Writers, actors, and friends of Edna’s share memories and read from her acclaimed novels, short stories, plays and memoir. Contributors and readers include musician, activist and writer Bob Geldof, writers Emma Dabiri (Don't Touch My Hair, What White People Can Do Next) and Eimear McBride (A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lesser Bohemians), actors Denise Gough (People, Places, and Things; Star Wars: Andor), Sir Ian McKellen (The Critic, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, X-Men) and Niall Buggy (Alien 3, Mamma Mia, The Miracle Club) and Edna O’Brien’s son Sasha Gebler. Appearing on screen will be novelist and Laureate for Irish Fiction, Colm Tóibín (Brooklyn, Long Island).

Born and raised in Tuamgraney, County Clare, in the West of Ireland, Edna O’Brien lived in London for many years before her death earlier this year. She was the author of over twenty celebrated works of fiction, translated into 30 languages, including her classic trilogy The Country Girls, and her final blazing powerful novel Girl, as well as four works of non-fiction, five plays, and countless short stories.  

O’Brien was the recipient of many literary awards, and in 2015 was elected Saoi of Aosdána for singular and sustained distinction in the Arts, receiving the symbol of the office of Saoi, the gold Torc, from the President of Ireland. In 2018, she was appointed an honorary Dame of the Order of the British Empire and in 2021 she was named ‘Commandeur’ of the ‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’, France’s highest cultural distinction. 

Curation, Casting and Direction by Shevaun Wilder. A British Library co-production with Wilder Shore Productions. 

With additional thanks to Faber and Peters Fraser + Dunlop.

This event takes place in British Library Pigott Theatre. It is not included in Irish Writers’ Weekend Sunday or Weekend Passes and separate tickets are required. Tickets are also available to watch online, live or on catch up.  

To watch online you may either book an Irish Writers’ Weekend Online Weekend ticket here, or a single ticket to A Tribute to Edna O’Brien. Either will enable you to watch the event either live or for the next 7 days on catch up. Viewing links for the online version will be sent out in the confirmation email you receive after booking.

Explore the full weekend programme here.

The Irish Writers’ Weekend is supported by Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in London. 


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Image: Edna O’Brien photographed by John Minihan in 2016, holding his portrait of her at her home in Chelsea, London, 1972. ©John Minihan 2016. All rights reserved.