Mayo's Wild Atlantic Words Literary Festival is up and running

The tenth Wild Atlantic Words Literary Festival has been launched in Castlebar to a capacity audience.

The opening session was presented by Sean Lysaght, poet and prose writer, and Lisa Clancy, insect photographer.

They both presented extracts from their books 'Unveiling the Sun' and 'Insect Portraits', respectively, followed by audience questions and discussion.

The second session was hosted by Professor Brian Dornan, who presented an illustrated lecture based on his acclaimed new book, "Mayo's Wild Atlantic Islands - The Inishkeas ".

The festival continues this evening at 6 p.m. when the Linenhall World Book Club remembers Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a giant of Africian literature.

The session will be hosted by Michael Minassie.

It will be followed, at 7 p.m. by a storytelling session by members of the Linenhall Storytelling Circle, the event being hosted by Carolyn Claire Mitchell.

The highlight of today's festival is Ballina undertaker and author David McGowan in conversation with broadcaster Aidan Crowley at 8 p.m.