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Liadain O’Donovan, daughter of renowned Irish writer Frank O’Connor, will speak on Saturday evening in place of Julia O’Faolain at Mitchelstown Literary Festival.

Mitchelstown Literary Festival which runs this weekend received a mix of news both good and bad over the last few days. The bad news is that unfortunately, as a result of health issues, Julia O’Faoláin is unable to attend. The good news however is that the festival has been able to secure the services of Liadain O'Donovan, daughter of renowned Irish writer Frank O'Connor, to speak on Saturday evening in place of Ms O'Faolain.

"Liadain rarely gives public talks, preferring instead to participate in literary festivals by attending, so it will make for a very special and unique occasion to hear her speak about her father," Liam Cusack the festival secretary told The Avondhu on Tuesday.

"Liadain returned to Ireland twenty years ago from San Francisco and now lives in Kinvara, Co. Galway.  On Saturday evening she will be talking about memories of her father and growing up in Dublin in the post-war years," he said.

The festival will be officially opened by Irish historical writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist, Tim Pat Coogan at 8pm in The Firgrove Hotel. Mr Coogan served as editor of The Irish Press newspaper from 1968 to 1987. Today, he is best known for his popular and sometimes controversial books on aspects of modern Irish history, including The IRA, Ireland Since the Rising, On the Blanket, and biographies of Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera. His biography of Éamon de Valera proved the most controversial, taking issue with the former Irish president's reputation and achievements, in favour of those of Collins, whom he regards as indispensable to the creation of the new State.

Friday night's programme will be introduced by Cormac MacConnell who will act as MC for the weekend. Following Tim Pat Coogan's address, Tom McAlindon will speak on 'The convergance of comedy and tragedy in the fiction of William Trevor'.

Saturday's 'early' programme gets underway at 2.30pm in St Colman's Church, Farahy where Hilary Lennon will speak on 'Frank O'Connor and the Free State Short Story' and, later in the afternoon, 'Memoir' will feature Professor Brendan O'Mahony (whose father was a native of Mitchelstown) in The Firgrove Hotel at 4.30pm.

Saturday's night time programme commences at 7.30pm with the feature event of the festival when the winner of this year's International Short Story Competition will be presented with her prize. This takes place at Kingston College chapel to be followed by a reading of the winning story 'Saints and Kidneys' by the winning author, Eleanor O'Reilly. Then it will be the turn of Liadain O'Donovan who, no doubt, will regale her audience with the life and times of her very famous dad before festival goers go on to enjoy a trad/folk session at Walsh's Bar, rounding off a fairly busy day.

To coincide with the festival, a creative writing workshop will be held at the Kingston Arms in Kings Square on Sunday morning commencing at 10am, facilitated by John W Sexton.

Further enquiries and tickets etc., can be had from 025/84969 or 086/8248736 or through email: cusackliam@eircom.net

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