Books galore! Kilkenny festival celebrates 22 years of page-turning fun

Graignamanagh is set to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Town of Books Festival, taking place from August 22 to 24, 2025.

The festival has become a literary haven for book lovers and a cultural highlight for locals and visitors alike. In recent years, the committee has welcomed guests from all over the world, including Seattle, Washington D.C., South Africa, Finland, Texas, England, Scotland, Wales, and France.

First held in 2003, the Town of Books Festival has grown from strength to strength over the past two decades. The three-day celebration attracts booksellers, avid readers, collectors, artists, and enthusiasts from across Ireland and beyond.

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This year’s programme includes the ever-popular food & craft market at Abbey Hall, live music, poetry readings, face painting, and a variety of other family-friendly activities.

The festivities begin with a festival launch and drinks reception at 7:00 PM on Friday, followed by a special event at 8:00 PM featuring local TV personality Edward Hayden in conversation with two distinguished guests:

• Pat Marry – The Making of a DetectiveWhen he retired in 2018, Pat Marry had been instrumental in solving dozens of serious crimes, including many murders. But as a newly qualified Garda in 1985, Marry had no idea how to become a detective. He quickly realised he would have to learn on the job — to step forward and prove he had what it took.
• Beau Donnelly – The Woman Who Fooled the WorldBeau is an award-winning investigative journalist and co-author of the best-selling book The Woman Who Fooled the World, the true story behind Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar. He has worked for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, and for The Times and The Sunday Times in Ireland.

Abbey Lane – All Welcome
This fantastic new venue at Mick Doyle’s Pub was recently featured in Hot Press magazine.

Cushendale Woollen Mills will present a beautiful exhibition titled “A Vintage Yarn: Stories of Irish Fashion and Design” throughout the weekend. Miriam Cushen will collaborate with Naomi Fitzgibbon of Vintage Finds You, Ireland’s premier curator of vintage fashion. Naomi’s archive includes couture pieces rarely seen outside museums — featuring works by Irene Gilbert, Ib Jorgensen, Mary O’Donnell, and Pat Crowley.

With support from Creative Kilkenny, the Town of Books Festival will host 70 Plein Air artists this year, including many of Ireland’s top painters. En plein air — the act of painting outdoors — was popularised by the Impressionists, who sought to capture nature directly.

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This year’s paint-out competition will be judged with the support of the Butler Gallery, Kilkenny. The top prize, valued at €500 in web hosting and design, is generously sponsored by Blacknight (T&Cs apply).

Visitors will enjoy watching the artists work throughout the weekend and are invited to attend the exhibition on Sunday evening, where they can vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The Town of Books Festival is incredibly well supported by the local community and businesses, and we take pride in being an inclusive and welcoming town.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates: www.instagram.com/irelandstownofbooks, and www.facebook.com/IrelandsBooktown

The festival committee is delighted to announce that Blacknight will once again take the lead in 2025 as the main sponsor! At Blacknight, they’re not just about domains and hosting — they’re also passionate about stories, knowledge, and the magic that happens when you open a good book.