Tuesday, July 1, 2014

There's a different Website for the 2014 Festival!

Hi Everyone, I'm not helping out with Town of Books festival this year (2014) and they have made a new website so I wanted to let you all know what it is! 

Go check them out on http://www.graiguenamanaghtownofbooks.com/  The festival will run 12-14 September 2014, and they will still use the same names for the Facebook: Ireland's Town Of Books Festival ( https://www.facebook.com/IrelandsBooktown ) & Twitter accounts; @TownofBooksFest

 Enjoy the festival! :-D

Friday, September 6, 2013

Come To The Launch!

We're having a launch! 

There's a fantastic brand new video about Graiguenamanagh featuring RTE's Derek Davis and others; come see it & our Town of Books Festival both launch on 13 September 2013 at 7pm, Abbey Hall, Graiguenamanagh. There will be wine & refreshments, and all are welcome. See you there!

 Don't forget; afterwards you can go see Louise Phillips at 8pm in the Library, or Bunny at 8pm in the Duiske Inn.



Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Hive of Nightmares!!

Scary!!

The Havisham's trilogy is for children aged 9 and up, and the author Edward Crane will be giving a free talk & workshop for them on the Saturday of our festival- 14 Sept, at 4pm in the Abbey Hall. 

 Here's a bit about the first book:
''Robbie Havisham has a special gift, a gift which he must protect. When Robbie’s grandfather dies, the Havishams inherit a mysterious mansion. Soon Robbie and his sister Lucy, discover one of their grandfather’s experiments. A device designed to destroy nightmares. When Lucy tampers with the machine she sets a series of terrifying events in motion. It is then left to Robbie to use his gift, not only to confront his own darkest nightmares, but everyone else’s too.''  
 WHOA! Read it!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bunny hits the Town Of Books!


Bunny by Spark Productions


Local theatre favourites, Spark Productions bring Bunny to the Town Of Books Festival for 2013. After their hit performance of Roddy Doyle’s Brownbread in December 2012 and again in The Watergate Theatre this summer, Spark Productions return to the local stage following the debut of Bunny at Kilkenny's OUT For The Weekend Festival last month.


It’s one hot day in Luton England and it’s going to get intense. Bunny is a 6th form student who is just looking for some excitement and adventure. When Abe, sort of her boyfriend sort of her not, gets his ice cream kicked out of his hand, things get even hotter. Bunny sets out on an adventure with Abe and his friends looking for the punk kid who knocked his ‘f****** ice cream’.


For the first time ever Graiguenamanagh’s finest theatre team will bring this one-woman show to Ireland. Jack Thorne is the writer of Skins, Shameless and This Is England. The show will be performed by Megan Stacey and directed by Adrian Kavanagh. Showing at the Duiske Inn, 13-15 Sept, doors 7.30, show 8pm sharp. €8, adult language & themes.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Booksellers 2013; where & who


1 Byrnes Shop Festival Office + TOB Books
2 Citizen info Historical Society
3 Mick Doyle's (beside) Secret Books
4 Mick Doyle's (beside) Mike Kavanagh Books
5 Alley Way Saoirse Books
6 Joe Fox Barrow Gaels
7 Joyce's Hardware Musty Books
8 Joyce's Hardware Broadford Books
9 Peggy Hughes Bookworm
10 Parsons Round Tower Books
11 Parsons Acanthophyllum Books
12 O shea Russell (Hughes) Black Gull Books
13 O shea Russell (Hughes) Craobh Rua Books
14 The Square Tall Stories
15 The Square Charlie Byrne Books
16 Boats Bistro Hunters Books
17 Boats Bistro Martin Gleeson Books
18 Waterside The Book Barn
19 Boat House Wellread Books
20 Boat House Hooked On Books
21 Scout Hall Cooney's Books
22 Scout Hall Noel Burke Books
23 Scout Hall Geata Buidhe Books
24 Scout Hall Paulstown Books
25 Scout Hall Blarney Children's Books
26 Scout Hall Wheelchair Society
27 Joyce's Hardware O Brien Books

Friday, August 9, 2013

Sneak a Peek!

Here's a peek at our updated program brochure. The hard copies will start to be available from Weds, 14 August. Keep an eye out!

Excitement is building! There will be a festival launch, featuring a fantastic new video about Graiguenamanah & Tinnahinch, on Thursday, 29 August. More details soon.




Thursday, July 25, 2013

Town of Books Festival, Graiguenamanagh- 2013 Programme



During the Town of Books Festival the medieval riverside town of Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny will be filled with over 20 booksellers on the 14th - 15th September 2013! It'll be the best place in Ireland to pick up a bargain in new, 2nd hand, antiquarian,children’s and specialist books.

On the 13th-15th, the Town Of Books Festival will feature many events: readings & workshops for young and old, theatre, music, & a host of a tempting food, crafts and interesting activities at the traditional Michaelmas fair. 

Graiguenamanagh is an outdoor activity headquarters for the Barrow Valley, and is constantly alive with hillwalkers, cyclists, canoeists, fishing and boating enthusiasts. Plus, there’s swimming & diving in summer. Come visit!


All events are FREE unless noted otherwise.


Friday, 13 September
**please note, booksellers will not be selling on this day**


Louise Philips, Award winning crime writer of bestseller 
Red Ribbons
Louise will read from her 2nd chilling book, A Doll's House
Graiguenamanagh Library, 8pm

Bunny: 
Written by Shameless and Skins writer Jack Thorne.
 A one-woman theatre show from Spark Productions (adult language/ themes)
Duiske Inn,  €8. Doors 7.30, start 8pm

Saturday, 14 September 
Booksellers open 10am to 6pm
Library open from 10-1.30


Graiguenamanagh Community Garden open day: 
 Bring the kids and come see the garden, & perhaps chat with us about the plants! 10–5

Children's Workshop on Imagination & Story
  Helena Duggan, graphic designer & children's author 
Bring colouring pencils if you have some. (Also provided.)
Ages 9+,  The Abbey Hall, 11am


Paint a Mural! 
Fun for all ages! At the basketball court, Abbey Hall 12-2pm

Paul Howard, AKA Ross O’Carroll-Kelly 
Paul Howard is an, author and comedy writer, and the creator of the cult character Ross O’Carroll-Kelly. He will read from his newest book Downturn Abbey. 
In Graiguenamanagh Library, 2pm


Children's Book Reading & Workshop
Paula Leyden, award winning author of The Butterfly Heart, and The Sleeping Baobab Tree
For ages 9+, 2pm, The Abbey Hall


Writing Workshop for Older Children
Author Edward Crane gives writing tips, & talks about The Havishams, his children's fantasy series. Ages 10+, The Abbey Hall, 4pm

Bunny:
Written by Shameless and Skins writer Jack Thorne.
 A one-woman theatre show from Spark Productions (adult language/ themes)
Duiske Inn,  €8. Doors 7.30, start 8pm

There will be a fantastic festival atmosphere, with music throughout the streets during the day

Sunday 15 September
Booksellers open 10am to 6pm


Michaelmas Fair
The traditional Michaelmas fair of Tinnahinch & Graiguenamanagh has a long history. In a bye-gone era the area was a hub of activity when the fair came to town and rural & urban dwellers met and exchanged produce, services, cultural ideas and local stories. There will be farm animal displays, activities for children, music, history, a duck race, and more!
  €5 entry


Artisan Food & Craft Market
Local producers and makers, including celebrity chef & author Edward Hayden, will tempt you with their ware at the Michaelmas Fair.

Local History Tour
A fascinating look at the rich history & stories of Graiguenamanagh and environs. A huge hit last year, don't miss out! Given by the local History Society this tour starts at 2.30pm from medieval Duiske Abbey.


Bunny: 
  Written by Shameless and Skins writer Jack Thorne.
 A one-woman theatre show from Spark Productions (adult language/ themes)
Duiske Inn,  €8. Doors 7.30, start 8pm 

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER! :-)