Date: Friday 29th May 2026

Venue: Listowel Arms Hotel Main Room

Time: 1 PM

New Journeys from East Clare to New Ross

Two debuts, two writers who explore very different yet deeply human forms of tension and connection in Irish life. Dara Waldron, author of A Sheepdog Named Oscar, is a reflective memoir following his journey through grief and healing in rural Clare, where rescuing a border collie becomes a source of solace and renewal and an exploration of the unspoken understanding between human and animal.

Neil Tully’s The Visit transports readers to 1963 New Ross on the brink of JFK’s historic visit, weaving a tense story of ambition, frustration, and consequence in a small-town community. Sergeant Jim Field feels a guilty paternalism for Patrick Hatten, a young man struggling to find a job, a life and a purpose. Both are used to being on the fringes but while Jim is a romantic with bad health and regret, Patrick is full of anger and action, and his actions could have devastating effects.

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Venue: St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre

Time: 1 PM

A One Man Theatre Show Written and Directed by Mikel Murfi. Commissioned by the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo and Sligo Arts Office as part of Bealtaine 2012.

Winner: Stewart Parker/ BBC Northern Ireland Radio Drama Award 2013 Winner: Writers Guild of Ireland (Zebby) Award 2014: Best Theatre Script Irish Times Theatre Awards: Best New Play 2013: Shortlisted

The show was created with the support of the Sligo County Council Arts Service and The Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo as part of the Bealtaine Festival for Creativity in older people. The Man In The Woman’s Shoes has toured extensively in Ireland since 2012. It has played in NYC at the Irish Arts Centre in Manhattan, and The Tricycle Theatre, London. It is the first show in a trilogy of shows followed by I Hear You and Rejoice and The Mysterious Case of Kitsy Rainey.

Just outside of town, cobbler Pat Farnon lives on his own, contentedly aging in the cottage in which he was reared. Join him as he walks the five miles into his “metropolis,” populated with no-necked water diviners, sporting savants, loudmouths, and preachers.

“Astonishing…this is a high-top performance.” NEW YORK TIMES CRITIC’S PICK

“A miniature masterpiece” The Times, London

“Extraordinary physical performance… sharp observational comedy” The Sunday Times

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Date: Friday 29th May 2026

Venue: Plaza Hall

Time: 12 PM

Lecture by Tom Hubbard
Tom Hubbard will deliver a lecture exploring Seamus Heaney’s relationship with Europe, examining how Heaney’s poetry and cultural outlook connected Irish writing with wider European traditions and ideas. Tom Hubbard is a Scottish poet, literary scholar, and critic. He has published widely on contemporary poetry, Irish and European literature and is respected for his engaging lectures and insightful analysis.

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