Enniscorthy is bracing itself for the 5th annual Wexford Literary Festival that will bring writers, storytellers, poets and assorted creative talent to the town this weekend.
Festival Chairperson and Sunday Times bestseller and co-founder, Carmel Harrington, is feeling very excited about the festival and wants as many people as possible to sample what’s on offer over the weekend.
Secretary Maria Nolan explains the importance of the festival to the town; bed nights in the hotels, support for the restaurants and local hostelries, and she talks of “an important international literary festival in our town this weekend.”
Well-known Wexford-born playwright and award-winning novelist, Billy Roche, will get the three-day programme of events off to a perfect start on Friday night in the Presentation Arts Centre at the Bily Roche Short Play Award Ceremony.
It is understood that about 60 original plays were submitted, and following adjudication, four short-listed plays will be performed by Enniscorthy Drama Group. This is a free event and commences at 8 pm.
Saturday is Readers and Writers Day with a full day of activity at the Riverside Park Hotel and the speakers include Adele Parks, Paul Williams, Andrew Cartmel (Dr Who series), Jane Casey, Sinead Gleeson, June Caldwell, Hazel Gaynor, Catherine Ryan Howard, Paul Perry, Carmel Harrington, Shane Dunphy, Dr. Sarah Cleary and Caroline Busher. This is a ticket event.

Carmel Harrington, Chairperson, Billy Roche, writer and playwright, and Liz Hore, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, at the Wexford Literary Festival launch last April.

Also on Saturday the Children’s Book Trailer Award Ceremony. The speakers are ER Murray and Caroline Busher and works from talented school children will be under the spotlight. It all happens in the Presentation Arts Centre.
There is a Saturday Candlit Evening with Teacup Gin where Liz Nugent is in conversation with Carmel Harrington…that’s the good news…the bad news; all places have sold out! It’s in Enniscorthy Castle,
The big conclusion on Sunday is the Awards Ceremony from 2 pm (a free event and all are welcome) and it takes place in the Athenaeum Hall.
The Billy Roche Short Play Award has a first prize of €300 and a piece of crystal.
The Colm Toibin International Short Story Award has a first prize of €1,000 plus crystal; second €500; third €300.
The Anthony Cronin International Poetry Awards is worth €250 plus crystal to the winner; runner-up €200; third €100.
There is also the Eileen Gray Window Display Award.
Join in on the literary trail and meet the faces behind the ink at Wexford Literary Festival in Enniscorthy this weekend.
AUDIO ADDITION; Carmel Harrington, Chairperson of the Wexford Literary Festival can’t contain her excitement about the festival.

MARIA NOLAN, Secretary, Wexford Literary Festival,tells Dan Walsh why the locals should engage in this growing international festival.