All Set for Ennis Book Club Festival

Clare People, Tuesday, 28th November 2006

by Tom McCullough

Book lovers from Ireland and the UK have been invited to take part in the inaugural Ennis Book Club Festival next March. The event, which is being supported by Clare County Library, will be a social and literary gathering to bring together some of the 150 Library Book Clubs and 300 private Book Clubs that exist nationwide. The Festival programme, which will run from March 2-4, will also feature author visits, readings, lectures, music, workshops, exhibitions and cookery demonstrations in various venues around Ennis.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr. Joe Reidy, said the event, one of the largest of its kind in either the UK or Ireland, will provide a welcome boost to tourism while presenting a unique opportunity for Book Club members to meet and exchange ideas about all aspects of literature.

Throughout the three-day festival, events will be held in such venues as Glór Irish Music Centre and the de Valera Library as well as in various hotels, cafes, bookshops and restaurants around Ennis. According to Festival Chairperson, Frances O'Gorman, the programme is not confined to any one form of literature and will include poetry, drama, food, travel and political writing as well as fiction.

"We are keen to give the Book Clubs an eclectic mix that won't be found at any other literary festival and that reflects the reading passions of many in the country. There will also be a section for Irish Language Book Clubs. We are delighted that over twenty writers and a number of Book Clubs have already agreed to take part", said Festival Committee member, Ciana Campbell. "It will offer an ideal opportunity for comparing notes and chatting with other Book Club members from all over the country. Non Book Club readers are also invited to come along and to find out how to go about setting up a club in their own area".

An official website providing information on various festival events has been launched www.ennisbookclubfestival.com, which also provides links to other county Clare sites.

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