Echoes of the Past: An evening with Marita Conlon-McKenna

Skibbereen Arts Festival

Acclaimed author Marita Conlon-McKenna in conversation with  Caragh Bell.

O'Donovan Rossa GAA Club

Skibbereen Arts Festival 2024

Arts in the Heart of West Cork. 
Possible the friendliest arts festival in the country, Skibbereen Arts Festival is a 10-day celebration of the arts, packed with the very best of local, national and international talent. Come and Enjoy!

Join us for an engaging evening with acclaimed author Marita Conlon-McKenna, hosted by Caragh Bell, as they delve into the rich tapestry of Ireland's history and culture through Marita's celebrated books. Discover the inspirations behind her beloved stories, the research that brings her historical novels to life, and the powerful narratives that have captivated readers around the world. This insightful conversation will explore themes of resilience, heritage, and the timeless beauty of Ireland, offering a unique glimpse into the creative process of one of Ireland's most treasured authors. Perfect for literature enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this event promises to be an enlightening and inspiring experience. Marita Conlon McKenna is an award winning Irish writer of both adult and children’s fiction. Her first book ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree,’ which was set during Ireland’s Great Famine, has become a children’s classic and is part of the international best-selling ‘The Children of the Famine’ series.Her new children’s book ‘Fairy Hill’ is full of magic and mystery and was inspired by W.B Yeats Poem ‘The Stolen Child‘ and Irish legends and lore. Her other best- selling children’s books are ‘Wildflower Girl’, ‘Fields of Home,’ ‘The Blue Horse, ‘Safe Harbour’, ‘No goodbye’, In Deep Dark Wood, and ‘A Girl Called Blue’.Her adult novels include ‘The Magdalen’ and ‘Rebel Sisters, and ‘The Hungry Road’.The Hungry Road is set in Skibbereen during the height of the Great Irish Famine and was inspired by the life of Doctor Dan Donovan whose ‘Diary of a Famine Doctor was published and serialized in newspapers both in Ireland ,Great Britain and overseas and helped to bring the plight of Irish people to public attention. His honest witness accounts of the human suffering and devastation caused by the Great Famine is a testament to a man who worked tirelessly in the town and district and workhouse to help the starving and sick all those in need.She is a winner of the of the International Reading Association Award ( U.S) and The Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award ( Ireland), Kalbach Klapperschlange, German Children’s Choice Book Award Reading Association of Ireland Award, IBBY-White Raven Book Choice , The Burke Medal (Trinity College Hist. Soc. ) for her contribution to Discourse through the Arts. Her work has been adapted for stage, film and TV. She is a former Chair Person of Irish PEN and lives in Dublin.

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