Kildare Library Service

What Is The Connections Through Literature Series?

All events at Kildare Library Services are free of charge and open to everyone, but booking is required.


The Connections Through Literature Series has been born out of a joint love of literature, with the goal to unite readers, writers, and artists with our audiences through the medium of stimulating, contemporary and accessible events. In an exciting partnership between Kildare Libraries and the Irish Writers Centre, we are celebrating our joint love of literature & 30 years of the Irish Writers Centre.

This year the series will launch on the 21st of August with a very special event and will run all the way through to December. So please keep your eyes peeled here on our blog and social media pages for more exciting event announcements.

Join us this year from wherever you are, as we present a schedule of online events that can enjoyed from the comfort and safety of home. From conversations between Orla Tinsley and G’Ra Asim, Liam Mac Amhlaigh & Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Writing courses and even a Takin’ The Mic night for Kildare Readers Festival with Cauvery Madhavan and BeRn. 

All events are free of charge, and will be facilitated though the online platforms, Zoom. Please note that booking is required for all events.

Series Launch : Orla Tinsley x G’Ra Asim in conversation: On Punk, Prose and Cross-cultural Synergies
Saturday 21st August, 7:30pm – 9:00pm  

Join writer, activist and educator Orla Tinsley as she talks about building a writing identity, creative craft, punk and friendship with G’Ra Asim, the author, musician and assistant professor who will read from his book Boyz n the Void: A Mixtape to my Brother.

Booking through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/orla-tinsley-x-gra-asim-in-conversation-on-punk-prose-and-cross-cultural-tickets-166139328203 

Cauvery Madhavan: Rooted Hearts and Winged Minds 6 Week Memoir Writing Course Every Tuesday Beginning:

Tuesday 31st August to Tuesday 5th October, 7:00pm – 9:00pm  

Now, more than ever, understanding your heritage, your roots, and your ancestry is an important part of carving out your future writing. This course will help you embrace where you came from so you can make sense of future directions, in your creative life as well as in everyday life. Places are limited so please be sure to book now and avoid disappointment.

Booking through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/rooted-hearts-winged-minds-memoir-writing-course-with-cauvery-madhavan-tickets-166140357281 

Northern Soul with Fiona O’Rourke Every Tuesday Beginning:
Tuesday 5th October – Tuesday 9th November,  6:00pm – 8:00pm

Northern Soul is for writers wishing to focus on the North of Ireland in a safe and exploratory writing community. As this is the centenary year of the formation of the North of Ireland, course content will explore how there is more than one experience of the Troubles. Participants will read extracts from short stories, novels, essays, and poetry (including the course facilitator’s work) and use these as discussion points and exploration for their own works in progress, and to generate new work.

For writers who have dabbled and attended writing courses in the past. Suitable for writers of fiction, poetry, memoir, and creative non-fiction.

Booking through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/northern-soul-with-fiona-orourke-tickets-166498809421 

Cauvery Madhavan & BeRn: Takin’ The Mic for Kildare Readers Festival 
Saturday 9th October, 7:00pm – 9:00pm  

For the very first time the Irish Writers Centre together with Kildare Libraries and Arts present a very special IWC Takin’ the Mic session! This event will feature new and emerging writers from the Rooted Hearts and Winged Minds writing course and will also support and showcase many other new and emerging talents from creative writing groups in Kildare. 

Guest MC for the evening is Cauvery Madhavan. Special guest is the songwriter and singer, BeRn.

Booking through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/takin-the-mic-for-kildare-readers-festival-with-cauvery-madhavan-bern-tickets-166141502707

Liam Mac Amhlaimh in Conversation with Doireann Ní Ghriofa.                                                  
Saturday 13th November, 7:00pm – 8:00pm 

In celebration of 30 years of the Irish Writers’ Centre, and in collaboration with Kildare Libraries, join us as critic and literary scholar Liam Mac Amhlaigh, of Maynooth University, discusses literature and life’s journeys with the renowned poet and essayist, Doireann Ní Ghríofa. This special event, crossing bilingually from Irish into English, promises to unpack what motivates and stimulates this unique poet, combining an engaging chat with selected extracts from her work.

Agus tríocha bliain le ceiliúradh ag Arás na Scríbhneoirí i mbliana, i bpáirt le Leabharlanna Chill Dara, bígí inár dteannta nuair a chuireann an criticeoir agus scoláire liteartha Liam Mac Amhlaigh, ó Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, litríocht agus aistir an tsaoil faoi chaibidil leis an bhfile agus scríbhneoir aistí clúiteach, Doireann Ní Ghríofa. In agallamh maorga sa dá theanga, Gaeilge agus Béarla, geallann an ócáid dhraíochtúil grinnchomhrá faoi chúiseanna spreagtha agus spéis an fhile speisialta seo, anuas ar sleachta roghnacha dá saothar. 

Booking through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/liam-mac-amhlaigh-in-conversation-with-doireann-ni-ghriofa-tickets-166141261987

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