Dough, Co. Clare, V15 P960, Ireland
This year’s festival will welcome leading Brontë experts to Kilkee for a weekend exploring the family’s Irish roots, its often-overlooked family members, its portrayal on screen, and the homes and buildings that shaped the Brontës’ lives. The programme also includes a watercolour workshop, a participatory dance event and a guided Brontë tour of Kilkee.
Friday, 17 July
Opening Ceremony
The festival will officially open at 6.45pm on Friday 17 July, followed at 7pm by a talk from Ann Dinsdale about her work and contribution to the production of the celebrated BBC film To Walk Invisible. Written and directed by award-winning writer Sally Wainwright, the drama explores the relationship between Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë and their troubled brother, Branwell. Individual talks are priced at €10, while a weekend pass costing €30 includes all four talks across Friday and Saturday. The film screening is free, and the watercolour workshop costs €30.
Saturday, 18 July
2pm: The Mother of the Brontës | Sharon Wright
At 2pm, award-winning journalist, playwright and author Sharon Wright will give a talk about Maria Branwell Brontë, the often-overlooked mother of Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell. Sharon is the author of the historical biography The Mother of the Brontës. She writes for national newspapers and magazines and, in 2024, successfully campaigned for the correction of the Brontë memorial in Westminster Abbey.
3.30pm: The Brontës in Ireland or Facts are Stranger than Fiction | Uel Wright
At 3.30pm, Uel Wright will present The Brontës in Ireland,; Facts Are Stranger Than Fiction.
His talk will draw on the influential book compiled by his great-great-uncle, William Wright, from oral histories concerning the Brontë family’s Irish ancestry. The audience will be taken into the early life and family background of Patrick Brontë, who was born in County Down, and will hear how the family’s Irish heritage may have influenced the imaginations and writing of his famous children.
5pm: The Brontës in bricks and mortar | Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright
At 5pm, Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright will come together to discuss their recent joint publication, Let Me In: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar.
The book explores the houses, buildings and places connected with the Brontë family and examines what later happened to these important locations.
It has been described by Professor Kathryn Sutherland as “personal and poetic, authoritative and richly evocative”, while novelist Stacey Halls praised it as being “full of insight, compassion and exciting new discoveries”.The authors’ discussion will be followed by questions from the audience.
7.30pm Participatory dance event. Further details will be announced shortly.
Sunday, 19 July
The festival concludes on Sunday afternoon with a guided Brontë tour of Kilkee, exploring Charlotte Brontë’s honeymoon visit to the town and the landscape she so greatly admired.
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