Colm Tóibín returns as president of Listowel Writers’ Week

Brooklyn author to return after resigning in 2022

Listowel Writers’ Week said it was delighted to announce Mr Tóibín's return, hailing him as  'a lifelong supporter of Writers’ Week'. 

The writer Colm Tóibín has returned as president of Listowel Writers’ Week, the country’s oldest literary festival.

The Brooklyn author's return was announced following the festival's AGM in Listowel.

Mr Tóibín had resigned in 2022 in solidarity with the voluntary committee, which was dismissed by the board on foot of a controversial decision to replace them with a single professional curator after a consultant’s report.

Speaking in 2022, Mr Tóibín said Listowel Writers' Week had grown out of the literary and widely read community in the area. He felt the health of the festival depended on this relationship with the community continuing. 

“Listowel Writers’ Week depended on a literary community in Listowel who read deeply and widely. This meant that the festival had genuine roots in the town. I see this as best practice, as a model for any other literary festival,” he said at the time.

After a period of division, the volunteers returned in strength to the festival under chairperson and former senator Ned O’Sullivan.

In a statement on Thursday, Listowel Writers’ Week said it was delighted to announce Mr Tóibín's return, hailing him as  “a lifelong supporter of Writers’ Week”. 

He will be president for the landmark 55th anniversary of the festival, the statement said.

Mr O’Sullivan is also to continue as chairperson, the well-attended AGM confirmed.

“Colm has been a lifelong supporter of Writers’ Week and it is a great honour for the company members and directors that we again have a writer of his calibre and renown as our spiritual leader,” the statement said.

“The difficulties of the past and financial issues are all behind us now. Colm’s return is being warmly welcomed at home and abroad,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

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