About Cúirt
In 1985 Cúirt was founded by Galway Arts Centre as a three -day poetry festival, and has since grown to the week-long festival that it is today, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, events for all ages, and community-focused activities.
As one of Europe’s oldest book festivals, Cúirt is a leading voice for literature both internationally and across Ireland. We are committed to creating a space where all audiences are empowered through literature, bringing readers and writers together to tell stories, share new perspectives, and to celebrate writing, books, and reading in all its forms.
In 2025 Cúirt turns 40, and we’re planning some exciting events to celebrate. Keep up to date by signing up to our newsletter and following us on our social media platforms.
What We Do
Cúirt is rooted in Galway on the west coast of Ireland, and underpinned by our core values of equality and inclusion, we are committed to creating spaces where our audiences are empowered to engage with literature.
We are proud to create a festival that showcases brilliant and diverse writing, championing new voices and celebrating Irish and international writers. At the heart of Cúirt’s programme lives an enduring curiosity to understand how we create meaning in a changing world. Cúirt contributes in an essential way to Ireland’s literature ecology, providing an international platform for new writing, developmental opportunities for writers and fostering and nurturing Ireland’s readers and thinkers. As ever, we’re delighted to host a wide selection of world-class authors who are at the pinnacle of their writing careers, as well as introducing you to compelling new voices and debut authors.
We’re delighted to feature artwork on our brochure this year by Galway based artists Miriam de Burca. The artwork we have chosen for the 2024 festival is from a series of deBúrca’s work titled Cillíní. Of this work, Miriam has said: Cillíní were unofficial burial grounds dotted throughout Ireland, used for interring unbaptised babies and others ‘considered unsuitable’ for consecrated ground.
Miriam de Búrca studied Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art and the Ulster University, Belfast where she received an Award of Excellence for a practice-based PhD in 2010. She is represented by the Cristea Roberts Gallery, London. She lives and works in Galway, Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 39th Cúirt Festival will take place between 23rd – 28th April 2024
The term ‘Cúirt’ is inspired by the Gaelic court of poets and so the festival arises from the idea of a gathering of like-minded people who share a love of literature, ideas and debate. This tradition has been the festival’s inspiration ever since it was founded in 1985.
Cúirt does not have an open submissions process. Our planning for the following year normally takes place between August and December of each year.
If you are a writer or publicist interested in appearing at the festival, or an organisation who would like to partner with Cúirt, please get in touch via info@cuirt.ie.
Given that we are a small team, we may not be able to respond to every unsolicited query, though we will try our best.
We will be opening applications for the 2024 Festival Volunteers in early 2024. Please keep an eye on socials and our website for the announcement
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop
Cúirt is proudly supported by our festival bookseller, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop. Nestled in the heart of Galway, its seven rooms and over a hundred thousand new and second-hand titles are a magical space for any wandering reader to explore.
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