Since 2006, Dublin Book Festival has been a mainstay of the Irish writing and publishing scene, and a highlight of the literary year, supporting Irish literary voices. Each November, the festival programmes over 100 events across 5 days in venues all around Dublin City, celebrating the very best of Ireland's writers, illustrators and publishers, both new and established. Events range from authors in conversation, poetry, book launches and walking tours, to workshops, engaging creative events for all the family, and more.
The Science of Storytelling: Shane O'Mara, Niall de Búrca and Claire O'Connell
Storytelling is as old as time, but what about the sciencebehind it? Join neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, author ofTalking Heads: The New Science of How Conversation ShapesOur Worlds, and master traditional storyteller Niall deBúrca we delve into communication, connection, andwhy storytelling remains such a powerful form of humanexpression. In conversation with science writer Claire O'Connell.
Recorded at Dublin Book Festival 2025.
Event supported by Research Ireland as part of Science Week 2025.
12 Apr 2026
Immersed in Nature: Seán Ronayne, Ruby Free and Ella McSweeney
Join us to explore two immersive nature books, both a celebration of the beauty of nature and a call to action to safeguard it. In Nature Boy ornithologist Seán Ronayne charts his experience recording the sound of birds throughout Ireland, revealing a journey of self-discovery and connection, and the extraordinary healing power of nature. In Rathlin: AWild Life, conservation biologist Ruby Free charts her thrilling experience working in one of the wildest and most biodiverse corners of the UK and Ireland. The authors joined journalist Ella McSweeney in conversation.
Recorded at Dublin Book Festival 2025.
Event supported by Research Ireland as part of Science Week 2025.
4 Apr 2026
The Lure of Crime Writing: Marie Cassidy, Gill Perdue and Andrew Hughes
From gripping plots and shocking twists to truths that may be best left buried, our panel of bestselling crime writers explores the lure of crime writing for readers and writers alike. Deadly Evidence is the latest crime thriller from former State Pathologist and author Marie Cassidy, about speaking truth to power no matter the cost. The Night I Killed Him by Gill Perdue is a compulsive thriller about deception, guilt and grief. The authors joined fellow crime writer Andrew Hughes in conversation.
Recorded at Dublin Book Festival 2025.
3 Apr 2026
Reimagining: Hazel Gaynor, Paul Perry and Aoife Barry
Step back in time with us as we explore two captivating novels that reimagine stories as we know them. In Paradise House Paul Perry conjures a vivid image of life for James Joyce had he succeeded with the Volta, Ireland’s first cinema. In Before Dorothy, Hazel Gaynor imagines Dorothy’s earlier life and what came before, delving into the story of her Aunt Emily and the challenges she faced on the barren Kansas prairies, long before Dorothy is uprooted to Oz. The authors joined author and arts journalist Aoife Barry in conversation.
Recorded at Dublin Book Festival 2025.
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31 Mar 2026
Women's Stories in Contemporary Irish Fiction: Faith Hogan, Sheila O'Flanagan, Sophie White and Edel Coffey
Bestselling Irish contemporary fiction authors,Faith Hogan, Sheila Flanagan and Sophie White, explore the themes that define their work: resilience, relationships, personal transformation, and the rich tapestry of modern Irish life. The conversation delves into the changing face of women’s fiction, how these authors craft characters that readers around the world connect with so deeply, and how women’s fiction continues to go from strength to strength. Chaired by author Edel Coffey.
Recorded as part of Dublin Book Festival 2025.
1 May 2025
Jan Carson and Mary Costello at Dublin Book Festival 2024
Join us to hear two of Ireland's most acclaimed short story writers, Jan Carson and Mary Costello, in conversation with Breda Brown about their latest collections, at Dublin Book Festival 2024.
21 Apr 2025
Roddy Doyle and Donal Ryan at Dublin Book Festival 2024
Join us to hear two of Ireland's most acclaimed authors, Roddy Doyle and Donal Ryan, in conversation with Alex Clark about their latest novels, at Dublin Book Festival 2024.
10 Mar 2022
Learwife - JR Thorp in conversation with Nadine O'Regan at Dublin Book Festival
Tune in for a fascinating conversation as JR Thorp, author of Learwife, joins Nadine O'Regan in conversation at Dublin Book Festival 2021.
16 Feb 2022
Play It Forward Launch
Play It Forward Fellowships, a joint initiative between Skein Press and The Stinging Fly, is a programme aimed at nurturing and amplifying the talents of writers whose voices and stories have traditionally been underrepresented in Irish literature and publishing. Join programme ambassadors, Lucy Caldwell and Cauvery Madhavan, in conversation with editor Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe at Dublin Book Festival 2021, then listen to a showcase of readings by the inaugural cohort of fellows - Gonchigkhand Byambaa, Sara Chudzik, Neo Florence Gilson, Majed Mujed and Sarah Fitzgerald.
1 Feb 2022
Emerging Writers' Podcast with Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan
Arts manager, writer, and performer Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan is joined in conversation by some of Ireland's most exciting new writers, including debut authors John Patrick McHugh and Megan Nolan, and poet Dagogo Hart. A Dublin Book Festival event as part of Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival 2021.
10 Jan 2022
Sticking to the Facts
Tune in to hear Professor Luke O'Neill and Mark Henry in conversation with Aoife Barry at DBF2021.
1 Dec 2021
When We Cease to Understand the World
Benjamín Labatut in conversation with Rick O’Shea at Dublin Book Festival 2021.
In partnership with the Embassy of Chile in Ireland
Sometimes the greatest discoveries bring the greatest destruction
Join Dublin Book Festival for an evening with Chilean author Benjamín Labatut as he discusses his novel, which was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2021, with broadcaster and national literary connoisseur Rick O’Shea.
29 Nov 2021
Neil Jordan & Nuala O'Connor in conversation with Breda Brown
Join Dublin Book Festival in association with Culture Ireland, as they bring a blend of traditional and contemporary Irish culture to Blue Metropolis 2021. Presenter Breda Brown sits down with multi-award winning author and director Neil Jordan and author Nuala O'Connor with musical interludes from the enchanting duo Clare Sands & Susan O'Neill. Filmed in the beautiful, bookish surroundings of Kevin Street Library in central Dublin.
4 Dec 2020
The New Novelists with Róisín Ingle
Róisín Ingle in conversation with Naoise Dolan, Susannah Dickey, and Hilary Fannin for Dublin Book Festival 2020
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