centenaries seminar at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday 22nd October, featuring historians Turtle Bunbury, David McCullagh, Caitriona Crowe, Liz Gillis and Flor McCarthy. This event will delve into pivotal moments in Irish history, including Éamon de Valera’s 1923, the life and death of Noel Lemass, and we’re delighted to be joined by sporting legend Niall Quinn who will be telling the fascinating story of Oscar Traynor.
Literary and theatrical events feature heavily throughout the festival with John Banville discussing his life and work with author Dermot Bolger at Rathfarnham Castle, ‘Aisling Ever After’ authors Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen chatting with Muireann O’Connell about their best-selling series, and our crime fiction event with bestselling Irish crime writers Andrea Mara, Úna Mannion and Olivia Kiernan. Also included are a range of family events including ‘Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers’ and, a family fun day at the Cultural Quarter in Tallaght.
The festival Writer in Residence this year is singer songwriter Alicia Raye who will be guiding participants through her Queenship Cypher programme, aimed at developing the art of lyrical storytelling in aspiring artists.
For lovers of fiction to history buffs, from guided heritage walks to writing workshops, the Red Line Book Festival truly has something for everyone.
Source: South Dublin County Council
