Nell McCafferty was one of the most remarkable journalists and campaigners of recent Irish history. Her immense reputation and outspoken views on women’s rights, gay rights and Irish nationalism helped Ireland move on from an era of stifling social conservatism. The festival is moved to honour her in this special event with Rosita Sweetman, Ailbhe Smyth and Muire McCallion (Nell’s niece).

A Derry woman and civil rights activist, she was present on Bloody Sunday in 1972, when paratroopers shot dead 14 civil rights protesters in Derry. “It is not a myth that all of us there were changed for evermore by the experience; it is a fact,” she wrote later. “It is in the Derry air. It is limned in our blood.”

Fellow founder of the  Irish Women’s Liberation Movement, writer Rosita Sweetman met Nell at a time when “down south we were politely attempting to extricate ourselves from the deathly embrace of Catholicism and respectability”. Muire McCallion feels that Nell belonged to the Bogside in Derry and remembers her firebrand aunt with great affection. Ailbhe Smyth recalls Nell McCafferty as a feminist and an activist who cared deeply for those who were marginalised. This promises to be a very special event.

Tickets €14/€12 from glór box office on 065 6843103 or online here

We are delighted to offer an Early Bird discount: book any 5 or more of the 8 listed events together and receive 10% off. This offer is available until December 31st 2025.

All events listed in the offer can be viewed and booked here. 

The full list of Festival 2026 events will be released and available to book in mid-January

The Ennis Book Club Festival is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.