Leaves Festival of Writing and Music returns to Laois from 5th - 7th November 2026 bringing three full days of talks, workshops and performances to venues throughout the county. We cannot wait to welcome you back.
Amongst the events this year we have best-selling Aisling series authors Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen in conversation. Our One County One Book is the compelling The Boy from the Sea and author Garrett Carr will take part in a number of events, including a conversation with debut novelist Neil Tully, author of The Visit. Other events taking place include Dublin author, Dermot Bolger in conversation with Carlo Gébler and a special evening marking Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union will be celebrated in the company of international author Nina George alongside Irish writer Hugo Hamilton. We are also delighted to welcome musical artist and singer Méav to Leaves with her own unique blend of traditional Irish, classical, and folk songs.
As always, we will proudly showcase our homegrown Laois talent with Portlaoise born novelist, Helen Cullen taking centre stage across the weekend and renowned harpist Tríona Marshall.
Thursday
5/11/26 6:30 pm
Portlaoise Library
Friday
6/11/26 6:00 pm
Kavanagh's Live Music Venue
Friday
6/11/26 8:00 pm
Dunamaise Arts Centre
Saturday
7/11/26 11:00 am
Portarlington Library
Saturday
7/11/26 1:00 pm
Dunamaise Arts Centre
Saturday
7/11/26 4:00 pm
Dunamaise Arts Centre
Saturday
7/11/26 6:30 pm
St. Peter's Church of Ireland
Saturday
7/11/26 8:30 pm
St. Peter's Church of Ireland
One County One Book is an initiative run by Laois Libraries as part of Leaves, designed to connect communities through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. This initiative successfully fosters a sense of community, promotes literacy and encourages a love of reading.
This year's One County One Book is Garrett Carr's The Boy from the Sea. A Sunday Times Best Book of 2025, shortlisted for the Kerry Group Novel of the Year Award and the British Book Awards, it has been translated into over a dozen languages. Garrett will host writing, book club and schools events in Mountmellick and Portlaoise Libraries throughout the festival.
Dermot Bolger
The Journey Home
Imperfect Beings
The Family on Paradise Pier
The Lonely Sea and Sky
Hide Away
Sarah Breen & Emer McLysaght
Oh My God, What A Complete Aisling
Our Deadly Summer
Garrett Carr
The Boy From the Sea
The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border
Helen Cullen
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually
Niamh Donnellan
Little Irish Folklore Friends
Little Irish History Heroes
Lisa Fingleton
The Local Food Project
Dónal Gallagher
Edged in Blue: A Rock 'n' Roll Odyssey with Rory Gallagher
Carlo Gébler
No One Tells You
I, Antigone
Tales We Tell Ourselves
The Innocent of Falkland Road
Nina George
The Little Paris Book Shop
The Little French Bistro
The Book of Dreams
The Little Village of Booklovers
Dagogo Hart
Lantern Smoke
Hugo Hamilton
Conversation with the Sea
The Speckled People
The Sailor in the Wardrobe
Edel Heeran
The Irish Year
Faith Hogan
The Sisters of Hope Square
The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club
Secrets We Keep
My Husband's Wives
Helena Mulkerns
Ferenji
Louise Nealon
Everything that is Beautiful
Snowflake
Ruth O'Leary
The Weekend Break
A Week to Remember
The Last Week of Him
Neil Tully
The Visit
For more information on the Leaves Festival and the Laois Arts Programme contact The Arts Office
tel.: 057 866 4033/13
email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie
For events at Dunamaise Arts Centre and St. Peter's Church of Ireland book online or call 057 866 3355.
For events at Laois Libraries, contact the Library branch. Contact details are on each event listing.
