Wicklow County Arts Office and Wicklow County Library Services are delighted to announce the return of the ‘Way with Words’ Literature Festival on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th October in Blessington Library.

Now in its fifth year, the ‘Way with Words’ Festival is a highly anticipated event curated with writers and readers in mind. Funded by Creative Ireland, the programme features a range of events that include readings, workshops and in-conversations as well as activities for all ages with a variety of genres and approaches to writing represented.

Award-winning writer and poet Colm Keegan will provide a workshop for Transition Year students in Blessington Community College. Colm has developed numerous creative writing projects for schools and colleges across the country.

Fourth class students from Blessington No 1 School will have their pencils and paper ready as writer Helena Duggan takes them to the land of ‘Whizdom’. In this workshop, students will discover a mysterious land, encounter a peculiar guide and be given a magical key before being whisked off to the place of their dreams, and all without ever leaving their seats.

Wicklow writer and poet Jane Clarke will lead a workshop exploring how poetry helps us fine-tune our senses and pay attention to the wonders and realities of our threatened world. She will offer prompts to generate new writings that celebrate nature and address the environmental emergency.

Join us for an entertaining evening of poetry and short stories with three acclaimed Wicklow writers – Eithne Hand, David Butler and Jane Clarke. There will be time for questions and discussion about all aspects of writing, including inspiration, craft, support and publication.

‘My delicious Hat’ is an interactive performance with poems, stories and drama games. Created and performed by Paul Timoney, this special event is filled with fun and play and is ideal for children and families.

Award-winning illustrator, author, comedian, graphic designer and public speaker Aoife Dooley will give a fun talk about the inspiration behind ‘Frankie’s World’ and ‘Finding My Voice’ followed by top tips on how to create graphic novels.

Join William Ryan for an interactive workshop which starts with a blank piece of paper and ends, hopefully, with the outline of the perfect crime. Bring your ideas and enthusiastic participation for three hours of criminal creativity.

From Miss Havisham to Scarlet O’ Hara, from Sherlock Holmes to Tom Ripley, this interactive workshop will explore what it is that makes a fictional character memorable and how to set about creating intriguing characters. Writer Tanya Farrelly will demonstrate how, regardless of genre, character is the most important element of any piece of fiction and how it is our protagonists’ decisions and actions that generate plot.

Join journalist, broadcaster and award-winning writer, Edel Coffey for a reading from her debut novel ‘Breaking Point’ followed by conversation moderated by local writer Olivia Fitzsimons.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said she was delighted to see Wicklow County Council continue to find ways to support the writers and readers of Wicklow through vibrant and dynamic programmes such as ‘Way with Words.’

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman, said she was pleased to see that ‘the Way with Words Literature Festival is continuing to support the Wicklow community of writers and readers with a programme that features an outstanding range of award-winning writers, illustrators and performers.’

Funded by Creative Ireland, all ‘Way with Words’ events are free, but booking is essential. To find out more and book today visit: www.waywithwords.ie.

For more information, visit the Wicklow Arts Office social media pages:

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Make sure to also use the Hashtag: #WayWithWordsWicklow