Athlone Literary Festival’s opening night will feature Former Mountjoy Governor, John Lonergan and guests discussing his critically acclaimed biography, ‘The Governor’ . As the country’s most senior prison official for 24 years, the Tipperary man explores human nature at it’s worst and a judicial system flawed at it’s core.
Joining him in this discussion on the challenges faced by the Irish prison service and judicial process are former President of the Law Reform Commission and Supreme Court Judge, Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, DCU Communications Lecturer and newly appointed Senator, Marie Louise O’Donnell and psychologist and Athlone native, John Donoghue.

This explosive opening night will take place on Friday, October 6th at 7:30pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. Speaking about the event, Festival Chairperson Jarlath Duffy said “we are thrilled this year to have such a talented and diverse line-up and we hope that Friday nights event will attract participants from all over the Midlands region”.

Athlone Literary Festival 2011 on October 7th , 8th & 9th features diverse events such as a creative writing workshop with Big Smoke Writing Factory, discussions with poet Gabriel Rosenstock and writer Nuala Ni Conchuir and an interview with Ruth Dudley Edwards. Whether it’s crime fiction, comic strips, poetry, music or true-life stories, the Festival has something for you.

To make a booking, please contact literaryathlone@gmail.com or phone/text 086 2282760.