Irish Writers’ Weekend London

A two-day festival of words and ideas featuring some of Ireland’s most exciting and accomplished writers.

It takes place at the Shaw Theatre, 100–110 Euston Rd, London NW1 2AJ, immediately next door to the British Library.

It will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person (physical), or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch up.  Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event.

A collaboration between the British Library and Galway’s renowned Cúirt International Festival of Literature, the Irish Writers’ Weekend London is a chance to hear from novelists, poets, essayists and writers of all backgrounds at the top of their game.

Highlights on Saturday 26 November will include a trio of Northern Ireland’s most compelling writers: Jan Carson, Wendy Erskine and Louise Kennedy; multi award-winning Emma Donoghue and Booker long-listed Audrey Magee discuss their island-set novels; the extraordinary craft of the essay is explored by Patrick Freyne, Sinéad Gleeson, Emilie Pine and Jessica Traynor, and writers including Suad Aldarra and Emma Dabiri give their take on the past, present and future of Irish culture. We end the day with a unique meeting between actor-writer Robert Sheehan and acclaimed novelist Donal Ryan.

On Sunday 27 November we begin with Megan Nolan and Angela Scanlon, whose contrasting books address ways of surviving the challenges of life; Anne Enright and Nuala O’Connor turn a penetrating gaze on James Joyce in a year when he has been re-assessed yet again; Kit de Waal meets Roddy Doyle to reflect on working-class Birmingham and Dublin and beyond; and a distinguished panel of Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright and others, joined on screen by Laureate for Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín, discuss the world of Irish writing at a time it seems to be enjoying yet another golden age. The weekend concludes with a screening of the superb new Arena documentary James Joyce’s Ulysses.

The full programme – including some intimate poetry sessions – will be announced soon.

The programme begins at 12.00 each day, with doors open from 11.00. Book signings will be running throughout the weekend.

Weekend and single Day in-person Passes allow access to any of the sessions on relevant days. Entry to specific sessions may be subject to room capacity.

Presented with the generous support of Culture Ireland and The Embassy of Ireland, London.

Hotel partner The Doyle Collection.