Press Release

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This year’s Goldsmith International Literary Festival, now in its 23 rd year and the third oldest event of its type in Ireland , takes place this weekend.

The 2007 renewal is addressing one of the biggest unspoken issues which affects modern Ireland: to wit, the rapid transformation of Ireland from a relatively homogenous Ireland to a multi cultural and multi national country.

This is an issue which is one of the hidden issues in the recent General Election campaign and is probably of greater interest to more of the electorate than the contents of Bertie Ahern’s suitcase some decades ago.
However in keeping with the ethos of the Goldsmith festival and the ‘good-natured’ man whom it honours the issue will be handled in a sensitive and generous hearted way.

Having been re-branded from The Goldsmith Summer School last year, the event has recently undergone something of a transformation in a bid to become more cutting edge and address some of the most topical and controversial issues facing 21 st century Ireland. In its previous 22 years, it has established itself as one of the foremost and most highly respected schools of its type in Ireland . Taking place in various venues all over “Goldsmith Country” over the years all aspects of Goldsmith’s life, society, and writings have been explored. A huge variety of renowned critics, politicians, poets, commentators and academics have stimulated audiences over that time.