The Good Room will run in The Mercantile on Dame Street as part of the Dublin Book Festival on Saturday 5th March, from 1pm ’til late. The line-up includes:

GOOD ROOM STARS!
Record your favourite Soundings poem or extract for The Good Room website, recorded for posterity for your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren!

GOOD ROOM RECREATION!
Knitting, Ireland’s Own, Custard Creams, Hang  Sangwiches and the Cup of tay. This is THE place to kick back and chill with a bit of an ‘aul buke.

Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled.
1pm: Brian Fitzgerald and Ailbhe NicGíolla Bhrighdenis
Scéal le Tarraingt (Aois: 5-8 bliain d’aois)
Cum do phictiúr leabhar fhéin le hAilbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde (scríbhneoir) agus Brian Fitzgerald (ealaíontóir).  Bunaithe ar a leabhar Cócó an Colgán Cairdiúil, déanfaidh Ailbhe agus Brian cur i láthair bríomhair ar charachtar, scéal agus domhan a chruthú agus ansin déanfaidh na páistí a gcuid pictiúir fhéin a tharraingt.
Drawing ‘n’ Story (Age Group: 5-8 year olds)
Create your own picture book with Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde (writer) and Brian Fitzgerald (illustrator).  Based on their new book Cócó an Colgán Cairdiúil, Ailbhe and Brian will discuss, with the help of illustrations, how to create character, story and the world.  The children will then have the opportunity to draw their own versions of Cócó with a professional illustrator.

For the older kids we will also have Silent Scrabble with The Child Who Can be Seen and Not Heard and for younger kids: Finding The Messages for Mammy. Kate will also be doing a boxty cookery lesson/taster.
Please note: All children must be accompanied by an adult at all time, or they will be taken into protective custody!

2pm: Oran Ryan and J.B. Rehnstrom will read from Dublin:Ten Journeys:One Destination

2.30pm: James Lawless reads from his book The Avenue.
JAMES LAWLESS’ novels are Peeling Oranges ( Killynon House 2007), The Avenue (Wordsonthestreet, 2010). Awards include the Scintilla Welsh Open Poetry competition, 2002 and the Cecil Day Lewis Play Award, 2005. His book on modern poetry Clearing The Tangled Wood: Poetry as a way of seeing the world was published in 2009 by Academica Press, USA. John Montague called it ‘a linguistic ballet, learned and lively on behalf of poetry.’

3pm: Bring Your Girlfriend to Meet My Mother
Introduce your other half to Father Tony and the Mammy for a Suitable Marriage Material Certificate!

4pm: Pecha Kucha In The Good Room: Talking about Thinking about Books
A high-octane series of short presentations from writers, publishers and creative about books, publishing, creativity and fun. Brought to you in conjunction with Irish Publishing News
Speakers include David Maybury, Catherine Ryan-Howard and Eoin Purcell with more to come. For more information visit events.irishpublishingnews.com

5pm: Brian Leyden chairs this afternoon tea discussion with the Literary ladies: entitled Chick Lit? Enough Say The Old Hens! Some of Ireland’s biggest women writers go head to head with journalists and critics.

6pm: The Ballroom of Romance
A bit of light romantic reading followed by Respectable Slow Dancing – Father Tony and Master John will have their rulers out so no cheating!

7pm: Father Tony and Master John’s Festival Féis, where we will adjudicate and give medals for The Good Room’s Most Moving Poetry Rendition, The Perfectly Buttered Scone and Off-The-Cuff Insults As Gaeilge.

8pm: Streamed live to Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar in New York City in the U.S. of A – and the rest of the world! Brian Leyden introduces Music Ireland’s publisher Robert Gogan and his banjo! He provides the history, the music and the lyrics and we provide the big roary sing-a-long.

9pm ‘til late: Interviews with high-falutin’ litr’y types followed by party pieces, poetry, and Master John’s Universally Challenged quiz, all washed down with tea and squash and sangwiches (and perchance the odd pint of plain). Followed by a bit of a disco that goes into the wee small hours.

All events are FREE and everyone is welcome! See you there!

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