A number of interesting literary events are taking place at the Cork Midsummer Festival

Featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson, Kevin Barry, Sinead Gleeson, Emilie Pine, Wendy Erskine, Denise Chaila, and many, many more!

The Good Room presents the fourth edition of Crosstown Drift, a trail of tales and scéals across the streets of Cork and beyond, as part of Cork Midsummer Festival 2019. Over two days, this Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, drift across the city to hear some of Ireland’s finest writers, poets, raconteurs in interesting and unusual locations.

The Crosstown Drift programme features five main events:

7.30pm on Friday, June 21: Crosstown Drift presents Midsummers Night at Live at St Luke’s a stellar line up of poetry, headlined by the renowned Jamaican dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The night will be hosted by Cormac Lally, and will also feature spoken word from Denise Chaila, Michelle Delea, and Stan Notte & The Lost Gecko. Tickets €25.

Video: Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson reads Tings

Two of the programme’s most popular events are fully booked: Crosstown Drift’s FREE Walking Tour, presented by The Stinging Fly, from 10.30am Saturday 22nd June. The trail, beginning at Bobo’s Café at The Glucksman Gallery, UCC, features appearances from Wendy Erskine, Nicole Flattery, Danielle McLaughlin, Sean Tanner, and the launch of The Stinging Fly Summer 2019 issue introduced by editors Danny Denton and Cal Doyle – with readings by contributors Dean Browne, Tadhg Coakley, Ellen Dillon, Fergal Gaynor and Louise Hegarty.

Also sold out is the Magical Mystery Bus Tour from 2pm-5.30pm. Lucky ticket holders are transported to secret locations around Cork to enjoy readings from Emilie Pine, Kevin Barry, Sineád Gleeson and Ian Maleney, Sarah Davis Goff and Cónal Creedon, with Rude Judes at the wheel.

On Saturday evening, join all the writers for some one-off readings in one of Cork’s finest dining rooms for the Writers Dinner at Crawford Café (6.00pm -7.30pm). A limited number of tickets are available at €45 (includes entry to A Night at the Gallery).

Crosstown Drift concludes with a multi-room extravaganza for the final event A Night at the Gallery, from 7.30pm – 9.45pm at The Crawford Art Gallery. Wander around promenade style the many rooms and spaces of the gallery with readings, poetry, and some surprises along the way. Guests for the fabulous finale include: Wendy Erskine, Cónal Creedon, Emilie Pine, Kevin Barry, Sinéad Gleeson, Ian Maleney, Sarah Davis Goff, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Danny Denton, Nicole Flattery, Gerry Murphy, Julie Goo, and some special guests. Tickets €25.

For full event details and booking, visit www.corkmidsummer.com.