Information from the Festival Committee:
There is a new, useful airport link directly from Dublin Airport to Monasterevin servicing Naas, Newbridge, Kildare, Monasterevin and Portlaoise. Buses leave approx. every 2 hours starting 7.30 am and ending 22.30.
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Lime Green Dublin Bus Times from Dublin Airport
7.30; 9.30; 11.30; 13.30; 15.30; 18.30; 22.30 hours
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You can check it out at www.dublincoach.ie Check out the timetable (it doesn't travel through city centre).
Where to find New Bus:
From Arrivals Hall (Dublin Airport), walk across the road, through Car Park, (you will pass a Spar shop on left). Continue on to open air Coach Park. Your Coaches are a distinctive lime green colour. You can always ask.
Fare to Monasterevin is Euro 10. This Bus should facilitate your journey. If this does not work out, just head into the Bus Terminal and you will get a range of buses to Kildare and Monasterevin.
The Hopkins Festival is 21 years old this year and going stronger than ever!
The 21st Hopkins International Festival promises to be the best yet. Friends of Hopkins are ocoming from the four corners of the world. . The Festival has attracted international poets, writers, artists and scholars and enthusiasts who are coming to Monasterevin to celebrate
our 21st anniversary.
Noted international writers include: poets Salah Niazi (Iraq) - who is also engaged in translating James Joyce’s Ulysses; leading Scottish poet, Alan Riach; Vitke Janota from Czech Republic; Kirsti Simonsuuri, the star of Finland; noted Chinese poet, Li Li; and the list of Irish writers includes: Brian Keenan; Reamonn O Muirí and Desmond Egan who will be launching two new Collections of his poetry.
The Annual Group Art Exhibition is one of the most exciting yet with Wilhelm Föckersperger
from Germany; leading American artist, Ed. Navone and two of Ireland’s finest Graphic Artists, Alice Hanratty and Margaret Becker. The Photography Exhibition this year will feature the much praised work of Padraig O Flannabhra.
The list of Hopkins Scholars is particularly impressive and will include Catherine Phillips from Cambridge - a scholar with a world-wide reputation; Poland’s finest Hopkins scholar, Aleksandra Kedzierska and Peter Milward SJ from Japan who will launch a book; as well as David Axelrod, Portia Weston, and John Kerrigan - all exciting names from USA.
The Annual Classical Concert in Moore Abbey is always a sell-out because of its quality
and the refined intimacy of the setting in The Baronial Hall with the piano of John McCormack.
We are lucky this year to have arguably Ireland’s finest pianist, Paris-based Miceal O’Rourke. He will offer a concert of special but accessible appeal, featuring works by Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Irish composer, John Field, (creator of the nocturne) of whom O’Rourke is the acknowledged leading interpreter.
Our usual array of Workshops includes Creative Writing (expertly guided by David Axelrod); Music and Writing with guitarist/songwriter Conor Mahony in charge; and our innovative Multi-lingual Translation Workshop, which has proved over the past few years to be especially popular. It will be directed by Aleksandra Kedziersak with help from Alla Savchenko (Russia); Hatif Janabi (Iraq) and other distinguished, international translators.
This year, the Committee is happy to announce a special day in NUI Maynooth. Events include: guided tours; a lecture by Brian Keenan; a sherry reception; and the highlight of the week; the Gala Banquet. Speakers include President John Hughes.
We are especially proud that The Hopkins Festival is the only one in Ireland to offer a special, parallel programme geared to younger participants. It will be led by master - communicator, One of the highlights promises to be the session introducing young visitors to the techniques of Filmmaking during the course of which students will actually produce and edit a film under the expert eye of American filmmaker and producer, James Kelly.
And we haven’t even mentioned the convivial Festival Club every evening . ..
Print-out of the full Festival Programme is available for down-load at our website, You will also find lots more information on all aspects of our Programme.
We hope you have a pleasant trip and enjoy your visit to Monasterevin.