Granard, Ireland
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Granard booktown is located in Granard, county Longford in the Irish midlands. The festival has been in operation for 3 years and was inspired by Wigtown in Scotland after a trip there by our co-founder John Connell. We pride ourselves on our book festival each April which attracts huge crowds and world famous authors as well as local and national writers.
Over the course of our festival weekend which happens each April we work with local independent bookshop Newsround who supply all our author books and we also run a second hand bookshop. Currently there is no permanent bookshop year round in Granard but we are working on that.
Granard is a beautiful little town with a lot of history attached. Don’t miss finidng out about the towns role in the Irish war of independence and the love affair between Michael Collins and local woman Kitty Kiernan. There is also a famous motte in the town which gives picturesque views over the whole region. There are a number of cafes and friendly bars to enjoy a day or night in Granard. Its not to be missed.
Don’t miss Granard booktown festival which happens each April close to or around Easter weekend. Its where the beating heart of the literary scene of midlands Ireland comes alive!
The midlands is off the tourist trail in Ireland but the beauty of that is one gets to experience things without the crowds. Come fish in our lakes including nearby Lough Gowna with wonderful coarse fishing, go walking in some of the many woods. Go on the rebel trail and find out about Longford’s role in the Irish war of independence. Eat in some of our many wonderful restaurants. There’s so much to see and do!
Granard was once visited by King John of England who spent a night at the towns Motte.
Being Ireland there are so many literary and mythic links. Find out about local poet Padraic Column a one time friend of James Joyce, novelist Maria Edgeworth who came from nearby town Edgeworthstown and modern writers many of whom have taken part in the festival including Granard native Noel Monahan.
Granard can be accessed by national bus service and is just a short 15 minute drive away from the edgeworthstown train station. Granard is a short drive from Dublin and can be reached in 1 hour and 40 minutes from Dublin airport.
