Hopkins Festival

Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival 2013
Newbridge College
July 19 - 26   2013

The Hopkins Festival is now 26 years in existence and has been described by The Editor, The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature as ' the best literary Festival in Ireland'.
Our next gathering will be in Newbridge College, July 19 to 26

This Festival promises to be outstanding.

The Hopkins Literary Festival has grown, since 1987, around the poetry of Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Towards th end of his life, he wrote that he found in Kildare, 'one of the struts and props of my existence.'

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival offers a rich, varied programme. Building on the wide range of Hopkins's interests in the Arts: in Music, Drawing, and even Conservation, the Festival offers not just Poetry but also, Art Exhibitions; Classical Music Concerts, Traditional Irish Music Concerts; Workshops, Fieldtrips and above all: an atmosphere of friendships around shared interests.

An International Buzz in a Small Town

Visitors come, each year, from between 25 and 30 countries - and, of course, from Ireland. Participants are from a wide range of backgrounds. Former paticipants return to give a special flavour to procedings. People come for great conversations; stimulating lectures; great Poetry Readings; exciting Art Exhibitions; various Concerts - or, just quite simply, for good company and friendship in congenial surroundings.

Many of our Visitors know how Gerard Manley Hopkins found solace in Kildare with its Victorian charm and delightful wooded, watery walks.

The Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival was founded in Kildare, in 1987. Each year since then, Hopkins, his life and poetry, have been celebrated.

We have built up an Archive of Hopkins Scholarship, a collection of lectures delivered during the Hopkins Festival since 1987.

Hopkins Festival in Newbridge College

2013 marks the 26th Gerard Manley Hopkins Literary Festival. 

The Hopkins Festival attracts participants from many countries. The Music Programme includes both traditional Irish and classical: in 2010, Ivo Dropulich, the sensation from Croatia and Ireland's own, Frankie Gavin. Poetry Readings include important writers from various countries including Yiorgos Chouliaras (Greece); Richard Berengarten (UK); Alan Riach (Scotland); Tammy Morgan (USA); Desmond Egan . The Art Exhibition featuring a number of leading Artists, both Irish and International, will include work by Edward Navone (USA); Brian Bourke; Eleanor Swan and others. Workshops include the popular Words and Music Session led by musician, Conor Mahony, with others on Translation, Creative Writing etc. A very distinguished list of Lecturers will be headed by Francis Fennell (USA) Brian Arkins (Ireland); Aleksandra Kedzierska (Poland) and Alla Savchenko (Russia).

The Festival Banquet is a highlight and takes place in the stunning Pugin Hall, NUI Maynooth, presided over by President John Hughes.

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival Youth Programme

This innovative Cultural Tourism programme is offered parallel to the Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival. It draws its inspiration from Hopkins's poetry, his wide interests and his close connections with Ireland. The excitement of the Hopkins Festival has attracted many young people to join us. The Committee felt the need to organise a special parallel

For information on Hopkins Youth Programme contact Derek

Browse, search The Hopkins Archive here

Download Hopkins International Festival Programme 2012 here

We will soon have the full 2013 Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival available here for download. You will then be able to avail of our Secure Payment System to Register for the Festival and to book tickets for Concert etc.