The latest literary happenings in Ireland, the UK and the US …
This year, World Book Night is on April 23, traditionally marked by people setting aside an hour to curl up with a new book or reread a favourite novel. The date is significant as it coincides with the birth and death of William Shakespeare, and the death of Miguel de Cervantes. Coincidentally, I’m currently reading RO Thorp’s new Shakespeare-inspired murder mystery novel, Marked For Death (published by Faber on May 7). Thorp is an Australian living in Cork, where she writes lyrics and herds cats, in addition to writing! So far, I’ve enjoyed her clever prose; this novel is perfect for fans of campus stories, with a quirky academic cast and a twisty murder mystery blending academic rivalry with classic whodunnit energy.
Also on World Book Night is a special event with one of my favourite authors, Christine Dwyer Hickey. She will be at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, taking part in the museum’s Éire to Everywhere: Stories Without Borders series. Christine will discuss her novel Our London Lives, which will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Tickets cost €5 and includes a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink. @epicmuseumchq
Our London Lives was one of the nominated titles for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award, now in its 31st year. The shortlist has just been announced and, interestingly, includes four novels in translation and two debut novels. There’s still time to read them before the winner is announced on May 21: Gliff by Ali Smith; In Late Summer by Magdalena Blazevic, translated from Croatian by Andelka Raguz; Live Fast by Brigitte Giraud, translated from French by Cory Stockwell; Perspectives by Laurent Binet, translated from French by Sam Taylor; What I Know About You by Éric Chacour, translated from French by Pablo Strauss; and The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Read the full list here.
My well-annotated copy of Choice of Poets – my GCSE text – includes the poems of William Blake. I made a beeline to the opening of the National Gallery of Ireland’s exhibition “William Blake: The Age of Romantic Fantasy”. This shows how Blake’s writing was inextricable to his art, and is also a dramatic and intriguing glimpse into his passions. He was often inspired by literary texts from Milton’s Paradise Lost to Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto. Famously, he also illustrated Dante’s Inferno – learning Italian in the process. @nationalgalleryofireland
For classicists, this year marks the 300th year anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. First published in 1726, it’s one of Ireland’s most celebrated satirical novels that follows Lemuel Gulliver’s voyages to fantastical lands including Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa and the country of the Houyhnhnms, offering sharp social commentary wrapped in imaginative adventure. Its enduring legacy continues to inspire art, culture and storytelling around the world. Look out for multiple events to celebrate this milestone, including during Culture Date in Dublin 8 when Marsh’s Library will host a tour of rarely seen artefacts and original copies of the book.
Conrad Dublin is also marking this anniversary with a Gulliver’s Travels Afternoon Tea with a playful menu inspired by Gulliver’s encounters such as a Battenberg cake from Lilliput and a white chocolate cake by the floating island of Laputa). Costing €65 per person, it’s served at Lemuel’s, the perfect way to savour a little literary history in the heart of Dublin. @conrad_dublin
At the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), Wild Earth is a new exhibition that seeks to explore how poetry, storytelling and language offer a way to connect or reconnect with nature. Co-curator and Irish literature scholar Nathalie Lamprecht explains, “Be it poetry, fiction, life-writing or drama, Wild Earth stands as a testament to one of the things that unites us as humans: an appreciation and awe of the natural world, its beauty, power and ability to connect us across time and space.” The exhibit’s texts – voiced by Zara Devlin, Roxanna Nic Liam and Lux Lovett – all engage with nature. Allow time to enjoy a coffee and cake afterwards in The Commons Café as it’s always a gorgeous haunt. @moli_museum
I’ve forever been a fan of books inspired by hotels, from EM Forster’s A Room With A View to Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow and Anita Brookner’s quietly demure novel Hotel du Lac. Two further books piqued my interest on the shortlist for the upcoming Women’s Prize For Non-Fiction. (This award was launched in 2023 because research showed a systemic gender gap in non-fiction publishing, with women’s voices underrepresented). The Finest Hotel in Kabul is by BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who has Irish ancestry. She uses the story of a storied guesthouse to chronicle Afghanistan’s modern history through the eyes of the people who lived, worked and survived decades of conflict. Meanwhile, Jane Rogoyska’s Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War looks beyond the bohemian image of the famous Hotel Lutetia in Paris to reveal the dark and devastating actions that transformed this iconic Left Bank institution into a microcosm of World War II. For a full shortlist of the prize and more information visit, womensprize.com. @womensprize
Immersive experiences are all the rage these days, whether to explore artists’ visions, fashion shows or literature. If you’re a fan of Lewis Carroll, a must-visit is Alice After Dark at Dream Point Dublin for adults only on Friday evenings. Thanks to a new wine licence, guests can enjoy a drink as they explore this late night version of Wonderland. The heart of the experience is Rabbit Hotel which is a 20 minute 360° projection show where cinematic visuals and sound transform the space. Visitors can also explore installations ranging from a Mad Tea Table to Alice’s Mushrooms – an oversized fantasy landscape in the Photo Op room. @dreampointexperience
Also rather magical is Killeagh’s noted May Day festivities in the forest of Glenbower by the River Dissour in Cork. While it caters to children, there are lots of interesting activities for grown-ups too including a dawn chorus walk, dance workshops, live sketching and more. Away from the woods, actress and writer Ruth Hayes will stage a reading of her new play at Greywood Arts while a coffee morning at Ivy Lane will feature readings from poets Paudie Lee, Martina Madden and Rosie Morris, all members of the local Mór Artists Collective. @greywoodarts
I sampled The Lake Isle of Innisfree whiskey that took ten years to finesse, the first release from new Sligo-based Yeats Irish Whiskey founded by Patrick Ward. Each release in the series will take its name from one of WB Yeats’ poems, inspired by his life, the landscape and literary legacy. Every element, from taste to presentation in an elegant the bottle honours him. Expect special tastings, cultural partnerships and a collector’s trilogy box set following the first three releases.
Creating or writing is often a solo activity, fraught with insecurity and doubt. If you’re an aspiring writer and need help or reassurance, take note of the Irish Writers Centre’s 2026 Writers in the Regions masterclass series, featuring some of Ireland’s most respected authors at venues around the country. These one-off, in-person, lecture-style masterclasses will explore the craft of writing, developing plot, style and perspectives from which to tell a story. They will also cover the business of writing and publishing. Mary Morrissey will be at The Source, Tipperary on May 16. Not only is Mary the author of four novels – Mother of Pearl, The Pretender, The Rising of Bella Casey and Penelope Unbound – her short fiction has been anthologised widely, and she has taught creative writing at university level in both Ireland and the US for the past 25 years. Prolific novelist and poet Mary O’Donnell will be at The Dock in Leitrim on May 23; Galway-based author Alan McMonagle at Dean Crow Theatre in Athlone on June 20; and the series concludes on September 12 with Rónán Hession at Derry City Library. @irishwriterscentre
Book your ticket now for Dalkey Book Festival in Dún Laoghaire from June 18-21. This year’s line-up includes speakers Charlie Mackesy, Anne Enright, Jan Carson, John Banville, Colin Davidson, David McWilliams, Doireann Ni Ghiofra and many more. If visiting, I recommend staying nearby at Haddington House Hotel that’s had a gorgeous glow-up and has an interesting muse you can read about over cocktails in the bar, inspired by her life and travels. @dalkeybookfestival
On the horizon: Netflix is preparing to transport audiences to Narnia, the enchanted realm created by author CS Lewis, with a feature film written and directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Little Women). Gerwig’s forté has been to find fresh, original insights into classic stories and she has plenty of scope in Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series. Filled with mythic battles and unforgettable characters, the seven-book collection launched in 1950 and has sold more than 115m copies, translated into 57 languages. While details of the forthcoming film remain a secret, the film will be the first chapter in Netflix’s cinematic journey through Narnia.
Similarly, for CS Lewis fans I recommend a stay at The Old Inn Crawfordsburn in Down, which has literary links to the author. The boutique hotel also has a cottage on the grounds, famous as the honeymoon spot for CS Lewis and his wife Joy Davidman, an American poet and writer. The cottage has its own secluded hot tub for a forest bathing experience. Worth reading is A Grief Observed by Lewis who penned this moving memoir following Joy’s death from cancer. Book the current ‘Rest & Rebalance Among The Treetops’ stay that includes breakfast and access to the Treetop Spa, from £175stg per room. @theoldinn1614
The Catskills in upstate New York is an in-the-know destination for booklovers, where Catskills Book Trail runs from April 25 to May 10. This annual event invites visitors to explore bookstores throughout the region, collecting stamps in a “passport” available at participating locations along the way. A few of those participating are located in Hobart, a quaint town in Delaware County aptly nicknamed “Book Village” due to its cluster of independent bookstores and small-town charm. Stay at Book Village Inn where rooms are named after authors like Mark Twain and Zelda Fitzgerald. @catskillsbooktrail @bookvillageinn
Finally, the iconic Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 on June 1. A noted bibliophile, did you know that she had a collection of over 400 books? When auctioned at Christie’s in 1999, her literary taste was revealed with James Joyce, DH Lawrence and Walt Whitman her favourite authors. Look out for “Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” at the National Portrait Gallery in London from June 4. @nationalportraitgallery
