Spoken word highlights at the Kinsale Literary Festival 2025
The Words by Water festival returns to Kinsale from 2nd–5th October 2025, offering a diverse and inclusive programme of events that celebrates writing in all its forms.
As part of this year’s literary programme, several spoken word highlights will bring together poets, storytellers, musicians, and readers, showcasing both emerging voices and established names in intimate and community-focused settings.
The festival’s spoken word offerings begin on Thursday, 2nd October at 8:00pm with Right Words – An Evening of Poetry and Song at The Lord Kingsale. Curated by poet Matthew Geden, the event will feature readings from a range of new and established writers, offering audiences a relaxed and welcoming environment to experience contemporary poetry.
Music on the night will be provided by Barry Tierney. Geden, a long-time resident of Kinsale originally from England, has published widely both in Ireland and abroad. His most recent collections include Fruit (SurVision Books, 2020) and The Cloud Architect (Doire Press, 2022). He served as Writer-in-Residence for Cork County Library and Arts Service from 2020 to 2022.
On Friday, 3rd October at 7:00pm, poet and storyteller Paddy Doyle will lead Cuardíocht – Ancestral Storytelling Ceremony at OHK Café, in an event sponsored by Kinsale Mead Co. Rooted in Celtic tradition and timed near the ancient festival of Samhain, this gathering invites participants to reflect on memory, ancestry, and the unseen connections between generations.
Attendees are encouraged to light a candle and share the name, story, poem, or song of a loved one who has passed. With its intimate and reflective tone, the event will offer a unique blend of ritual and spoken word. Booking is essential due to limited places, and a complimentary glass of mead will be offered to all participants.
On Sunday, 5th October at 12:00pm in Prim’s Bookshop Local Voices takes place, moderated by writer Kate Barry. This mid-morning gathering will feature readings and conversation from three writers with strong local and international ties: Matthew Geden, Katherine Boucher Beug, and Afric McGlinchy.
Each brings a distinct voice and life experience to the page. Boucher Beug, originally from Princeton, New Jersey, has lived near Kinsale since the 1970s. Known for her work as a visual artist, she has recently turned to writing, with her books Flowers (2020) and People (2024) offering insight into her creative practice. Afric McGlinchy, Galway-born and Southern Africa-raised, will read from her newest poetry collection À la belle étoile, which animates the voice of 18th-century explorer Jeanne Baré and was nominated for the 2025 Forward Prize.
As a not-for-profit festival, Words by Water continues to support writers at all stages of their careers, while fostering an inclusive space for audiences to engage with literature in its many forms. This year’s programme of events reflect the festival’s dedication to creative exchange and the enduring power of poetry and storytelling to connect, move, and inspire.
