The Louis MacNeice Literary Festival

We are pleased to announce the first Louis MacNeice Literary Festival, celebrating the connection between one of the great Twentieth Century poets and the town of Carrickfergus.

Positive Carrickfergus is working in partnership with Carrickfergus Museum, The Louis MacNeice Society, Carrickfergus-based author, historian and playwright Philip Orr and Jo Zebedee, author and co-owner of The Secret Bookshelf, Ireland’s Best Independent Bookshop 2024.

Thanks to the funding received from the National Lottery People and Communities Fund to work with our community to create an arts strategy for Carrickfergus, we were able to engage with residents and hear how passionate they are about the town’s famous son. An additional grant from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Community Festivals Fund is allowing us to bring you a range of literary events that celebrate MacNeice, our local talent and our town.

We aim to facilitate a variety of events that will delight fans of MacNeice, those wishing to know a bit more and the poets among us who will have a chance to share their work. These will include an open mic poetry event, a panel discussion with writers and experts, historical talks and tours and a children’s creative writing event.

Stay in touch via our newsletter for more information about events.