Get busy reading, or... Kildare Readers Festival to return in October
All events are free of charge, but booking is recommended
Kildare County Council (KCC) has revealed that the Kildare Readers Festival will return next month.
According to KCC, the free festival, which is held in venues across the county, is a ‘vibrant celebration of books and ideas’.
It also aims to bring both readers and writers together for ‘inspiring conversations and unforgettable experiences’.
The line-up includes:
- A screening of the Irish Sign Language documentary ‘A Quiet Love’
- An exploration of ‘Landscapes, Recollection and Transformation’, with Miriam Mulcahy in conversation with Lesley Bond
- ‘Ten Books You Should Read’ with Louise Nealon and Katriona O’Sullivan
- A ‘Debut Authors’ panel featuring Jennifer Bray, Djamel White, Edie May Hand and Patrick Freyne
Food lovers can also enjoy ‘Food, Family and Tradition: a Conversation in Cooking’ with Orla Drumgoole, Eva Pau and Graham Herterich
As for fiction fans, they can go ‘Behind the Bestsellers’ with Sheila O’Flanagan, Carmel Harrington and Faith Hogan, while ‘The Perfect Crime’ will bring together John Banville, Edel Coffey, Patricia Gibney and Fiona Sherlock.
AS GAIELGE
The Irish language is being celebrated with the return of ‘An Tolg Liteartha’, with broadcaster Tristan Rosenstock interviewing the winners of the 2026 Oireachtas Publishing Awards.
KCC also said that families and younger audiences will be catered for at the festival, with a Puffin Rock children’s workshop and film screening, a ‘Faerie Isle’ workshop with Síne Quinn, and a ‘Teen Comic Book Creation’ workshop led by Aoife Dooley.
Lastly, KCC will bring ‘Ernie's Shackleton Experience’ to Kildare Readers Festival at Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge.
At this event, visitors can enjoy traditional Irish food with a modern twist, prepared using locally sourced ingredients.
The full programme of events, booking information and participating venues is available on KCC’s official website.
It should be noted that all events are free of charge, but booking is recommended.
Online bookings for events at Riverbank Arts Centre are subject to €1.50 booking fee per ticket. Tickets booked through the Box Office or by phone are not subject to this charge.
Kildare Readers Festival 2026 will run from Thursday, October 1, 2026 until Sunday, October 11, 2026.