Back from Dublin Writers Festival

It has been a lively time since the return from Dublin so I have not had time to write about it as yet. Here goes...
The first evening I was there Anne Michaels read from her new book The Winter Vault. You may know her previous book Fugitive Pieces: a Novel, which is now a film due out any day.
I was stunned. Anne M had just arrived from the airport in Dublin from Canada, she lives in Toronto, nevertheless she was sharp and an excellent reader. Focussed, thoughtful, wise and humane. The kind of person I would love to be and to have as a friend!
It was such a special treat to be abe to go to here reading first thing.
The next day it was work time...I filmed a poet in Dalkey who lived in a wonderfully quirky house up a lane which looked like it could have been in the country in France. She had some lovely cats, a huge feline family; grandmother, uncles, mother and kittens all together...She also prepared an amazingly delicious lunch complete with strawberries and cream. The filming went very well at the top of the house with views from the windows of Dublin Bay.
Taking the DART to Booterstown afterwards we spent the afternoon visiting friends there. They live in a light filled house which looks like an ordinary suburban domecile from the outside but once you step inside it is transformed. A Japanese feeling pervades with an inner courtyard of rocks and green plantings which is somehow also internal. Windows to see through to the green garden from rooms through rooms. It is a house where inside and outside interface and the light fills it up and plants can be seen from every point. There is also a wonderful art collection to enjoy. They are lovely people and it was such a pleasure to be able to spend some real time with them.
The following day it rained cats and dogs all day long and it was really quite cold.
On the Sunday Brendan Kennelly was going to launch his latest book Reservoir Voices and give a reading chaired by Micheal O'Siadhiall at the Abbey Theatre. It was the highlight of the festival at least for me. He got a standing ovation!
I was filming it and it came out well and I am very glad for that.
Friends from England were also there and Brendans' family and close friends too. All in all it was a splendid event and I feel very grateful that I could be there. He is marvellous!