Dalkey Book Festival opens tomorrow

After a their ambitious Dalkey X event where they brought Bernie Sanders to a sold-out Bord Gais Energy Theatre last week, the Dalkey Book Festival kicks off in earnest this weekend.

Each year the festival team attract a world-class lineup of speakers to the seaside village, including Booker and Costa prize winners and even Nobel Lauerates.

This year’s no different as things kick off on Thursday June 15 with double Costa winner and Dalkey native Sebastian Barry in conversation with Andrea Catherwood.

Legendary protest-folkster Billy Bragg will be joined by Dave Randall, author of Sound System: The Political Power of Music in coversation with Hot Press’ own Roisin Dwyer on Friday June 16.

Jamaican novelist and Booker prize winner Marlon James comes to town to feature in a trio of talks. First on Saturday afternoon he chats about the importance of the novel with Turkish novelist Elif Shafrak and our own Donal Ryan, all under the eye of Rick O’Shea.

Later that evening he’s the main attraction as he discusses social issues that concern him, including, racism, sexism, homophobia, and dealing post-Booker international exposure in conversation with Mariella Frostrup.

On Sunday June 15 he’s part of a wide-ranging panel including Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Han Yujoo and Louis de Bernieres that will discuss cultural appropriation.

Comedian David O’Doherty will bring the festivities to a close on Sunday night with his Big Time show.

Full details and tickets for all these events are available on the festival website.