Delvin Book Festival: Fifteen years at the heart of community and culture
The Delvin Book Festival has grown into one of the most distinctive cultural events in the region
Since its modest beginnings in May 2010, the Delvin Book Festival has grown into one of the most distinctive cultural events in the region, evolving far beyond its origins while remaining true to its core purpose: a love of books and reading.
What started as a book-centred gathering has steadily expanded to embrace the wider arts. Over the years the festival has marked its growth with memorable highlights, including the acclaimed 2018 stage adaptation of The Valley of the Squinting Windows.
In 2021 the festival quite literally stepped out into the village, making imaginative use of Delvin’s streets and spaces. Crafts were introduced in 2022, followed by music and drama in 2023 and 2024, and most recently the addition of impromptu performances in 2025, adding spontaneity and surprise to the day.
Spread across several outlets along Delvin’s main street, the festival now attracts thousands of visitors from all over the country, many drawn by the opportunity to discover first editions, signed copies and unexpected literary treasures.
This year’s festival continues that tradition while showcasing new voices. We are delighted to welcome self-published authors, including Offaly native Diarmuid Mollin, whose book Transition: Irish Peatlands in a Changing Climate will also see its striking photographs exhibited later this year at Birr Castle.
The festival will also feature local author Eileen Laughlin, whose book Annabel is a deeply moving tribute honouring the memory of her daughter.
As always, the day will be enlivened by free music and drama performances on the street, ensuring that the Delvin Book Festival remains not just an event, but a shared celebration of community, creativity and culture.
*Sponsored Content