Drum Dance Ireland is run by its Swiss director and manager Urs Wenk who moved to Ireland in 2002.

Originally a teacher for West African drumming and collaborating with dancers offering African dance classes and workshops he changed style and offer adapting to the people here making it all much more inclusive and fun orientated.

Working with all age groups from toddlers, to teenagers right up to the elderly people and also all levels of abilities he is keeping things simple in order to make sure everyone gets involved.

With more than 80 drums and over 150 percussion instruments Urs and his collaborators often offer drum circles and interactive shows for events of all kinds.
For parades at festivals Drum Dance Ireland can facilitate workshops to get groups of people actively involved in the performance.

With hundreds of parades and thousands of shows and workshops performed the experience is there to know what event organisers want and the crowds love.

Official opening of festival with Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Mayor John Moran, and Limerick Arts Officer Etain McCooey. Poet Paula Meehan will be our special guest along with singer/ musician Oonagh McMahon.

No invitation needed.

Venue: Newcastle West Library.
Admission: FREE

Bus leaves Longcourt House Hotel at 10.45am but booking required.

Venue: Springfield Castle
Admission: €15 plus extra for bus.

Theo Dorgan is a poet with ten collections published, the most recent being Once Was A Boy, which received the accolade of One City, One Book 2024 in his native Cork.

His most recent publication is the novel Camarade, published in June of 2025.

Dorgan is also a documentary screenwriter, translator, essayist and editor. Among his translations are three volumes from the French of Syrian poet, Maram al Masri and a translation into Irish of Gypsy Ballads by Federico García Lorca, Bailéid Giofógacha .

In 2022 he devised the script for ANU’s production of Staging the Treaty T (now also a film available from IFI, both directed by Louise Lowe), and in 2023 he scripted and presented the multi-award-winning Alan Gilsenan documentary for TG4, An Buachaill Gealgháireach/ The Laughing Boy.

Two of his long poems, Sappho’s Daughter and Ériu and Amergin, have been set to music by Colm Mac Con Iomaire.

Translations of his books have been published in Greek, Italian and French.
He is a member of Aosdána.

Venue: The Red Door, The Square.
Admission: FREE

Nestled in the heart of artisanal tradition, the Painted Pot Collective is a vibrant community of passionate potters dedicated to preserving time-honoured techniques, each piece lovingly shaped by hand. Their works embody a harmonious balance of form, texture, and glazes. This showcase highlights how each potter brings their own voice to traditional techniques—celebrating the raw, tactile beauty of clay and the craftsmanship that unites them all.

Whether you’re drawn to primitive expression or refined sculptural pottery, “Órcloch ” offers a rich journey through both ancient pottery techniques and individual creativity.

Órcloch literally means gold stone.
The alchemy that is ceramics, from earth through fire transforming stone into something of significant value.
Pottery is a unique medium that not only requires skill in the craft itself but a flair for design and aesthetics. When creating from clay, the item can indeed be a functional item such as a vessel with purpose, no flaws, or cracks, and handles that can hold the weight of the container and its contents. This demonstrates the finer skill in the craft of pottery yet the decoration and presentation, an imprint of the artist.

Every surface has been touched and carefully formed by the maker’s hands, an intentional story they wish to convey. Clay echoes the personality of each artist to be expressed. From colourful characters to nature inspired collections and modern designs, it is the alchemy of stone to gold that every potter has the opportunity to manifest.
This exhibition features a collection of ceramic works from a variety of local artists, each showcasing their unique talents incorporating the traditional pottery methods of hand-built and pottery wheel pieces expressing a diverse range of styles.

The exhibition will run in The Red Door, The Square from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Friday, October 3 and from 2.00pm-3.00pm on Saturday, October 4.

Booking recommended.

Venue: Desmond Complex
Admission: €15

THE SIX MARYS tells the story of six girls called Mary, over six decades of their lives. It is very funny and very true to life. The play has been greatly enjoyed by audiences all over Ireland.

THE SIX MARYS is written and narrated by Jean Farrell, with supporting actress/singer Catherine Gallagher.

Excerpts from diaries are interspersed with songs and soundtracks from the different eras. The audience is brought on a journey depicting the social history of the times: the comics, the catechism and the stork; the nuns, the processions and the gym slips; the hops, the hopes and the ‘big day’; the babies, the teenagers and reality.

This journey of self-discovery is laced with one-liners guaranteed to make you laugh!

Catherine Gallagher, left, and Jean Farrell.

Venue: Red Door Gallery, The Square.
Admission: FREE

Robyn Rowland is Irish-Australian and lived between Ireland, Turkey, and Australia until the end of 2019, when she returned to Australia as her father’s companion then carer. He died at home aged 102 in 2022. Her book Steep Curve (2024) is that journey together in narrative poetry: ‘a book of remarkable moments and enduring love’ (Kevin Brophy).

She has twelve poetry books (Australia, Ireland and Turkey), including two bilingual, Turkish translations, Mehmet Ali Çelikel: Under This Saffron Sun—Safran Güneşin Altında and This Intimate War Gallipoli/Çanakkale 1915—İçli Dışlı Bir Savaş: Gelibolu/Çanakkale1915.

Her work has also been published in national/international journals, over fifty anthologies, eight editions of Best Australian Poems and she has earned various awards and short-listings. Her work has been translated into various languages and she has read in India, Portugal, Ireland, the UK, the US, Greece, Austria, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey, and Italy.

By invitation, she has filmed readings for the National Irish
Poetry Reading Archive which can be seen on You Tube.

Robyn has previously been a guest of Éigse Michael Hartnett and will also conduct a writing workshop at this year’s Éigse.

Venue: Desmond Complex.
Admission: €8

Venue: Desmond Complex.
Admission: €10
Tickets:

A Celebration of Women in Uilleann Piping 1800s-1900s – Louise Mulcahy

Join internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning uilleann piper Louise Mulcahy at Éigse Michael Hartnett 2025 for a joyous celebration of Women in Piping.

Alongside her incredible musicianship, Louise’s groundbreaking research work on women in uilleann piping has received worldwide critical acclaim. Louise has performed and presented her research work at many prestigious events, broadcasts, festivals, universities and also presented the landmark documentary for TG4 titled Mná na bPíob in 2021.

A trawl through the annals of Irish traditional music quickly demonstrates that the uilleann pipes is an instrument long associated with male players and throughout history women have been in the minority within this tradition.

Louise has unearthed the astonishing stories of the remarkable women who played the uilleann pipes during the 19th and 20th centuries.

This exciting celebration will trace the story of women in piping dating from the 19th century to the present day. As part of this special presentation Louise will perform on a beautiful set of uilleann pipes once owned by the master piper Liam O’ Flynn.

Venue: The Red Door, The Square.
Admission: FREE

Nestled in the heart of artisanal tradition, the Painted Pot Collective is a vibrant community of passionate potters dedicated to preserving time-honoured techniques, each piece lovingly shaped by hand. Their works embody a harmonious balance of form, texture, and glazes. This showcase highlights how each potter brings their own voice to traditional techniques—celebrating the raw, tactile beauty of clay and the craftsmanship that unites them all.

Whether you’re drawn to primitive expression or refined sculptural pottery, “Órcloch ” offers a rich journey through both ancient pottery techniques and individual creativity.

Órcloch literally means gold stone.
The alchemy that is ceramics, from earth through fire transforming stone into something of significant value.
Pottery is a unique medium that not only requires skill in the craft itself but a flair for design and aesthetics. When creating from clay, the item can indeed be a functional item such as a vessel with purpose, no flaws, or cracks, and handles that can hold the weight of the container and its contents. This demonstrates the finer skill in the craft of pottery yet the decoration and presentation, an imprint of the artist.

Every surface has been touched and carefully formed by the maker’s hands, an intentional story they wish to convey. Clay echoes the personality of each artist to be expressed. From colourful characters to nature inspired collections and modern designs, it is the alchemy of stone to gold that every potter has the opportunity to manifest.
This exhibition features a collection of ceramic works from a variety of local artists, each showcasing their unique talents incorporating the traditional pottery methods of hand-built and pottery wheel pieces expressing a diverse range of styles.

The exhibition will run in The Red Door, The Square from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Friday, October 3 and from 2.00pm-3.00pm on Saturday, October 4.

Venue: The Red Door, The Square.
Admission: €10
Tickets:

Natalya O’Flaherty is a celebrated poet and performer from Dublin, renowned for her distinctive blend of rhythm, accent, and expression. Her work spans a wide array of themes, from incisive social commentary to introspective self-reflection, resonating across genres and mediums. Natalya skillfully bridges the gap between classic and contemporary poetry, captivating diverse audiences with her performances. Her career began at city-centre open mic events and has since flourished into a dynamic journey. Highlights include multiple acclaimed appearances on The Late Late Show, headlining the multi-media show More Than Words as part of MusicTown, and performing at major festivals such as Electric Picnic and Other Voices. She delivered a poignant rendition of Sinéad O’Connor’s Three Babies for An Post’s Glastonbury special and has facilitated poetry workshops for young people across Ireland. Internationally, she has represented Ireland at events like the Cyprus National Poetry Slam.

Natalya has also undertaken significant commissions, creating pieces for RTÉ’s A Woman’s World and Shine A Light projects, as well as for organizations including the Ombudsman for Children, Body & Soul, Procter & Gamble, Accenture, Laing O’Rourke, and Irish Tatler. Her journey into music has seen her collaborate with Tebi Rex and appear on the dance track ‘Comedown Chorus’ by UK producer Ghoulish, remixed by dubstep legend Skream.

Venue: Whelans Bar, Maiden Street.
Admission: FREE

Venue: Longcourt House Hotel.
Admission: FREE

Venue: Longcourt House Hotel.
Admission: €30 plus booking fee.
Tickets:

Glen Hansard’s journey began in Dublin in the early 1980s, when he left school at 13 to busk on the streets. In 1990, he formed the rock band The Frames, which released its debut album in 1991 and quickly became a powerhouse in Ireland. With albums like Fitzcarraldo (1996) and Burn the Maps (2004)—which topped the Irish charts and produced hits such as “Fake” and “Finally”—the band achieved national recognition. Along the way, The Frames opened for major acts like Bob Dylan (2007) and performed at prominent venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Lollapalooza (2004)

Hansard’s acting in the indie film Once (2006), alongside Markéta Irglová, catapulted him to international fame. The movie, featuring the song “Falling Slowly,” earned critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song (2008) . This success led to a musical adaptation, Once The Musical, which debuted Off-Broadway in 2011 and later on Broadway, winning eight Tony Awards .

In 2012 Hansard released his solo debut, Rhythm and Repose, and embarked on a global tour that spanned North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He followed this with It Was Triumph We Once Proposed, a poignant EP tribute to Jason Molina in 2015, and in the same year released the Grammy‑nominated solo album Didn’t He Ramble. His fourth solo effort, This Wild Willing, arrived in 2019 on ANTI‑ Records, accompanied by a European tour and several music videos.

Throughout his career, Hansard has performed in esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall (2016) and the Sydney Opera House (2016), and graced stages at major festivals including Newport Folk, Montreux Jazz, Cambridge Folk, and Lollapalooza. He’s also collaborated with celebrated artists, featuring on Robbie Robertson’s Sinematic in 2019, and sharing creations with Eddie Vedder, Joni Mitchell tributes, and the ‘Music of Van Morrison’ and ‘The Music of Patti Smith’ celebration at Carnegie Hall.

In later years, Hansard continued to give back—recording in Paris (2018) and spotlighting homelessness through his seasonal charity shows in Dublin. In March 2022, Glen and Markéta were honoured on an Irish An Post stamp celebrating Oscar winners.

Hansard continues to tour with Markéta Irglová as part of the Swell Season where they have recently released their critically acclaimed album Forward, which has been supported by tours throughout Europe and North America

Maire Saaritsa is a Finnish writer and translator. She has previously translated a selection of Michael O’Loughlin’s poetry into Finnish and is working towards a collection of her own as well as a translation of Michael Hartnett’s work.

Venue: Library.
Admission: FREE

Sadhbh Devlin is an award-winning writer of adorable Irish-language picturebooks. Her book Geansaí Ottó (Futa Fata, 2020) won the LAI Book of the Year Awards in 2021 and became Ireland’s first outdoor Scéal Trail. Her book Amuigh Faoin Spéir (Futa Fata, 2022) won Gradam Réics Carló in 2023.

She is also the author of the A Special Gift Donor Conception series of four picturebooks which were shortlisted for a European Fertility Society, Fertility Care Award in 2023. Sadhbh was the dlr Libraries Writer in Residence in 2019/2020 and the DCU Irish Language Writer in Residence in 2022.

She lives in Co. Wicklow with her husband, twin daughters and a cheeky kitten named Pico.

Venue: Library.
Admission: FREE but booking at library essential.

Sadhbh Devlin is an award-winning writer of adorable Irish-language picturebooks. Her book Geansaí Ottó (Futa Fata, 2020) won the LAI Book of the Year Awards in 2021 and became Ireland’s first outdoor Scéal Trail. Her book Amuigh Faoin Spéir (Futa Fata, 2022) won Gradam Réics Carló in 2023.

She is also the author of the A Special Gift Donor Conception series of four picturebooks which were shortlisted for a European Fertility Society, Fertility Care Award in 2023. Sadhbh was the dlr Libraries Writer in Residence in 2019/2020 and the DCU Irish Language Writer in Residence in 2022.

She lives in Co. Wicklow with her husband, twin daughters and a cheeky kitten named Pico.

Venue: Longcourt House Hotel.
Admission: €10
Tickets:

Roisin Maguire lives by the sea in Northern Ireland, and holds an MA in Creative Writing from Queen’s University.

She has worked as a nightclub bouncer, bus driver and primary school teacher – and is a keen scuba diver and fisherwoman who swims every day of the year in the Irish Sea.

Night Swimmers is her debut novel.

Picture – Muiread Kelly

Hosted by Seamus Hennessy in association with Shannon Transport Ltd.

Venue: Longcourt House Hotel.
Admission:  €10
Tickets: 

Keith Earls played 101 games for the Irish national rugby team and scored 36 tries. An all-time Munster great, he played 202 times for his province and scored 64 tries. The flying winger is one of the most prolific finishers in the history of the game here.

In October 2021 he published his memoir, Fight or Flight: My Life, My Choices. It became an immediate best-seller and won the An Post Irish Sports Book of the Year award. Written in conjunction with the Sunday Independent sportswriter Tommy Conlon, Keith revealed for the first time his diagnosis in 2013 for bipolar disorder. As one of Ireland’s most popular sportsmen, his book had a major impact on the mental health conversation in Ireland, particularly among young men who were experiencing similar struggles.

In the four years since he has received thousands of grateful communications from a wide range of readers. He spoke also about the class divide in rugby and the social challenges that came with growing up in his beloved Limerick neighbourhood, Moyross.

Fight or Flight has been re-issued multiple times since its first edition and continues to sell in bookshops across the country.

Tommy Conlon is a veteran sportswriter with the Sunday Independent. In addition to his book with Keith Earls, he has ghostwritten memoirs in collaboration with prominent Irish stars such as Ronnie Whelan, Shane ‘Cake’ Curran and John ‘The Bull’ Hayes.

A native of Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, he is the co-author of a non-fiction book, The Kidnapping, which was published to widespread acclaim in 2023. He has been living in Limerick City for the last 20 years and is a regular visitor to Thomond Park, the Gaelic Grounds and the Markets Field.