Marty Morrissey - GAA broadcaster extraordinaire (and accomplished dancer) is one of the hardest-working people on TV and radio and has been to every corner of Ireland (and a few interesting ones further afield) in his illustrious career. Everywhere he goes, he makes friends and hears terrific stories - and sometimes he becomes a character in them. Now he's sharing them with in a book, It’s Marty, full of his trademark warmth, wit and energy. Marty will be in conversation with Ken Murray.
In this essay collection, award-winning journalist Rosita Boland explores the many friendships that have shaped her life. Surprising and beautiful, she writes about the imaginary friends of early childhood, books that have provided companionship and joy, kindred spirits met while travelling, the friend she hoped might become something more, and also the friendships that become lost over time. Rosita will be in conversation with Deirdre Hurley.
In this vivid account of over fifty years in the world of popular music, replete with anecdotes about his relationship with Amy Winehouse, Freddie Mercury, Charlie Chaplin, a Beatle and many others. Altman explains why he is the ‘Hidden Man’, whose scores include such well-known film sequences as ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ from Life of Brian, which he arranged, conducted (and was one of the whistlers), and the ship sinking in Titanic. In all, he has composed the music for over 50 movies, and won most major film awards in his long and distinguished career. He is also a much sought-after arranger and orchestrator. John Altman will be in conversation with Gerry Foley.
Courtesy of our friends in Hinterland: West (San Francisco) Noah Griffin is, we hope, the first of many distinguished guests from the Bay Area. Noah is a true renaissance man who has worked with singers Paul Robeson, Leontyne Price and Nat ‘King’ Cole but has also stood alongside San Francisco mayor and US Senator Dianne Feinstein, hosted on talk radio, written a column for the revered San Francisco Examiner, had a parallel career as a song writer and picked up a law degree from Harvard. Noah will be in conversation with Myles Dungan.
A new novel based on the life of Edith Somerville of ‘Somerville and Ross’ fame – authors of The Irish R.M. In this work, set during the turbulent period of Irish Independence 1921–22, Somerville finds herself at a crossroads. Her position as a member of the Ascendancy is perilous as she struggles to keep her family home, Drishane House in West Cork, while others are burned out. After years in a successful writing partnership with Violet Martin, Edith continues to write after her partner’s death, comforted in the belief they continue to connect through automatic writing and séances. Martina Devlin will be in conversation with Deirdre Hurley.
A cloud where the birds rise: Michael Harding reads from his memoirs and reflects on love and belonging
Event
24
Venue: Church of Ireland
Although he has had his work performed on the stage of the Abbey theatre, has won numerous awards for his writing, and is a distinguished member of Aosdána it is for his abilities as a raconteur (in print and onstage) that Michael Harding is most cherished by his audience. In personal prose and memoir works such as Hanging With the Elephant, On Tuesdays I’m a Buddhist and the more recent Chest Pain: a man, a stent and a camper van, he has allowed us access to his life and, in the process, enhanced ours.
This event has taken place
Please log in to add this event to your wish list so we can notify you in case of further availability
Being percussionist with two of the most popular and influential bands in the history of rock music, Joy Division and New Order, is quite something to have on your CV but Stephen Morris has also guested with Echo and the Bunnymen and released two albums with his wife, New Order keyboardist Gillian Gilbert under the tongue in cheek name, The Other Two. He has also written two memoirs covering the Joy Division and New Order years, Record Play Pause and Fast Forward. Stephen will be in conversation with Nerys Williams.
In 2007 Amy Dunne was 17 years old and pregnant with a baby girl who had anencephaly. This meant that the baby was certain to die before or at birth. At the time Amy was in the care of the HSE who refused to allow her to travel for a termination. Forced to bring her case to the High Court Amy’s private tragedy became public property. Amy will be in conversation with her co-author, RTÉ legal affairs correspondent Orla O’Donnell.
The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting – a young adult memoir
Event
40
Venue: Kells Theatre
What do you do when fame comes to you as an insecure teenager (is there any other kind?). When you have no real idea who you are but you are being fêted for your performances in one of the most successful film franchises in movie history? This is what happened to Evanna Lynch from Termonfeckin when she scooped up the part of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movie series, starting with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007. From there on it was anything but plain sailing for the young actor as she navigated stepping into the life she’d always dreamed of, and finding that she didn’t quite fit... Her critically acclaimed memoir The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting is an honest, open, self-appraisal from a vulnerable human being as she explores the many highs and lows, the up and downs, the tragedy and the glory of growing up. Evanna Lynch will be in conversation with Myles Dungan.
