Leading literary lights set for Listowel

LEADING figures in the literary world, such as Roddy Doyle, Colm Toibín, Fergal Keane and Michael Longley, will be among the personalities attending Listowel Writers’ Week, which opened last night.

Five writers have been shortlisted from an entry of over 50 for the top prize, the €10,000 Kerry Group Irish Fiction award, previous winners of which include John McGahern and William Trevor.

Contenders this year are: Colm Toibín for The Master; Neil Jordan, Shade; David Park, Swallowing The Sun; Gerard Donovan, Dr Salt, and Ronan Bennett, Havoc In Its Third Year.