Iron Mountain Literature Festival explores peace, conflict, and cultural legacy

The Iron Mountain Literature Festival, set to take place in Carrick-on-Shannon from Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th, 2024, has officially sold out. This year’s festival promises an exciting lineup of renowned writers, historians, and cultural commentators, all gathering to explore themes of peace, war, and the music of what happens.

Taking place at The Dock, the 2024 edition will feature literary luminaries such as Kevin Barry, Neil Jordan, Nelofer Pazira-Fisk, and Ronan McGreevy. Friday’s opening night will include readings by acclaimed Galway writer Caoilinn Hughes, Welsh music critic Jude Rogers, and Kevin Barry, followed by live music from Mohammad Syfkhan, Zoe Basha, and Rose Connolly.

Saturday’s events include a guided tour of Strokestown Park House and the National Famine Museum, offering an exploration of Ireland’s social and political history. Back at The Dock, artist Richard Malone will introduce A Record of Tenderness, a striking exhibition delving into themes of labour and class through textile work.

Throughout the weekend, thought-provoking discussions will centre on peace and conflict. Denis Bradley, a Derry peace negotiator, will read from his memoir Peace Comes Dropping Slow: My Life in the Troubles. Guardian journalist Rory Carroll will discuss his book Killing Thatcher: The IRA, The Manhunt and the Long War on the Crown, while Ronan McGreevy will address the controversial 1983 kidnapping of Don Tidey in his co-authored book The Kidnapping.

On Saturday, a highlight of the festival will be the presentation of the John McGahern Award, which is supported by Leitrim County Council and the McGahern Estate. This award, created to honour the exceptional contribution of John McGahern to literature and to Leitrim, also encourages the development of emerging Irish writers. The recipient, who will receive a prize of €2,500, will be announced on October 5th during the festival. McGahern, one of Ireland’s most celebrated authors, is internationally renowned for his fiction, which includes Amongst Women, The Dark, and The Barracks. His work continues to be a major influence on Irish literature, and his legacy is honoured annually at this festival.

Nelofer Pazira-Fisk will reflect on her late husband, journalist Robert Fisk, and his final book, Night of Power: The Betrayal of the Middle East, offering insights into ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.

Sunday’s closing event, the Iron Mountain Session, will bring literature and traditional Irish music together at Rynn’s Bar, Ballinaglera. Though sold out, the festival will be a vibrant weekend celebrating literature, history, and culture in Leitrim.