Five For Your Radar: Kinsale arts, West Cork books, Donovan...
Donovan (left) and Miriam O’Callaghan.
Miriam O'Callaghan, author Charlie Mackesy, and writers Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen are the big names at West Cork Literary Festival this weekend. Across the week there will be readings, conversations, workshops, and events staged across West Cork’s towns, islands, and peninsulas. Point of information: This writer will be in conversation with Dublin writers Keith Ridgway and Djamal White at Bantry library at 5pm on Saturday, and with Ian Rankin at the Maritime Hotel on Monday evening.
East Asia Film Festival Ireland brings innovative, independent and inspiring cinema from East Asia to audiences across Ireland, presenting works otherwise unavailable from prominent and emerging writers and directors from diverse cultural and social backgrounds across East Asian cinema. The romantic drama is screened on Friday. It explores a young Chinese couple in America, their developing relationship and how they navigate an unexpected bicoastal separation. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Kanao Yan.
The seaside town will host over 50 events across music, theatre, literature, visual art, dance, and film over the weekend for the 10th anniversary of Kinsale Arts Weekend. is a panel discussion curated by artist and writer Jennie Moran, taking place at the Methodist Church, at 6pm on Friday. The contemporary opera takes place on Saturday, there will be a live recording of the podcast , and the Irish-language short film will be screened, followed by a discussion on women’s history.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential songwriters and recording artists, Donovan says: “I have reached the year [2026] of my 80th summer around the sun. And this year I wish to present my journey, which I call The Tale of the Gael.” His decades-long career has touched on the great artists of the modern world, such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Oasis and many more, some who became his friends.
Historian Gillian Kenny explores Ireland’s legendary death messenger — the Banshee (Bean Sídhe) — in a talk blending folklore, history, gender and belief. From her eerie cry and medieval roots to connections with keening and pre-Christian traditions, discover who the Banshee really is and what she reveals about Irish society and its women. Includes audience Q&A.
