RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Visitors from across the globe will flock to the town to enjoy a packed programme of events over three days
This weekend Granard assumes the role of a literary hub as it hosts its second Booktown Festival.
Visitors from across the globe will flock to the town to enjoy a packed programme of events over three days.
“We are really looking forward to the festival this weekend,” organiser John Connell told the Leader.
He enthused, “All roads lead to Granard from April 19 to 21. Although a number of the Booktown events are already sold out, we still have tickets available for many of our great offerings.”
Also read: New chapter for Longford based Booktown Festival
Granard Booktown Festival encourages book lovers to visit the town and share in the written arts. The festival provides cultural amenities throughout the town, creating a wellspring of literary creation.
Also read: Renowned crime writer Patricia Gibney comes to Longford for Granard Booktown Festival
“We are looking forward to the contribution of our first artist in residence, Noel Monahan. Our Friday night headliner takes place in the library. This will see Sinead Gleeson discussing her new book Hagstone,” John outlined.
Also read: Longford date for Sinéad Gleeson
Inspired by the global Booktown movement, Granard's literary get-together sees the town dedicated itself to books, literature, and the arts for three glorious days.
John says there is great interest in the festival: “Other highlights include Ciaran Murphy (of Second Captains) in conversation with Longford's own Mickey Quinn and the famous North American writer Patrick DeWitt, as well as chef Gary O'Hanlon talking with RTE's Ella McSweeney.
“We have Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch and the BBC's Fergal Keane. We have something for everyone this weekend. There will be live music in the town and a warm welcome for everyone.”
Also read: Longford literary connoisseurs ‘Blown away’ by Granard Booktown success
Granard is the first Irish town to organise a Booktown Festival.
The festival brings speakers, writers and artists to the town from Friday April 19 to Sunday April 21.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
