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
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
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
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
Remembering Edna O’Brien
A panel discussion celebrating the work of the legendary writer with Andrew O’Hagan, Danielle McLaughlin & Eoin McNamee in conversation
Début Novelists – Aimée Walsh, Patrick Holloway and Cathy Sweeny 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
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
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
