LIMERICK’S rich literary heritage takes centre stage once again as the Limerick Literary Festival in honour of Kate O’Brien returns from February 21 to 23 at Belltable.
Originally launched in 1984 as The Kate O’Brien Weekend to mark the tenth anniversary of the renowned Limerick author’s passing, the festival has since grown into one of Ireland’s most distinguished literary events.
Each year, it continues to celebrate O’Brien’s legacy while providing a platform for readers to engage with both emerging and established literary voices.
The 2025 festival will open with a special evening of literature and music, featuring award-winning author Donal Ryan alongside Limerick opera singer Sarah Ellen Murphy, accompanied by pianist Irina Dernova.
This intimate event will set the tone for a vibrant weekend filled with engaging discussions, poetry readings, and literary tributes.
This year’s programme boasts a stellar line-up of novelists, including Diarmuid Johnson, Anna Abney, Rose Servitova, Karen Fitzgibbon, Christine Dwyer Hickey, and Delphine Minoui. Poetry lovers will also be treated to readings by Ciaran O’Driscoll, Lionel Poiraudeau, Jo Slade, and Vivienne McKechnie as part of a special initiative celebrating the cultural ties between Limerick and Quimper, France.
One of the festival’s standout events will be ‘Heaney in Translation’, a unique tribute to the legendary Seamus Heaney. Presented by Niall MacMonagle in association with Poetry Ireland, this evening of poetry and music will feature acclaimed actor Eleanor Methven, along with traditional folk duo Zoe Conway and John McIntyre.
The Kate O’Brien Award, which recognises an outstanding debut novel or short story collection by an Irish female author, will be presented on Sunday, February 23 at 11:30am. This year’s shortlist includes:
Old Romantics – Maggie Armstrong
Bodies – Christine Anne Foley
No Small Thing – Orlaine McDonald
Night Swimmers – Roisin Maguire
Committee member and poet Vivienne McKechnie praised the exceptional quality of this year’s submissions, highlighting the festival’s role in showcasing emerging Irish literary talent.
Following the award presentation, festival goers can look forward to the much-loved Desert Island Books session with Miles Breen and Denise Whelan, before the festival closes with a special interview with renowned author, journalist, and broadcaster David McWilliams.
Tickets and further details are available at https://limetreebelltable.ie/#filter=.limerick-literary-festival-98
The blurb ….
We are very excited to share the details of our Festival with you. Now in its 41st year, the Festival began as The Kate O’Brien Weekend in 1984 to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of this distinguished Limerick writer who was banned during her lifetime but whose legacy lives on in this Festival run by readers for readers and celebrating writers and books. I hope you will be able to include some details of the Festival in The Post.
We are delighted to be holding a poetry reading as part of the Quimper/Limerick twinning and that Limerick writer Donal Ryan is talking at the opening of the Festival.
You are cordially invited to join us for the Opening event of the Limerick Literary Festival 2025 on Friday February 21st at 7.30pm at the Belltable, O’Connell Street, Limerick.
We are delighted that ‘An Post Irish Book Awards’ Book of the Year winner Donal Ryan will speak at the festival opening about Heart, Be at Peace, his award-winning novel followed with music by Limerick Contralto Sarah Ellen Murphy, accompanied by pianist Irina Dernova. You can RSVP by booking your free ticket HERE on the Lime Tree/Belltable website
The Festival will run in Limerick February 21st, 22nd and 23rd at the Belltable, O’Connell Street. This will officially open what is to be a full weekend programme featuring novelists Diarmuid Johnson, Anna Abney, Rose Servitova, Karen Fitzgibbon, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Delphine Minoui. Poets Ciaran O’Driscoll, Lionel Poiraudeau, Jo Slade and Vivienne McKechnie will be reading from a selection of their poetry as part of a special twinning initiative by the Quimper/Limerick twinning committees. This event brings together the works of French and Irish Poets in recognition of the special relationship these twin cities share.
There will also be the ‘Heaney in Translation’ event 8.00pm on Saturday, hosted by Niall MacMonagle, this reading is presented in association with Poetry Ireland and was first produced by Poetry Ireland to mark the publication of The Translations of Seamus Heaney, edited by Marco Sonzogni and published by Faber and Faber. It will feature renowned actor Eleanor Methven as well as musicians Zoe Conway and John Mc Intyre.
The festival will include in its Sunday programme a lecture by Rose Servitova, Rose will delve into how Kate O’Brien’s personal letters, papers and treasured photographs – preserved in the Special Collections at the University of Limerick – enable a deep, intimate and moving relationship with the late author followed by the presentation of the 2025 Kate O’Brien Award for a debut novel or short story collection from a female Irish author, the winner of the Award will be chosen from the shortlist announced Jan 13th. Annual favourite Desert Island Books will feature Myles Breen and Denise Whelan and finally the festival will close on Sunday the 23rd with an interview with the internationally renowned author, economist, journalist and broadcaster David McWilliams.
The festival is generously supported by the Arts Council, Limerick City and County Council, Poetry Ireland, French Embassy in Ireland, O’Mahony’s Booksellers and AIRPV.io.
