>> Runs until 11th November<<

Free to visit during opening hours

Emily Hourican’s latest novel is inspired by real-life events in 1930s London society. Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy has recently arrived from Boston, and as the daughter of the US ambassador, she is at the centre of the most elite social circles. But when she falls for a duke-in-waiting, she realises there are plenty of people who think she doesn’t belong. Lady Brigid Guinness has no interest in love, marriage or society connections. But her brother-in-law Chips Channon has other ideas . . .

Emily Hourican is a journalist and author. She has written features for the Sunday Independent for fifteen years, as well as Image magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. Her debut novel, The Privileged, was shortlisted for the 2016 Irish Book Awards in the Best Commercial Fiction. She lives in Dublin with her husband and three children.

Thomas Carolan will be interviewing Emily Hourican while she is talking about An Invitation to the Kennedys.

A beloved and best-selling classic comes to the big screen with this adaptation of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, this timeless, coming-of-age story has transcended decades and spoken to generations. At 11, Margaret is moving to a new town and beginning to contemplate everything about life, friendship, and adolescence. She relies on her mother (McAdams), who offers loving support but is herself finding her own footing in a new place, and her grandmother Sylvia (Bates), who is coming to terms with finding happiness in the next phase of her life. For all three, questions of identity, one’s place in the world, and what brings meaning to a life will draw them closer together than ever before. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig.

Coming of age in small town. Writer in residence, Aingeala Flannery reads from her award-winning novel The Amusements, and discusses it with Ann-Marie Kelly.

Fresh from a September 2023 launch of his new album ‘The Starlight Ballroom’, join Ultan in the intimate cafe setting. This solo show showcases Ultan’s continued evolution as a compelling songwriter. Revel in the touching stories, soul-stirring melodies, and Conlon’s clear, melodic vocals. Enjoy a coffee and Ultan’s inimitable style.

Character Building. Writer in residence, Aingeala Flannery, author of award-winning novel The Amusements delivers a writing workshop on how to create memorable characters.

In a closed event exclusively for residents and service users, this concert promises to bring an enriching atmosphere with Ultan’s emotive and melodic music.

Join award-winning Irish author Donal Ryan at Portlaoise Library as he talks about writing, literature and his most recent novel, The Queen of Dirt Island. Donal will also be joined by Irish singer/songwriter Ultan Conlon, who will perform from his fifth record, The Starlight Ballroom. Ultan’s performances have been described as a “rare treat filled with original music, beguiling backstories & loud laughter which make for a wonderful, uplifting evening”.

Irish singer-songwriter ULTAN CONLON anchored his distinctive sound and sensibility in Los Angeles, California with Grammy Award- winning David Garza (Fiona Apple) who produced Ultan’s 5th record, The Starlight Ballroom. It was launched this September. Mary Coughlan grabbed & recorded Ultan’s songs “Hall of Mirrors” and “The Lumberjack” while John Martyn was touched by subsequently recorded “Really Gone”. The Starlight Ballroom, a Ballroom of Romance in Westport Co Mayo, opened its doors in the early 60s, hosted international & national acts of the day who thrilled thousands of dance goers until it closed in 1981. Roy Orbison played The Starlight in 1969 Ultan’s performances have been described as a “rare treat filled with original music, beguiling backstories & loud laughter which make for a wonderful, uplifting evening”.

So, you wanna be an artist? Writer in residence, Aingeala Flannery, author of The Amusements in conversation with Aoife Barry, on her journey from reluctant student to award-winning author.

Aingeala Flannery is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. She has completed an MFA in Creative Writing at University College Dublin. Her short story ‘Visiting Hours’ was the winner of the 2019 Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Competition. In 2020 and 2021, she was awarded a Literature Bursary by the Arts Council of Ireland. The Amusements, her first book, was the winner of the 2023 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award in association with Listowel Writers’ Week.

In this unique event, Leaves Festival writer in residence Aingeala Flannery will discuss reading and writing fiction with award winning novelist Anne Enright. Aingeala was writing her first novel The Amusements while working on her MFA in creative writing at University College Dublin. Anne Enright’s most recent novel, The Wren had recently been published to rave reviews. Journalist Alex Clark will chair the evening.

Molly Donnery is a critically acclaimed traditional Irish and contemporary singer from county Laois. Best known for her vocals with emerging band The Haar, Molly’s style combines the emotive storytelling of the tradition with modern techniques and improvisation. Having recently graduated from Film and Theatre Studies in Trinity College Dublin, Molly is currently balancing life as a freelance film producer while working on her debut ep as a solo artist, which she is planning on releasing this coming winter

Cathal Crowley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and theatre-maker from Cork. Whilst studying Music and Psychology in Trinity College Dublin, he sang at major festivals. The Spring of 2023 saw Cathal’s Dublin theatre debut in Smock Alley Theatre, with“The Wholly Divided Trinity Conspiracy of Queen Elizabeth (near Dublin)”, in which he co-wrote, directed and performed the lead role.

Anyone can make comics! In this short workshop, you will learn the basics of coming up with ideas, designing your characters, and putting pen to paper to draw your own comics. Comics are an easy and fun way to tell stories of any kind, and anyone can learn how and get started straight away.

On Saturday November 11th, Broadcaster Ann Marie Kelly brings together a collection of voices of all ages to speak under the theme ‘Stand by me.’

The event is a special lunchtime treat of Spoken Word and music taking place in the Dunamaise Arts Centre at 12pm to 1, especially for the Leaves Festival.
Special guests include Philosophy Lecturer Dr Noel Kavanagh and musicians Hubert Murray and Dubh Lee together with double bassist David Harte.
The lunchtime gathering will tell stories about friendship, loyalty and overcoming. Sharing stories and music, fun and chat, that’s what it’s all about.
Like Ann Marie Kelly’s previous successful Outdoor Spoken Word event ‘If the Walls had ears’, the audience will be invited to take part to share their own stories, if they wish.

Anyone can make comics! In this short workshop, you will learn the basics of coming up with ideas, designing your characters, and putting pen to paper to draw your own comics. Comics are an easy and fun way to tell stories of any kind, and anyone can learn how and get started straight away.

Henrietta McKervey and Andrea Carter will read and discuss their latest books with journalist John Drennan. Henrietta McKervey’s A Talented Man is set in January 1938. Struggling to stay ahead of his creditors, disillusioned author Ellis Spender decides to forge a sequel to one of the most famous novels of all time: Bram Stoker’s Dracula. He wants money, happiness and a new life abroad, and he’ll do anything to get it. A Talented Man is a page-turning psychological suspense about deception, forgery … and murder. Andrea Carter’s Death Writes begins in Early summer in Carter’s fictional Inishowen town of Glendara. The big news is that Gavin Featherstone, the peninsula’s bestselling but reclusive writer, has been persuaded to take part the town’s literary festival but he collapses and dies onstage . . .