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Embassy supports series of Dutch literary engagements by Irish author Mary Costello

Winner of the Irish Novel of the Year Award and the overall Irish Book of the Year in 2014 for her novel Academy Street, Irish author Mary Costello visited the Netherlands from 10-12 May to participate in a number of literary engagements supported by the Embassy.

The Embassy actively promotes Irish arts and culture, including Irish literature, in the Netherlands and was enormously pleased to be able to support Mary Costello’s participation in European Literature Night in Amsterdam on 10 May, a Meet the Author event at the Residence of Ireland in The Hague on 11 May and the International Literature Festival in Utrecht on 12 May. 

Embassy supports series of Dutch literary engagements by Irish author Mary Costello

Mary Costello participates in European Literature Night in Amsterdam on 10 May 2017 Credit: Embassy of Ireland

All three events were wonderful opportunities to bring Irish writing to Dutch and international audiences. European Literature Night offers a platform for European countries to present their contemporary writing in translation and to present new European literary voices in a creative way. Mary Costello was one of eleven writers to participate in a panel discussion on the theme of home moderated by Guido Snel, writer, translator and lecturer in European Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Kindly hosted by De Brakke Grond, it was a sell-out event to an audience of over 300 people.  

The Meet the Author event at the Residence of Ireland in The Hague was an intimate evening hosted by the Ambassador of Ireland to the Netherlands, HE Mr Kevin Kelly. Mary Costello read from her novel Academy Street, discussed some of its themes, and spoke about the life of a writer. Guests included diplomats and members of the Irish community in the Netherlands.     

At the International Literature Festival in Utrecht, Mary Costello was interviewed about her book Academy Street by Hans Bouman, journalist with De Volksrant newspaper. The highly prestigious international festival takes place over three days and includes some of the biggest names in Dutch and international literature.