Back with a bang – now bring on festival 55

Lisa O’Flaherty and Elish Wrenn who were among the hardworking volunteers with the festival in Listowel.
Photos: Domnick Walsh

It’s back – with a vengeance.

The fabulous Listowel Writers’ Week 2025 – a literary festival like no other – has been hailed an outstanding success, placing the culture-rich event back on pedestal after a few testing years.

Chairman Ned O’Sullivan said all involved are this week breathing a long sigh of relief after a wonderful festival.

Just some of the dedicated people at the heartbeat of the Listowel Literary Festival 2025: Michael Lynch, Margaret Sheehan, Maire O’Connor, Ned O’Sullivan, Madeleine O’Sullivan, Joanna Ó Flynn and Máire Logue

He said there had been a very worrying time but the festival “came through a lot of difficulty”.

“We endure it and we have come out on top,” he remarked.

The chairman said the attendances at the various events – starting with “a massive crowd” on opening night – were very impressive with maximum crowds at most venues throughout the week.

Joan Graham, Thomas Graham and Dan Enright enjoying the festival

Mr O’Sullivan thanked the board of directors, the staff, the team of volunteers and everybody in the community for their support.

“They rallied around us when we were in trouble, they stuck with us and they are here celebrating with us tonight,” he said at the busy closing ceremony.

The chairman said there had been some confusion this year about the title of the festival with some referring to it as the Listowel Literary Festival and others remaining loyal to Listowel Writers’ Week.

“We entered into a collaborative agreement with our great friends in St John’s (theatre and arts centre) and the Kerry Writers’ Museum but, lest there be any doubt in the wide earthily world, this time next year we’ll be bring a close to the 55th anniversary of Listowel Writers’ Week,” he said to rousing cheers.

Niall Williams receiving the 2025 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award for his novel *Time of the Child* (Bloomsbury Publishing) from Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer with Kerry Group

The winners of the main prizes this year were:

Kerry Group Novel of the Year: Niall Williams (Time of The Child).
Piggot Poetry Prize: Kerrie Hardie (We Go On).
Nissan Heritage Award: Vincent Carmody (North Kerry Camera Revisited 1860-1970).
Single Poem Award: Edel Molloy (I’d prefer to talk about rats).
Foras na Gaeilge: Caitríona Lane (Fealladh na Geallaí).
Poetry Collection: Michael Naghten Shanks (This is what it feels like).
Adults with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities: Fiona McCarthy (Nessie’s Got A Better Love Life Than Us).

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