Authors Garrett Carr (The Boy from the Sea) and Neil Tully (The Visit) will partake in some lively conversation about their work with arts journalist Helena Mulkerns. Kicking off in the early sixties in Killybegs and New Ross respectively, in one novel the sea reigns over all; in the other, it's the land. Both communities have much in common as they face the challenges posed by new technologies swiftly changing their way of living and working.
Those who fight the changes may get left behind, while those who run with them will eventually take Ireland into modernity. We encounter those who make up the backbone of each town, and learn, through two of the principal characters, about the reactions to 'otherness' in a close-knit community, where acceptance of the divergent is often rare. With wit, compassion and an overall mastery of telling their story, each author brings us into a fascinating world.
To start the evening's programme, we are delighted to be joined by singer, musician and songwriter Méav, who will be accompanied by a full band.
Garrett Carr is the son of a fisherman and grew up in Killybegs, Co. Donegal. His novel The Boy from the Sea was a Sunday Times Best Book of 2025, shortlisted for the Kerry Group Novel of the Year Award, the British Books Awards and won the Prix Littéraire des Ambassadeurs de la Francophonie en Irlande, 2026. It has been translated into over a dozen languages. His non-fiction The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. He teaches Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen's University Belfast.
Neil is a writer from the west of Ireland. He has won several prizes for short fiction including the overall prize at the Write by the Sea festival, and the New Roscommon Writing Award. He has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Limerick. His debut novel, The Visit was published in March 2026 and was an Irish Times bestseller. He lives in Cork, where he works as a dentist.
Helena Mulkerns is a writer and indie publisher whose short fiction has been broadly anthologised, and shortlisted for (among others), the Pushcart Prize and the Irish Book Awards. Her debut fiction title, Ferenji, was published by Doire Press. Helena has edited two anthologies, Red Lamp Black Piano and Turbulence. She has written for The Irish Times, The New York Times, Hot Press, Rolling Stone and more, as well as working as a press officer with the UN in Central America, Africa and Afghanistan. With an MA in English Literature and Publishing from NUIG, she now runs the independent publishing collective, 451 Editions, and is a book reviewer for The Irish Times.
Méav Ní Mhaolchatha is a singer and composer whose unique sound was forged by the combination of her family heritage in the Irish language and folk music tradition and her classical training in voice, harp and piano. As a solo artist Méav has performed with orchestra in Carnegie Hall and the Irish National Concert Hall, and has toured with her own band in Europe, Asia and North America. Méav is a founder member of the group Celtic Woman which has sold over ten million albums worldwide.
Her vocals and compositions feature prominently on their Grammy-nominated album Destiny. Méav has released four successful solo albums including her album The Calling which was a collaboration with Craig Leon, the legendary producer of Blondie and The Ramones.
Her fifth solo album, Sweet Sorrow, is an exploration of grief and consolation. Written in collaboration with award-winning Irish film composer Stephen Rennicks, it was released in October 2026.
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.