Authors Irvine Welsh, Vincent Browne and Lara Marlowe among stellar line-up for Kinsale’s ‘Words by Water’ Literary Festival
The ninth annual Words by Water Kinsale Literary Festival returns from October 1–4, 2026, bringing a diverse programme of acclaimed Irish and international writers, journalists, poets and performers to Kinsale. A not-for-profit festival, Words by Water is committed to promoting the best in Irish and international writing and making literature accessible to the local and wider community.
The festival also supports new writing, engages with unpublished authors and encourages reading and writing among young people.This year’s programme spans fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism, local interest, workshops and events for younger readers, alongside a new community programme designed to bring the festival’s appreciation of reading and writing into new spaces. Festival Chairperson Ruth McDonnell said the event’s continued growth was testament to the breadth of its programme.“Our event is growing year-on-year which we believe is down to its variety. We span every aspect of the written and spoken word, from political journalism to traditional forms of songwriting. Both adults and children are catered for across our affordable and fun events. We also strongly believe in supporting debut authors as well as those who’ve been popular for decades. We’ve already had lots of ticket sales, so are encouraging people to book their event quickly so they’re not disappointed.”
The festival opens on Thursday evening with Right Words, an evening of poetry curated by Matthew Geden and taking place this year at Dalton’s Bar, one of two new venues added to the festival programme.Friday offers a varied line-up, including a performance of Neil Titley’s Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes - a quote often associated with Oscar Wilde - at St Catherine’s Cultural Centre and Bonfires of Remembrance, a celebration of storytelling and song presented by Paddy Doyle and Rosie McCarthy at OHK.
Journalist and former RTÉ presenter Mary Wilson will also be joined by Martin Doyle, Ken Murray and Eugene Reavey for a discussion examining how identity, religion and politics divided communities in Northern Ireland, and how cover-up and silence can impede recovery.Saturday brings an afternoon of interviews and panel discussions at the Methodist Church.
Irish Times contributor Lara Marlowe will sit down with Mary Wilson, followed by Claire Adam and Neil Tully in conversation with Mairéad Hearne on the past in fiction. CauveryMadhavan and Louise Nealon will then join Newstalk’s Shane Coleman to explore the ties that bind, before Niamh Hargan and Tanya Sweeney talk to Tara Flynn about the very different worlds they have created in their books.The festival’s Saturday night headline event takes place at the Trident Hotel, with a special evening with acclaimed Scottish author Irvine Welsh.
Best known for Trainspotting, which brought the streets of his native Scotland to an international audience, Welsh has gone on to become one of the most recognisable and bestselling contemporary writers. He will be interviewed by Shane Coleman in what promises tobe an entertaining and revealing evening.Sunday morning sees the return of the popular Local Voices session,featuring Cork writers Jennifer Horgan, Molly Twomey and Eamon O’Leary.The main programme concludes with legendary journalist Vincent Browne, who joins Vanessa Conneely at Friars Lodge to discuss his desertisland books over a cuppa.
Words by Water continues its strong focus on younger readers, with Barry Moloney’s Walking Tour for Children returning on Saturday.Kinsale Library will also host a storytelling session for younger children and showcase artwork created by local schoolchildren, as well as our ‘Page to Pallet’ Exhibition which will showcase the art of almost 60 children from Dundurrow Primary School.
Author Louise Nealon and Illustrator of the popular Milly McCarthy series Karen Harte will also give a talk to local school children about writing and illustrating.For adults, this year’s workshops offer the chance to explore songwriting with music legend John Spillane or develop the expressive potential of the public-speaking voice with Regina Crowley. Places are limited and early booking is advised.The festival has also introduced a new community programme, extending its work in promoting reading and writing beyond the traditional festival setting. While these events are closed to the public, organisers say they represent an important new part of the festival’s work and its commitment to engaging with the wider community.
Affordable festival accessWords by Water is once again supported by Cork County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland, with the Arts Council particularly commending the festival’s integration with the local community and its commitment to paying artists fairly for their time. The festival also continues to receive local sponsorship from Lilly Kinsale.
Organisers remain committed to keeping the festival as affordable as possible, with the popular €60 festival pass returning for 2026. The pass excludes workshops, children’s events, Bonfires of Remembranceand the Irvine Welsh event.With new venues, established favourites and a programme designed to appeal to readers and writers of all ages, Words by Water promises four days of conversation, storytelling, ideas and celebration in Kinsale this October.
Tickets and the full programme are available at www.wordsbywater.ie.The festival can also be followed on Instagram @kinsaleliterary and on Facebook at Kinsale Literary Festival, Words by Water.The organisers extend special thanks to Katherine Boucher Beug for the festival’s beautiful cover design.
Comments