The Howth literary arts festival has a cross-border twist

DUBLIN and Belfast joined together for a ‘Two Cities One Book’ initiative at the Howth Literary Arts Festival. 

Fingal Libraries brought Belfast book clubbers to Howth for the event, sponsored by Fingal County Council.

The participation of Libraries NI added a new and exciting dimension to the festival, held on the weekend of June 11 and 12.

The team from Fingal Libraries was delighted to be part of this new twist to Dublin City’s: One City One Book festival.  

The focus this year was on Lia Mills’ wonderful novel, ‘Fallen. Published by Penguin Random House, it tells the story of Dubliners against the backdrop of the dramatic events of World War 1 and Easter Week 1916.

The festival comprised a full programme of talks and workshops by distinguished authors, poets, commentators and illustrators including Joe Duffy, John Boyne, David McWilliams, Hilary Fannin, Nuala Ni Chonchuir and more. 

A special feature of the festival was the free but ticketed events for the Children’s Literature Programme on the Sunday.  

Senior executive librarian at Fingal County Council, Yvonne O’Brien, said: “I am delighted that Fingal are once again involved in Dublin City’s One City One Book festival and with the public’s response to the recent visit by author of ‘Fallen’, Lia Mills, to Baldoyle Library. 

“I’m especially happy that Dublin and Belfast have made it a joint selection, and that book clubs in Fingal, Dublin have been twinned with book clubs in Belfast to read it.”

A highlight for Fingal County Council’s, Libraries Division included a visit by three Belfast book clubs – Finaghy Library, Ormeau Road Library and Lisburn Road Library reading groups – to Howth.

This will be followed by a reciprocal visit by two Fingal book clubs by coach to Belfast with lunch in Belfast City Hall, followed by a tour of the Ulster Museum, during the autumn.