New Irish Literature Festival in Phoenix

This weekend Irish literature will be celebrated in a new way here in America. The non-profit organization Phoenix Sister Cities will be hosting its own Ennis Committee Book Festival this Sunday, September 27 in Phoenix, Arizona.

This year is the first for this festival, but it is meant to be a counterpart to an established literary event in Ennis, Ireland, a city in County Clare, in the Mid-West region of the country. Each year the city hosts the Ennis Book Club Festival, where writers, readers, and literary fans from all over Ireland can come and enjoy readings, workshops, discussions, debates, and even music. The Ennis festival this year will take place from March 4–6, 2016, but American poetry lovers can celebrate even earlier, with an Irish poetry celebration of their own.

The Phoenix festival will include Irish music, author readings, book signings, and a meet-and-greet event with the authors. Many of the featured authors hail from Ireland, including WFU Press poet Thomas Kinsella. A screening of his work will be presented by Dr. Adrienne Leavy, the curator and editor of Reading Ireland: The Little Magazine. The festival will take place at the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, from 12:45–6:00 pm. A special VIP reception will take place the evening before at the Phoenix Country Club. More information about this event, including registration for the festival and reception, may be found here.

WFU Press is proud to sponsor this event, and we look forward to it becoming a yearly celebration of Irish literature!