Literary treats for the kids at Bantry festival

CHILDREN, from tots to teens, are the focus for a number of events this July, as part of the 2016 West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry. 

There will be readings and workshops, a visit from The Book Clinic, poetry, illustration, music and games. 

The West Cork Literary Festival Children’s Festival runs in conjunction with the main festival, from Monday, July 18th to Saturday, July 23rd with many free events organised.

The Book Clinic on Monday morning is presented by Children’s Books Ireland. Families are invited to drop in to the Book Doctor Surgery for a free consultation with one of CBI’s friendly panel of Book Doctors who are ready to offer the best advice for young readers. 

On Tuesday morning, children from 8 to 11 can get involved with a free Poetry Workshop with Chrissie Gittins where they’re encouraged to tell lies, launch pork pies and stretch their imaginations as far as the coast of America. That afternoon, little ones ages 7+ can be enthralled by Chrissie as she reads from her new poetry collection for children Adder, Bluebell, Lobster, to be published in August. Chrissie has been shortlisted twice for the CLPE Poetry Award and her poems have been animated for CBeebies.

Schull-based writer Elizabeth Rose Murray, author of The Book of Learning – Nine Lives Trilogy –which was awarded the 2016 Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Citywide Read for Children, will host a free Workshop on The Magical World of Storytelling. 

Later that day, short story writer Alan Early will join Elizabeth for a special reading of their work and have a chat about books. 

On Thursday afternoon, award-winning travel and nature writer Horatio Clare will read from his first book for children, Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot, a suited for children aged 8 to 12. Michael Morpurgo has described Horatio as having “… the voice of a great storyteller. A joy, a sheer joy!”

Designer and illustrator Mark Wickham will host day-long workshops on Friday, July 22nd and Saturday, July 23rd.

Also on Friday, older children can join the award-winning children’s author Darren Shan for a reading from his twelfth and final book in Darren’s Zom-B series ‘Zom-B Goddess’. 

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin will close the children’s festival with a fun-filled bilingual interactive session with plenty of music and rhymes, fun and games based on the award winning Gugalaí Gug! and Dialann Dúradáin, the new Irish-language edition of global megahit Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Gloria Steinem, John Banville, Carol Drinkwater, Alice Carey, Zadie Smith and Louis De Bernieres are just some of the guests at the main West Cork Literary Festival. See www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie for more.