ARTS Cúirt festival undeterred by volcanic ash

Cúirt goes ahead – despite ‘clash of the ash’


Ciara Moynihan

Roddy Doyle will officially open the 25th Cúirt International Festival of Literature tonight (Tuesday), April 20 at Galway City Museum. The word on the ground Sunday evening was that despite flight restrictions due to the volcanic ash, the line-up has in fact expanded: Doyle will now be joined by Man Booker Prize winner, Anne Enright, at the opening event as part of the New Yorker short story strand.
The organisers of the five-day Cúirt festival were no doubt relieved to hear that many of the UK-based writers slated to appear are happy to travel to Ireland by sea. However, travel plans for writers from further afield may be unavoidably affected should the ban remain.
Regardless, the festival team is determined to overcome all obstacles – even ‘Acts of God’ – and Skype video-conferencing technology is on standby at the Town Hall Theatre. This will ensure that audiences will still have the opportunity to hear and see their favourite writers read during the festival. That said, all hope is certainly not lost: The far-flung literati have vowed to travel to the festival at short notice should the aviation authorities lift the ban earlier than expected.
The prestigious line-up of contemporary Irish writers who will (definitely) read at Cúirt this year includes Kevin Barry, Claire Keegan, Joseph O’ Connor, Michael Longley, Peter Sirr, Jennifer Johnston, Pat Boran, Anne Enright, Gerard Smyth, Philip King, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Peter Fallon, Paula Meehan, Ciaran Carson, Marina Carr, Thomas Kilroy, Eva Bourke, Fintan O’Toole, Tom French, Mary O’Malley, Celine Kiernan, Fred Johnston, Rita Ann Higgins, Moya Cannon, Nuala Hayes and many more, with even more names due to be  announced over the coming days. For the latest updates about events and attending writers, visit www.cuirt.ie.