Bookville 2023 Festival returns to Kilkenny libraries this October

Bookville, a Kilkenny festival of books for families and children, celebrates its seventh consecutive year in 2023 with events from October 12 to 18.

The fabulous programme of free events caters for school groups and the general public.

This year’s festival is the most diverse ever featuring the now hugely popular Bookville Festival book, which will be delivered to over 13,000 primary school children around the county, in-person workshops, a Bookville exhibition, videos and, new for 2023, online virtual workshops. 

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County Librarian, Josephine Coyne said, “Now in it’s seventh year, Bookville 2023 is bigger and better than ever. Seven years ago the festival offered in-person workshops and an exhibition. This year Bookville has expanded to include in-person
workshops, virtual workshops, an exhibition, a Bookville festival book and videos.
"This enables a much wider reach and engagement with more children, schools and families than ever before. The library service is delighted to be involved with this inspirational programme.”

The Bookville festival programme features 34 children’s authors and illustrators from Ireland and the UK.

Over the six festival days, there will be 50 in-person and virtual workshops given by 22 authors and illustrators, covering creative writing, history, comedy, music, illustration, drama, storytelling, craft, poetry and activities as Gaeilge.

As well as featuring many well-known Irish and UK authors and illustrators, such as Judi Curtin, Chris Haughton, Duncan Beedie and children’s laureate Áine Ní Ghlinn, Bookville is proud to support the talent on their Kilkenny doorstep. The programme this year includes drama workshops with local theatre companies Barnstorm and Monkeyshine as well as music with singing and samba drums workshops with Music Generation Kilkenny.

There will be a separate programme for schools and for the general public, with all events taking place in eight libraries across county Kilkenny. Pre-booking is essential for all events. Booking will open at 9am on Tuesday 19 th September. Places are
limited, so early booking is advised.

The Bookville exhibition is open for school visits and to the general public from October 5 to October 18.

According to Arts Officer, Mary Butler,

“This year Bookville is delighted to bring to Kilkenny a fabulous, thought-provoking exhibition by artist, film-maker, writer and grower, Lisa Fingleton. Titled, “The Sandwich Story” the exhibition sets out to illustrate the journey of one BLT sandwich and all its ingredients, uncovering some surprising discoveries along the way.”

This year’s video programme includes six free, pre-recorded online videos. There are videos as Gaeilge, in Irish Sign Language, in Polish and Ukrainian as well as a video for pre-school children. The videos will be available on the Bookville website
from October 12.

The annual Bookville Festival is a collaboration by the Kilkenny Arts Office and Kilkenny County Council Library Service and supported by Creative Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland. The books featured are available from local Kilkenny
libraries, Khans Books and the Kilkenny Book Centre.