live literature

Festival of Italian and Irish Literature in Ireland

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I’m reading alongside Martina Devlin, Wendy Erskine, Caitriona Lally and Paul Murray at the Festival of Italian and Irish Literature in Ireland on Friday 25th September. I’ll be celebrating Il Bravo Figlio / The Good Son from Barta Editions. I’m also teaching at Trinity on Saturday 26th. There’s events on all day Saturday.

“We are delighted to announce the fourth edition of FIILI – Festival of Italian and Irish Literature in Ireland coming to Dublin this 25th and 26th September!

This year’s Festival of Italian and Irish Literature in Ireland is dedicated to the theme “Literature as Resistance”, and we are delighted to welcome so many outstanding writers, translators and poets from Italy and Ireland.

FIILI is a Festival organized by Italian Institute of Culture in Dublin and Embassy of Italy, FIILI Association, Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann and Trinity College Dublin.

The Festival is also supported by Literature Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, the Society for Italian Studies, the Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation and the Irish Writers’ Centre.

We look forward to welcoming you all this 25th and 26th September for a Celebration of literature, dialogue and cultural exchange.”

Interviewing Roddy Doyle at Cork World Book Festival

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I’ll be interviewing Booker Prize-winner Roddy Doyle at Cork World Book Festival.

Roddy Doyle with Paul McVeigh

He was last in town for a chat with Roy Keane at the Marquee and we felt it was time to have Ireland’s favourite Dubliner, Roddy Doyle, down to Cork World Book Fest for a conversation with CWBF regular, Paul McVeigh.

Roddy Doyle’s bookshelves and DVD racks are buckling under the weight of his prolific and energetic output that has helped shape how we see ourselves on this small, complex island. Always astute, always brim full of empathy, and always writing to his own rhythm, Roddy Doyle needs no introduction, and this year the Cork World Book Fest is honoured to host one of Ireland’s most cherished authors, teachers, mentors, activists and observers. So sit back and enjoy what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of great joy and humanity.                       

Get tickets for both Quite Simply, How Do We Live? and Roddy Doyle in Conversation and get 20% off!

Saturday 25 April 2026

Triskel | 2pm | €15

Book: https://triskelarts.ticketsolve.com/shows/873662502/events

Red Line Book Festival

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Join award-winning author Paul McVeigh as he discusses his new short story collection, I Hear You, with journalist and critic Niamh Donnelly.

Paul McVeigh’s short stories have been in anthologies, journals and newspapers, and read on BBC Radio 3, 4 and 5, RTE Radio, as well as Sky ARTS. His ten-part short story series, The Circus, aired on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio 4. He co-founded London Short Story Festival and has edited three anthologies. His collection of stories written for radio, I Hear You, was published in March 2025. His debut novel, The Good Son, won The Polari First Book Prize and The McCrae Literary Award and his writing has been translated into eight languages.

Niamh Donnelly  is a journalist, critic, and writer from Dublin. A regular contributor to The Irish Times, she covers books, arts, and a wide range of other topics.  Her work can also be found in Business Plus Magazine, The Irish Independent, New York Magazine, The Financial Times, The Business Post, The Sunday Times, and many other publications. Her short fiction has appeared in Granta, The Dublin Review, Banshee, and elsewhere. She has been shortlisted for five Irish Journalism Awards.

DateMonday October 13th
Time7pm 
AdmissionFree, booking required 
VenueLucan Library

Free but booking required here.

International Short Story Conference

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I’m attending the 17th International Conference of the Short Story in English. I’ve been invited to this bi-annual conference in Lisbon, Singapore and Vienna. This year I’ll be alongside luminous guests such as Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Olen Butler and ZZ Packer.

Tuesday 17 June, 2025, 14:00-17:00

Paul McVeigh – The Art of the Powerful Short Story Narrative

Bring your notebooks with your fragments, your unfinished stories, and ideas that just wouldn’t launch, this workshop will talk you through a method of making them work. Using examples from his work Paul will show you how he has used his method to create powerful narratives then you can try it on your broken stories. You’ll get feedback and input into your ideas. Because he is also a playwright and has written thirteen short stories for BBC Radio 4, Paul will also show you how to write that story for radio. Be prepared to work and learn a lot. 

Thursday, June 19, Session V: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM

V.A (MOD SUITE 4): Moderator: Kimberly Gentles. 

Writers: 

Paul McVeigh 

Éilís Ni Dhuibhne 

Judith Nika Pfeifer 

Showcasing Publications and How to Make it Work.

Saturday, June 21, 2025 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Writers discuss the pros and cons, ways and means of putting your publications before the public. They will showcase specific works, including their own as examples. Robin Hemley will serve as Chair, with Madeleine D’Arcy as Co-Chair. The participants are Robin Hemley, Katie Singer, Evelyn Conlon, Madeleine D’Arcy, Emma Hislop, Rebekah Clarkson, Paul McVeigh, and Robert Olen Butler.  

Bradford Literary Festival

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Me with Fiona Keating, Paul Burston, Jason Okundaye & VG LEE. LITERARY SALON

“We’re delighted to welcome back Polari, the multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon, for another unforgettable evening in Bradford.  

Founded and hosted by author and activist Paul Burston, Polari is known for its high-energy, cabaret-style atmosphere and showcases the very best in established and emerging LGBTQ+ literary talent. 

Expect thought-provoking readings, captivating performances, and a celebration of queer voices that’s anything but your average literary event. Uplifting, entertaining, and always inspiring, Polari is a literary salon with heart, flair, and a whole lot of soul. 

Saturday, 5 July 2025 | 18:00 – 19:30

Wallers Brewery, Sunbridge Wells, BD1 1SX More Info

Tickets.

Writing Belfast: Stories Of A Changing City 

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Belfast Book Festival

Date Tuesday 10 June 2025

Time 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Price: Pay What You Decide – Recommended Price £12.50

Written with Paul McVeigh’s characteristic flair and Belfast wit, I Hear You (Salt, 2025) is a vibrant collection of short stories from the award-winning author of The Good Son. 

Specially written for BBC Radio 4, the stories include a ten-part sequence set around Cliftonville Circus, where five roads meet in North Belfast and the old clashes with the new on diversity, social class, acceptance and change. 

Paul will discuss his home city, Belfast, and how it has changed through his work; from Troubles era Ardoyne of The Good Son, post-lockdown north of the city in I Hear You and where its modern diversity can clash with the lingering past in his play Big Man. During the evening Actor Tony Flynn will also give readings from Paul’s work.  

Join Paul in conversation with writer Cathy Galvin, founder of the short story organisation The Word Factory and The Sunday Times Short Story Award. 

Tickets here.

Writing For Radio: Belfast Book Festival

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Pathways To Publication: Panel Discussions For Writers 

Date Thursday 05 June 2025

Time 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Price £40 | £35 – for whole day – check out the rest of the events.

My event is this industry day is…

3.15 – 4.00pm > Writing for radio 

How does writing for radio differ from writing for the page, stage or screen? Discover how to write and pitch audio at this informative session with RTÉ radio producer and book editor Clíodhna Ní Anluain, BBC audio producer Michael Shannon and Belfast writer Paul McVeigh, author of I Hear You, a dazzling collection of stories written especially for BBC Radio 4.