Wexford Literary Festival Chairperson, Carmel Harrington; playwright and novelist, Billy Roche, (who launched the festival), and Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Manager, Liz Hore, at the festival launch at Enniscorthy Castle.

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Castle

Well-known Wexford-born playwright and award-winning noveilst, Billy Roche, had the pleasure of launching the 5^th annual Wexford Literary Festival which takes place in Enniscorthy on the weekend of November 2-4^th, at a pleasant function held in Enniscorthy Castle on Thursday night.

Billy was humorous in his speech, having some banter between the people of Wexford and Enniscorthy, but was full of praise for the efforts of the committee in promoting the festival and acknowledged that it will be a pleasure for his to launch the festival in the autumn.

Chairperson of Wexford Literary Festival and novelist, Carmel Harrington, introduced the guests and outlined the programme of events. “It is a special milestone because we are five years old today and our mission is to inspire readers and writers of all ages and to showcase what Enniscorthy has to offer through its buildings and character.”

Cllr Keith Doyle, Chairman, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, pointed out that the festival “has grown and progressed” and he was impressed by the “panache and festival of quality and class that it has brought to the town.”

He described the festival as “ a diamond” and he hoped it will grow and grow in the future.

Denis Collins read a poem by Castlebridge-based poet, Joe Neal, a winner at last year’s competition.

Amongst the literary figures who will attend the Enniscorthy showpiece are June Caldwell, Sinead Gleeson (RTE), Paul Perry, Jane Casey, Shane Dunphy, Hazel Gaynor, Catherine Ryan-Howard, Dr Sarah Cleary, Caroline Busher, Paul Williams, renowned journalist and crime writer, and Andrew Cartmel, who is a scriptwriter on the famous UK television programme, Dr Who.

The various competitions – short story, short plays, poetry, and a shop window display – are memorials to some of the great local writers, Colm Tobín, Billy Roche, Anthony Cronin, and designer Eileen Gray, who was born at Brownswood House, overlooking the River Slaney, south of Enniscorthy.

Ms Harrington, welcomed the attendance which included Chairman Cllr Keith Doyle, Cllrs Kathleen Codd-Nolan and Willie Kavanagh, District Manager Liz Hore, James Browne T.D., Fr Odhran Furlong, Administrator, St. Aidan’s Parish, committee members and the guest of honour, playwright Billy Roche, and his wife, Patti.

Special mention was reserved for the main sponsors of the festival, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Wexford County Council, and Byrne’s Bookshop, who have supported the festival since its inception.

Full details of the festival programme, entry details for the various competitions, and other relevant information will soon be available on info@wexfordliteraryfestival.com