18th June 2020

The committee of Ennis Book Club Festival are pleased to announce the appointment of Dani Gill as the new artistic director for Ennis Book Club Festival. Dani’s appointment follows on from Paul Perry who was the artistic director with the festival for the last four years. Dani and the committee will now begin work on programming for the 15th Ennis Book Club Festival which will take place on the first weekend of March in 2021.

Dani Gill has a wealth of experience in delivering festivals and is passionate about making literature accessible to all. She is a curator, producer, writer and educator, based in the west of Ireland. She is also the national Audience Development Officer for Words Ireland and was the Director of Cúirt International Festival of Literature from 2010-2016. She is very keen on developing outreach, access to the arts and community development projects. Dani’s first collection of poems was published by Salmon Poetry in 2017 and she has just completed a novel. Her literary hybrid show ‘Mirrors’, was part of the International Literature Festival Dublin, 2019. She writes reviews and features for The Irish Times. She is currently designing a literary tourism model for the west of Ireland in partnership with the Western Development Commission that will include site specific work and installations in 2021.

Dani says about her new appointment, 'I am delighted to take up the Artistic Director role at Ennis, with the hard-working and energetic team who have made this festival a great success. I’m looking forward to connecting with readers and book lovers nationwide as we assemble our programme for next year.'  

Cora Gunter, chairperson of the committee of Ennis Book Club festival added, ‘we are delighted that Dani is joining our team. Dani brings a wealth of experience in programming literary festivals. She is also very interested in exploring events that appeal to all readers but especially with book club groups who are our key audience.'

Cora also said, ‘we know that we are facing into challenging times in programming live events in Ennis for 2021 but we hope to be able to deliver on that hope and that people will be able to access Ennis Book Club Festivals events by that time.’

Dani will begin working on the programme of the next Ennis Book Club Festival in the next few weeks. This annual celebration of book clubs and readers will hope to combine a unique mix of readings, discussion, music and chat all located in the beautiful town of Ennis.

 For further information, please contact Bríd Hayes at 086 1522169 or info@ennisbookclubfestival.com

5th March 2020

We are currently finalising our plans to welcome you all to the Ennis Book Club Festival this weekend.

We are, of course, keeping a close eye on the situation regarding Covid-19 and will follow the advice & guidelines of the HSE. We advise all patrons to do the same and to use hand washing and sanitising facilities available during the weekend.

21st February 2020

To cater for the demand for tickets, we have moved The Ministry of Dreams: Michael Murphy and Ciana Campbell from Maguire Suite to Banner Suite in The Old Ground Hotel, where there is additional seating.

We have also added an additional session of Book Making Workshop: Simply Sewn Books at 11:00 on Friday morning.

21st February 2020

The exhibition of works from the Arts Council collection in Visual Arts commissioned by EBCF is open now in glor. It will run until Saturday 21^st March.

It is one element of an unusual project that combines the visual, written and performance arts and gives people an opportunity to follow the process. EBCF invited writer Mia Gallagher to curate the exhibition and write a new piece in response to it. She will read the story in 3 durational performances between 5 and 7pm in glor on Saturday 7th March. She will also discuss the process of the project - its genesis, curation, installation and writing - with EBCF Artistic Director Paul Perry at 2pm on Friday 6th March. By happy coincidence, Christine Mackey, one of the artists whose work is included, will speak during the glór First Friday Series talk at 12:30 the same day.

You will also have a special opportunity to buy Mia’s story in print during the Festival.

30th January 2020

We have a real treat in store for our launch and next Beyond Borders Book Club evening on 30th January in the Temple Gate hotel. Ken O'Sullivan will transport us to Ireland's Deep Atlantic and recount Stories from the Deep together with our regular BBBC host, Sarah Clancy, who can delve deep into just about everything. The evening starts at 7pm with a welcome drink, followed by an overview of our fantastic Festival lineup, with Ken's talk immediately afterwards. All are welcome. Event details.

2nd January 2020

Happy New Year and we hope one of your highlights for 2020 will be the Ennis Book Club Festival 6th -8th March. Our full programme is just released and we have a feast of stimulating events, including interviews with leading authors such as Sarah Moss and the writing duo behind the Aislings, a live recording of Sunday Miscellany, lunch with Éanna Ní Lamhna, performance with Lemn Sissay, political discussion with Bobby McDonagh, a pop-up book club meeting, music, poetry, yoga, craft sessions and lots of opportunity for chat. 

As a Festival first, EBCF commissioned writer Mia Gallagher to curate a special show from the Arts Council Collection in Visual Arts to exhibit at glór during the Festival and to write a short story inspired by the artwork. See our events page for all the details.

14th March 2019

9th March 2019

Thanks to all of you who came to our 2019 Festival. We'd love to hear what you thought of it, and suggestions of what you would like next year - yes, we're thinking about that already. Everyone who completes a survey is entered in a draw for two free tickets to the Ennis Book Club Festival in March 2020.

27th February 2019

"Book reading is a solitary occupation but reading a book with a book club transforms it into an activity where you connect with people, often in deeper ways than you normally would." says Bridget Ginnity

https://www.thejournal.ie/…/opinion-book-clubs-are-my-life…/

26th February 2019

Due to unforeseen circumstance and with regret on behalf of the organisers the Mis event is now cancelled. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and refunds will be provided on all tickets purchased. Please contact glór Box office on 065 684 3103 -- Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm regarding refunds.

21st February 2019

Mis le Biddy Jenkinson will now take place in the Studio in glór on Saturday 2nd March at 4pm instead of Dánlann an Chláir as previously stated. Apologies for the change and we hope it does not inconvenience you.

15th February 2019

Clare FM's Morning Focus with Gavin Grace  will be having a fantastic ticket giveaway during the week of 18th February - 4 tickets to win every day.

So listen in between 9 and 11am for a chance to win.

7th February 2019

We’ll be giving a shoutout at some of our main events to some of the bookclubs who are attending, so send in brief details and your club might be included. All the better if you can mention something special or interesting about your bookclub and what event(s) you are definitely attending. Send your details to info@ennisbookclubfestival.com with "book club request" in the subject line.

30th January 2019

Are you going to an event on your own during this year's Festival? Do you like to chat with people beside you? If so, you might be interested in booking a Solo Seat. These are small groups of seats reserved for people booking a single ticket for events with allocated seating. If you want to make it even easier to meet people at our friendly Festival, specify a Solo Seat when you book for events at glór. Events outside glór are free seating.

22th January 2019

The Clare Champion have teamed up with Ennis Book Club Festival to run a book festival themed window display competition for local retailers over the course of the Festival. The committee are represented on the judging panel, so let us know during the festival which displays really caught your eye - and it's nice to let the businesses know as well. If you are a business and would like to find out more, contact the Clare Champion or info@ennisbookclubfestival.com. 

9th January 2019

You could win 2 nights B&B plus dinner for 2 in the fabulous Temple Gate Hotel - great for you or for friends, Simply answer the following question: 

Where is Elif Shafak from? 

Answers to
info@ennisbookclubfestival.com
by 30/01/19.

7th December 2018

EBCF are collecting information from locals who would like to host visitors to the Ennis Book Club Festival at a reasonable fee. We think it’s a lovely way to connect locals and visitors and maybe even make new friends.

Keep an eye on our accommodation page for details. If you think you would like to host a visitor, contact us by emailing info@ennisbookclubfestival.com.

1st November 2018

We've had our first Beyond Borders Book Club event for the season, when Malgorzata Buchalik gave a great introduction to Stanislaw Lem. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 29 November at 8.00pm in the Rowan Tree Café.  William Woghlemuth will discuss the life and work of Hungarian poet Gyögry Faludy. The event is free and all are welcome. Check here for all Beyond Borders Book Club dates.  

1st November 2018

Best-selling writer and raconteur Michael Harding will read from his latest memoir, ruminate on the difference between psychotherapy and religion, and relate the story of his pilgrimage to Skellig Michael, in his ongoing search for meaning at glór on Thursday 22nd November at 8pm. This event is hosted in association with Ennis Book Club Festival. BOOK NOW

9th October 2018

EBCF is delighted to be a finalist in the Clare Business Excellence Awards. This is a credit to the wonderful volunteers who help out with such enthusiasm during our festival weekend and to all the individuals, organisations and business in the community who support us in so many ways. The other worthy finalists are Ennis Tidy Towns and the 12 O'Clock Hills project in Kilkishin (a walk we highly recommend). The winner is announced by Ennis Chamber on November 15th.

30th June 2018

The Ennis Book Club Festival seeks a Festival Administrator to support the festival programme for the 2019 Ennis Book Club Festival (01-03 March 2019).

Ennis Book Club Festival is one of Ireland’s leading literary festivals and it brings together a diverse range of authors to local and national audiences to Ennis each year in March.

The Festival Administrator will work closely with and report directly to the Festival Committee. (S) he will also support the Festival Director in implementing the Book Club Festival.

The successful candidate should be highly motivated and possess, some or all of the following expertise and skills:

• Strong interest in literature, literary developments and the development of book clubs
• Corporate sponsorship
• Marketing, PR and Communications experience
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent written, oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Capable of working on own initiatve

Submission Deadline:  The position will be a short term and part-time contract from September to April.  To apply please send a CV and cover letter to info@ennisbookclubfestival.com by 5pm on 13 July 2018. (Please note that shortlisting of applications may apply, with successful candidates required to attend for interview with the Ennis Book Club Festival Committee in Ennis.)