WELCOME TO
Ennis Book Club Festival
Each year, readers both from Ireland and further afield, come to Ennis to share the joy of reading. Our audiences include avid readers, those who haven’t had the time to pick up a book in some years, those with a keen interest in current affairs, those who are simply looking to be inspired…Our aim is to meet each of their different expectations!
Our 2025 festival will run from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th March 2025. We look forward to welcoming friends new and old to Ennis to share this with you all.
Upcoming Events
The Beyond Borders Book Club with Zainab Boladale and Sarah Clancy
Beyond Borders is a chance to connect to narratives and perspectives from other places and represents a link in the
Zine Making Workshop
Join Tiffany Glen and Caoilfhinn Geary of Limerick Zine Fest in this fun session on creating your own zine. Zines
Fighting Words creative writing workshop
Fighting Words is delighted to bring a two-hour short story writing workshop to Clare Libraries for Teen Week 2025. Our
Our Sun, the nearest star
Our Sun has been an object of mystery, awe and fear since the dawn of mankind. While considered a god
Film Production for the big screen with Ronan Daly
Ronan Daly of West Clare Film will introduce secondary school students to the world of film making and its various
Andrew O’Hagan in conversation with Wendy Erskine
In his ambitious novel, Caledonian Road, Andrew O’Hagan takes us on a picaresque journey through a city and a life.
The Art of the Short Story with Cathy Sweeney, Maggie Armstrong and David Butler
Short stories have a distinctive place in the modern Irish literary tradition. Many of our best writers, both in English and
Ann Cleeves explores her work with Brian McGilloway
Award-winning author of the Shetland, Vera and Two Rivers novels, Ann Cleeves has written some of the most popular crime fiction of recent times. Fuelled
Five books that could save your life
Sarah Harte, Irish Examiner columnist and writer, in conversation with Madeline Mc Aleer from Haven Horizons, Danielle Roberts from Reclaim
Poetry and film with Pat Boran
In this interactive event, poet Pat Boran will combine text, photos and moving images and will read from his latest
Clare-based writers – Tracy Fahey, Kitty Murphy and Eilís Haden-Storrie
Tracy Fahey is an award-winning Irish author. She has been a British Fantasy Award finalist in 2017, 2022, and 2024.
Festival weekend opening
Join us in the wonderful setting of glór foyer to celebrate the weekend opening of our 19th festival. The perfect
Braids Take a Day with Zainab Boladale
Join author and TV journalist Zainab Boladale to celebrate her Young Adult debut novel, Braids Take A Day, published by
Joe Canning – sporting legend
One of the greatest hurlers Ireland has ever produced, Joe Canning is a sporting icon. His memoir, My Story, gives fantastic
Children’s Book Club Event – Shane Hegarty in conversation with Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Shane Hegarty has been shortlisted for many awards for his books. Boot, about a small, round robot who wakes up one
A talk on the work of Derek Mahon
Derek Mahon, a celebrated Irish poet of the late 20th century, is renowned for illuminating ordinary life through masterful verse.
Ten Books You Should Read with Mark O’Halloran and Oliver Callan
This is one of the most popular events of the festival, where our audience gets to probe the minds of
Debut Novelists – Aimée Walsh, Patrick Holloway and Cathy Sweeney in conversation with Declan Hughes
With her first novel, Exile, Aimée Walsh opens out a world of unsettling possibilities and haunted territories, when the life
Remembering Edna O’Brien
A panel discussion celebrating the work of the legendary writer with Andrew O’Hagan, Danielle McLaughlin & Eoin McNamee in conversation
Ian McEwan in conversation with Seán Rocks
Ennis Book Club Festival is delighted to welcome Ian McEwan to the festival, to explore his many books and their
Walking tour of Ennis
Join Jane O’Brien for her award-winning walking tour of Ennis, exploring many of the town’s major sights and hidden gems.
Books and Buns Quiz
Start your Saturday morning with our much-loved Books and Buns session—a delightful book club gathering that will put your literary
Rónán Hession in conversation with Neil Hegarty
Rónán Hession is an Irish writer based in Dublin. His debut novel Leonard and Hungry Paul was published by Bluemoose
The Beyond Borders Book Club
This event offers the great discovery of writing from countries beyond Ireland, recommended by guests who have personal connections to
Clare Youth Theatre present
Join the talented members of Clare Youth Theatre as they present an engaging event of classic drama and literature. The
The Beyond Borders Writing Club Showcase
Beyond Borders Writing Club was inspired by the much loved Beyond Borders Book Club as a way to provide a
Ageing in Life and Literature
This panel event on ageing in life and literature will be a fascinating exploration of how aging is represented and
Nicola’s Book Club
Nicola, an Irishwoman based in Brussels, has been running a world literature book club for 20 years, selecting works by
Children’s workshop with Shane Hegarty
There is so much fun and creativity in the room with a Shane Hegarty children’s workshop. There will be tall
Sunday Symposium: International Conflict in a Globalised World
Sally Hayden, Paulo Nunes dos Santos and Vincent Durac in conversation with Katie Hannon. The panel will examine the politics
Hush Hour
Step into Hush Hour, a reading party that redefines social gatherings for book lovers. You are invited to bring your
Literary Lunch – Two for the Road
This event will be fuelled by two engaging individuals coming from very different aspects of the book world, Cónal Creedon
About Us
The Ennis Book Club Festival aims to promote and celebrate reading. Each year, readers both from Ireland and further afield, come to Ennis to share the joy of reading. Our audiences include avid readers, those who haven’t had the time to pick up a book in some years, those with a keen interest in current affairs, those who are simply looking to be inspired.Background
In 2007 a small group of local volunteers, in association with Clare County Library, identified the need for a new literary and social event to replace the demised Ennis October Arts Festival. Being members of a local Book Club the wish was to create a literary event that focused primarily on readers and book lovers.Would you like to support the work of Ennis Book Club Festival?
You can make a donation at your discretion through our Donations page.
Principal Funders And Partners
