Irish Writer's Weekend: State of the Nation, Irish Literature Now

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Jessica Traynor and Martin Doyle in conversation with Laura Hackett.

The oft-described golden age of Irish literature shows little signs of abating, with exciting new writers coming through annually to join its stellar line up of established and award-winning talent. Ireland ranks first in reading among European Union countries and seventh globally, and it has bucked trends for Library usage, despite globally seen shifts in reading decline, and its publishing sector is thick with small presses and journals.

But why is this the case and what does it feel like to be at the heart of it all? Three key figures in the Irish literature world: bilingual novelist, short story writer and current Laureate for Irish Fiction, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne; poet and Irish Writers’ Weekend 2026 guest press Banshee editor Jessica Traynor and writer and Books Editor for The Irish Times, Martin Doyle talk to The Times and The Sunday Times deputy Literary Editor and Fiction Editor Laura Hackett about the past, present and future of this sensational success.

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne appears with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland's Laureate for Irish Fiction programme.

Part of the British Library Irish Writers' Weekend 2026.