A fantastic piece in the Westmeath Examiner – regarding the upcomg Mullingar Literary Festival 2025

The Westmeath Examiner took the time to speak to festival PRO Don Mortell

As work continues on planning for the inaugural Mullingar Literary Festival (July 4 to 6), the organisers have updated details of the line-up.

The festival will feature events including author talks, book signings, workshops, and more, celebrating the rich literary heritage of the region.

Attendees include crime writer Patricia Gibney, novelist Anne Griffin, Victoria Mary Clarke, journalist and author, Nicole Flattery, recipient of the An Post New Irish Voice 2024 award, and established local authors Lorraine Murphy, Dolores Keaveney, Tess McKevitt, and Jimmy O’Connell will contribute.

The festival opens on July 4 at Caffrey’s on Mount Street with a performance by hip-hop and spoken word artist Olympio.

Over the weekend, visitors can enjoy musical performances by acts such as Cronin, jazz artist Raimonda, and singer-songwriter Paulie Martin. Literary sessions will be complemented by contributions from the Poetry Kiln Collective and the Inklings Mullingar writing group.

Adding another dimension, historian Ruth Illingworth will lead guided tours highlighting the rich literary past of Mullingar.

Festival PRO Don Mortell said “the Mullingar Literary Festival definitely has something for everyone”.