Resilience: A Reading with Lucy Sweeney Byrne

For Festival 2024 our Spotlight Press is Banshee Press, fresh from their nomination as Small Press of the Year category at the British Book Awards, representing the island of Ireland. We’re delighted to present a number of events in partnership with Banshee Press.

We welcome from Banshee Press Lucy Sweeney Byrne who will be in conversation with her editor and Banshee Press co-founder Laura Cassidy to discuss resilience. 

Writers call upon resilience in many contexts, be it in the creation, evolution or publication of their work. How do we develop it, and how do we adapt to the challenges of the writing life while remaining open to its marvels and opportunities? 

Lucy will read from her work and discuss the concept of resilience with Laura. 

This event is presented by Banshee Press. 

Lucy Sweeney Byrne is the author of Paris Syndrome, a short story collection, published by Banshee Press, met with critical acclaim and shortlisted for numerous awards, including The Edge Hill Prize. Her forthcoming collection, Let's Dance, is due for publication in autumn, 2024. Lucy's short fiction, essays and poetry have appeared in The Dublin Review, The Stinging Fly, Banshee, Southword, AGNI, Litro, Grist, 3:AM magazine, and other literary outlets. She also writes book reviews for The Irish Times. Lucy's writing has been made possible by The Arts Council of Ireland.

Laura Cassidy is publisher and co-editor at the literary journal and small press Banshee, where along with her co-founders she was named a Bookseller Rising Star. Her novels for young adults were published by Penguin Ireland, and her short fiction is forthcoming in The Pig’s Back. She is a recipient of the Cecil Day Lewis Literary Bursary Award from Kildare County Council, and a Literature Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.