This year’s West Cork Literary Festival promises to be bigger and busier than ever, with 82 different events, featuring 80-plus authors, over 8 days, including readings/interviews, showcases of emerging writers, professional learning events, three-day workshops, open-mic sessions, exhibitions, events for children and young adults and an event to mark the 50th anniversary of Bantry Library.

The line-up features big names like Miriam Margolyes, Paul Lynch, Elizabeth Day, David Nicholls, Dolly Alderton, Irvine Welsh, Shane Hegarty, Paula Meehan, Hisham Matar and Colm Tóibín as well as newer authors Cathy Sweeney, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Maggie Armstrong, Mícheál McCann, Tobi Lakmaker, Victoria Kennefick, Michael Magee, Aoife Barry and Gustav Parker Hibbett. Highlights include Forward Prize and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Jason Allen-Paisant, in association with Poetry Ireland; Hedley Thomas, the Australian journalist behind The Teacher’s Pet true crime podcast which has been downloaded 52 million worldwide; a public interview with Palestinian author Adania Shibli; a visit from Canadian authors Shari Lapena and Nita Prose; a trip to Whiddy Island with wildlife documentary presenter Eoin Warner and a meeting of the newly-established Irish Children’s Authors and Creatives Guild.

To book, go to www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie