Some of the world’s leading writers and thinkers across literature, history, politics, journalism, comedy and science will take part in this year’s Dalkey Book Festival.
The picturesque village of Dalkey on Dublin Bay will welcome over 100 authors to take part in 77 events over four days at the Dalkey Book Festival 2024 (13–16 June). The festival has made a name for itself as a premier literary event, described by Salman Rushdie as “the best little festival in the world”.
The festival attracts some 20,000 people to hear top writers and intellects share their thoughts and experience. This year, it welcomes writers from Afghanistan, Holland, Germany, Russia, Turkey, France, Palestine, the UK, America, Canada and Ireland, as well as leading journalists who will share their insights from reporting from around the world.
From America, CNN broadcaster Christiane Amanpour, David Brooks of The New York Times, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, and leading Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro will discuss the big issues of the day. And Palestinian voices will feature in a number of events including Isabella Hammad and Karim Kattan, as well as author of A Day in the Life of Abed Salama, Nathan Thrall. Jeremy Bowen, the venerated BBC correspondent in the Middle East, will join the festival direct from Jerusalem.
A number of books will be launched at the festival including memoirs by David Baddiel and Neil Jordan. Henry Winkler will speak about his memoir and James O’ Brien of LBC will discuss his latest book How They Broke Britain.
In a year when Ireland’s prodigious literary talent is being celebrated the world over, some of the island’s finest writers will appear at the festival including Claire Keegan, Anne Enright, Paul Murray, Kevin Barry and Donal Ryan. Colm Tóibín will speak about his latest novel, Long Island, and Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch about his novel Prophet Song. Award-winning writers Elaine Feeney, John Boyne and Victoria Kennefick will return to Dalkey and Colin Barrett, Nuala O’Connor, Mary Costello and Sinéad Gleeson will showcase their latest work.
There will be history with Peter Frankopan, Donal Fallon and Paddy Cullivan, nature with Manchán Magan and Sean Ronayne, science with Luke O’Neill, Ruth Freeman and Ian Robertson, and satire with Kathy Lette, Colm O’Regan and Colm Williamson of Waterford Whispers.
Dalkey Book Festival also has a host of family-friendly events and workshops for children.
In between the events, visitors should take the chance to explore the medieval village which has a tenth-century church and two Norman castles right on the main street. Dalkey also has several excellent eateries and a pretty harbour. A climb up Killiney Hill, which overlooks the village, will reveal beautiful views over Dublin Bay.
