Trim Swift Festival - July 2nd to 5th

Trim Swift Festival is an academic and cultural event celebrating the life, works and legacy of Jonathan Swift, and his close connections with the town of Trim, County Meath. It is open to academics, students and the general public with the aim of bringing together experts and enthusiasts in an atmosphere of scholarly but informal discussion and debate. The academic strand of the festival features a programme of six speakers, internationally recognised for their work on Swift and eighteenth-century literature. Each speaker will present on a topic relating to their research and each lecture-talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The festival will also feature a series of debates and discussions on Swift's legacy as a satirist, led by notable figures from politics and the media, children's entertainment, comedy and tours of important sites associated with Swift, including Stella's cottage. There will also be evening entertainment in the form of dramatic performances, readings, music and song, and a closing cabaret. For full details on the festival see www.trimswiftfestival.com