Friendship in Mind & Story

Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Professor Ian Robertson on friendship circles, connection, and how confidence spreads. "I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks." Maeve Binchy.

Big Ideas, Small Towns. Catherine Dunne, Michael Harding and Donal Ryan discuss the role of towns and villages in Irish fiction, and the importance of communities, from the Irish abroad to newcomer communities in Ireland. In conversation with Caroline Erskine.

Friends Forever? Andrew Meehan, Patricia Scanlan and Sophie White discuss the power of friendship and how it comes to life in contemporary Irish fiction. In conversation with Sinéad Moriarty.

Marian Keyes in conversation with Róisín Ingle

There’s no-one quite like Marian Keyes when it comes to writing funny, internationally bestselling fiction about women in the modern world. Don’t miss Marian in conversation with Irish Times columnist and podcaster, Róisín Ingle.

LUNCH

Coming of Age on Campus. In tribute to the 30th anniversary of the film of Circle of Friends, Lisa Harding, Anna Carey and Gerard Stembridge discuss why a college campus can be the ideal setting for fiction. In conversation with Niall MacMonagle.

Off Book. Whether for stage, screen or audio, Anne Marie Casey, Conall Morrison and Jessica Dromgoole discuss the art of bringing written work to life in other media. In conversation with Sarah Binchy.

Claire Keegan in conversation with Oliver Callan

Internationally acclaimed author of Small Things Like These, Foster, Antarctica, and Walk the Blue Fields discusses her work with award-winning impressionist, satirist, presenter and fiction fan, Oliver Callan.

Seven Sisters Dramatised reading of Maeve Binchy’s short story in Victoria Line, Central Line. A married couple are nervously travelling to their first wife-swapping party.

FEATURING entertaining READINGS FROM MAEVE’S WORK BY LISE-ANN MCLAUGHLIN.