Interview with Laurence Meehan, chair of the new Mullingar Literary Festival

Question: What motivated you to launch the festival in Mullingar, which takes place this weekend, July 4-6?

Laurence: It stems from a deep love of storytelling and a realisation that Mullingar has been quietly home to a rich literary and cultural tradition. We want to bring that heritage to the spotlight – inviting both national figures and local voices to celebrate, explore, and inspire. It’s about community, creativity and shared discovery.

Question: How does the line-up reflect your goals for the festival?

Laurence: We’ve built a varied programme – from hip-hop and spoken word to author conversations, children’s events, workshops, poetry, music, historical walks and open-mic nights. Our aim is inclusivity: every age, every interest. Big names like Victoria Mary Clarke, Patricia Gibney, Anne Griffin, John Connell, Cronin, Brinsley McNamara and Nicole Flattery complement fantastic local talent and groups such as the Poetry Kiln Collective, Inklings, Dolores Keaveney, Jimmy O’Connell, Tess McKevitt and many more.

Question: Can you walk us through the official schedule?

Laurence: Here is the full programme (all events free except where specified)

Festival Programme

Mullingar Literary Festival (4–6 July)

Friday, 4 July

5.30–6pm – Festival Launch at Caffrey’s Bar, Mount Street

6–7pm – Olympio: Hip-hop, spoken word and storytelling, Caffrey’s

7.15–8.15pm – Poetry Kiln Collective performance, Caffrey’s

9–10pm – Victoria Mary Clarke in conversation with Don Mortell, Greville Arms Hotel

10pm – Cronin live music, Greville Arms Hotel (€10 entry fee)

Saturday, 5 July

11am–12pm – Dolores Keaveney: Children’s and Parents session, Mullingar Library

12–1.15pm – Lorraine Murphy: The Big Community Haiku@ Mullingar Library

2–3pm – Brendan Martin in conversation with Brian McLoughlin, Caffrey’s

3–4pm – Brinsley MacNamara with Caroline Barry, Caffrey’s

4–5pm – Paulie Martin&Don Mortell: songwriting and lyrical craft, Caffrey’s

5–6pm–Lorraine Murphy and Chele Crawley, Caffrey’s

6.15–7.15pm– Mullingar Toastmasters fun speeches, stories, improv., Caffrey’s

7.30–8.30pm – Nicole Flattery in conversation with Anne Griffin, Caffrey’s

8.30–9.30pm – Patricia Gibney in conversation with Lorraine Murphy, Caffrey’s

10pm – Jack Gaudet live music, Caffrey’s

Sunday, 6 July

11am – Literary Walk led by Ruth Illingworth, starting at Market Square, ending at Greville Arms Hotel (€5 adults, children free)

2–2.30pm – Seamus O’Brien: Historical Mullingar, Caffrey’s

3–4pm – Poetry hosted by Jimmy O’Connell, featuring Claire O’Reilly and Sean Ruane, Caffrey’s

4.30–5.30pm – John Connell in conversation with Anne Griffin, Caffrey’s

6–7.30pm – Anne Griffin in conversation with Lorraine Murphy, Caffrey’s

7.30–9pm – Tess McKevitt and Raimonda: Poetry and Music, Caffrey’s

9–10pm – Inklings Live, concluding festival, Caffrey’s

10pm – Naosán Moore live music, Caffrey’s

Question: A brilliant blend of events – what impact do you hope this festival will have on Mullingar?

Laurence: I want people to discover a renewed sense of pride in our town – whether through a new literary voice, a powerful poem or a walk through our streets filled with stories. My hope is that attendees leave uplifted, inspired and connected – and that many of them come back next year!

You can find information on all of the above on mullingarliteraryfestival.com.

Laurence Meehan, chair of Mullingar Literary Festival, is a member of Inklings Creative Writing Group, who meets on Tuesdays at 11am, Wednesdays at 7.30pm and Saturdays (Summer Series) at 3pm, all in the Annebrook House Hotel. Aspiring writers welcome. “We make writing fun.”