FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Cúirt 2018

WHAT TYPE OF EVENTS ARE ON OFFER AT CUIRT?
The Cúirt programme features poetry, prose, music and spoken word. It also includes theatre, talks, masterclasses, family events and exhibitions as well as the popular annual series of workshops and talks for children and teenagers, Cúirt Labs. Browse the full programme here.

HOW DO I BOOK TICKETS?
You can book tickets via this website or you can call the Town Hall Theatre on 091 569 777. If you’re planning on attending a lot of events, you might like to consider the Festival pass, or a Saturday day pass, which can be booked here. Advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. However, it is frequently possible to purchase tickets at the venue.

I’M INTERESTED IN FICTION. WHAT CAN I LOOK FORWARD TO?
Everthing from Laureate for Irish Fiction, Sebastian Barry to Sally Rooney and June Caldwell. Full line-up here.

I’M INTERESTED IN POETRY. WHAT CAN I LOOK FORWARD TO?
There’s plenty for poetry lovers including Forward Prize Winner, Sinead Morrissey, Daljit Nagra (1pm, Saturday); winner of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry; Pakistani-born British poet and artist Imtiaz Dharker (1pm, Thursday) and many more. Full line-up here.

I’M INTERESTED IN THE ESSAY AND SHORT STORY. WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
Explore creative non-fiction in greater depth at a very special event, ‘Adventures in Ideas: the Essay Now’ , (6pm, Friday), while ‘Surveying the Short Story’, (1pm, Tuesday), will take the temperature of contemporary short-story and its many guises with an expert panel of writers who will also read from their work.

I’M INTERESTED IN WORLD LITERATURE. WHAT EVENTS DO YOU SUGGEST?
World Perspectives at 6pm on Thursday will see voices from Catalonia, Austria and France come together to open up new ways of seeing the world. Find out more here.

The work of Mexican writer Juan Pablo Villalobos has been translated into fifteen languages and he will read together with Patrick McCabe at 8pm on Friday. Find out more here.

ARE THERE ANY EVENTS OF INTEREST TO BOOKCLUBS?
We’re delighted to welcome authors of some book clubs’ favourites including Laureate for Irish fiction, Sebastian Barry (8pm, Thursday), Sally Rooney, author of Conversations with Friends (4pm, Thursday) and Bernard MacLaverty, author of Midwinter Break, winner of the Bord Gais Irish Novel of the Year award (8pm, Wednesday). Full details here.

ARE THERE ANY SHOWCASES FOR EMERGING WRITERS IN POETRY AND FICTION?
Yes, the Cúirt Over the Edge New Writing Showcase at 11am on Wednesday highlights emerging talent in poetry and fiction and features readers and winners from the popular Over the Edge Literary Series in Galway. Winners of the 2018 Cúirt New Writing Prize will also join the showcase line-up and read from their winning entries.

ARE THERE ANY FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS FOR CHILDREN?
Yes, we have a number of events for children and families including storytelling, talks and workshops. In particular, the weekend of Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 April has a family focus and also includes our Cúirt labs programme with talks and workshops for children and teenagers. Full details here.

ARE THERE ANY FREE EVENTS?
Yes, from book launches to showcases and no less than six exhibitions. See full details here. There are also free readings in libraries (Thursday and Friday). Advance booking is required for some of the free events. Please check here for details.

ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR THEMES IN THE PROGRAMME?
This year’s festival explores the connection between words and other art forms including music – explore the music events here.There is also a strong commitment to Irish-language writing. See Irish-language events here.

DO WRITERS READ FROM THEIR WORKS AT CUIRT?
Yes, and this is very much part of the magic of Cúirt to hear writers read their own work.

CUIRT IS AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL. WHERE ARE THE INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FROM?
In 2018, the international programme will feature writers from America, Austria, Canada, Catalonia, the UK, France, Mexico and Norway, as well as the very best of Irish authors.

WHERE CAN I BUY THE PARTICIPANTS’ BOOKS?
A pop-up bookshop, run by Charlie Byrnes Bookshop, will be in operation at the Town Hall Theatre from Wednesday to Saturday. Many of the books will also be available from Charlie Byrne’s flagship store on Middle Street before and during the festival. Browse their website here.