Graiguenamanagh Set for Town of Books Festival
GRAIGUENAMANAGH will once again transform itself into a literary hub for book lovers around the world this weekend, as the annual Town of Books Festival takes place from Friday to Sunday (21–23 August).
The festival has drawn big names and renowned collectors to the town down through the years and continues to grow into one of the country's most-loved literary celebrations, welcoming readers, writers, artists and visitors for a vibrant programme of cultural events.
This year marks a landmark moment for the festival's main sponsor, Carlow-based web solutions company Blacknight Internet Solutions, which was founded in the same year as the Town of Books itself (2003). Both organisations have grown from local beginnings into internationally recognised success stories while remaining proudly rooted in the South East.
As the festival strengthens its global ties through the International Book Town Association, Blacknight is entering a new phase of expansion, and has grown to serve over 90,000 customers in more than 170 countries. Other main sponsors for 2026 include Kilkenny County Council and St. Canice's Credit Union.
More than 30 book dealers will travel from across Ireland and the UK, with every available space in the picture-postcard town turned into a bookshop for the weekend.
Among those returning are Black Gull Books from London, Mark Skipper Rare Books from Cheltenham, and John Edmondson of Acanthophyllum Books, specialising in antiquarian titles on botany, ecology and gardens. Pat Dunne from Kildare will bring GAA books and programmes, while Wexford's Nerd Up returns with comics, graphic novels and manga, alongside dealers offering rare first editions, fiction and children's books.
Friday's programme kicks off with a Drinks Reception at 7pm in Abbey Lane, followed at 8pm by Edward Hayden in Conversation with RTÉ Investigates producer and author Frank Shouldice, and Patrick Doherty, author of debut novel Pure Innocent Boy (free, booking required on Eventbrite).
Saturday and Sunday bring the ever-popular craft fair to Abbey Hall, alongside an exhibition of UCD architecture students' work at Duiske Glass, open studio sessions at Cushendale Woollen Mills, and a full schedule at the Barrow Valley Activities Hub, including nature talks with naturalist Éanna Ní Lamhna, children's workshops, face painting and poetry readings by the Barrow. Saturday afternoon also sees "The Beast" outside broadcast take over The Square.
The weekend closes on Sunday with the Duiske Abbey Choir performing after 11am Mass, a talk and light brunch on Kilkenny's heritage ironwork and stonecraft at O'Driscoll's Pub in Tinnahinch, and judging of this year's plein air paintings.
For more information, visit the festival's social media pages: www.instagram.com/irelandstownofbooks and www.facebook.com/IrelandsBooktown.
