What's On

Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge is the Kildare Partner of Fighting Words. We present creative writing workshops for primary and secondary schools. Fighting Words workshops are always free of charge to the participants. Upcoming Fighting Words Workshops dates: Monday 15th September, 10am Monday 6th October, 10am Monday 3rd November, 10am Monday 8th December, 10am These workshops

Born in the Bay of Naples and named after a siren of the sea from Greek mythology, 18-year-old Parthenope (an enthralling performance by Celeste Dalla Porta) is fully aware of the power she wields with her great beauty. Her brother Raimondo is captivated and resents the interest Sandrino, the housekeeper’s son, shows in his sister.

Presented by Ouch Productions, Colm O’Grady  The Lonesome Boatman follows the incredible adventures of Buttons, a corrupt local politician who gets into his bath and sails away on the rising tides.  Upon this amazing voyage, Buttons battles with the sea, the elements and his ego (which is a kind of monster). The Lonesome Boatman is

Filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea (Pray for our Sinners) brings us author, playwright and socialite Edna O’Brien, as she reflects upon her life and career with astounding candidacy. Defying Ireland’s patriarchal, religious constraints with her sexually frank 1960 debut novel, The Country Girls, she became a literary sensation. Vilified in Ireland and escaping an abusive husband, O’Brien was empowered

Kildare Readers' Festival are delighted to welcome Rick O’Shea and Hazel Gaynor as our two guests for the ever popular Ten Books. Rick O’Shea, radio presenter, writer and chair of the Rick O’Shea Book Club online will talk with Author Hazel Gaynor, an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author, whose latest novel Before

Join us for a fly on the wall glimpse into the world of the Irish political landscape during the Rainbow Coalition of 1994 -1997. Shane Kenny, press secretary of The Rainbow Coalition, guides us through the conflicts and conversations which led to the ground-breaking Good Friday Agreement. Be enlightened to the process which established The

Join us for a conversation between Sam Blake and debut authors Roisín O’Donnell (Nesting) and Brendan MacEvilly (Deep Burn). This event presents an exciting opportunity to hear from two rising stars in the literary world as they discuss their debut novels and share their experiences of bringing their stories to life. Both O’Donnell and McEvilly

Join us for a captivating dive into Ireland’s rich and rebellious brewing past with beer historian, blogger, and podcaster Dr Christina Wade, as she discusses her acclaimed new book, Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland. As featured in The Independent (Jan 2025), this ground-breaking work uncovers the untold stories of Ireland’s women brewers, from the legendary

Former State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy joins bestselling crime writers Catherine Ryan Howard and Andrea Mara to explore how forensic and criminal investigations are portrayed in fiction – and how closely they reflect real-life cases. A gripping conversation where crime writing meets forensic reality. Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation will be provided for this event.

Our Festival Sunday begins with author Dermot Bolger conducting his traditional public conversation with two guests, author Eoin McNamee and musician Keith Donald, whose recent books – a novel and a memoir – explore their pasts in very different ways. Keith Donald’s memoir, Music and Mayhem charts the immersive and explosive life of one of Ireland’s

Kildare Readers' Festival 2025 concludes with acclaimed novelist, short story writer, playwright and Associate Professor in the English Department at Maynooth University, Belinda McKeon interviewing the newly appointed Writer-in-Residence for Maynooth University/Kildare Library and Arts Services Aingeala Flannery. This promises to be an inspiring talk, offering a glimpse into the creative life of a writer