Dublin By Dusk: Mythology in Fiction Kim Curran, Eilish Fisher and Dave Rudden in conversation with Jo Kerrigan

In Partnership with National Museum of Ireland

What happens when ancient myths are reborn for the modern world? Join us for an evening as we explore how the powerful and thrilling stories from mythology continue to inspire contemporary writers. Kim Curran’s Brigid (Penguin) is a radical reimagining of Ireland’s beloved saint, a woman who could never be caged. Eilish Fisher’s The Waters and the Wild (Penguin) is a moving verse novel about grief, family, the power of hope, and the world beyond what we know. Dave Rudden’s Sister Wake (Hodder & Stoughton) is an action-packed epic fantasy of rebellion, intrigue, horror, dangerous gods, and Celtic mythology. The authors join Jo Kerrigan, author of Irish Fairy Forts (O’Brien Press), in conversation.

Dublin by Dusk at the National Museum of Ireland – This event is part of the Dublin by Dusk series of city wide events at cultural and heritage organisations and supported by the Night Time Night-Time Economy Unit of An Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

© Robin Christian

Kim Curran was born in Dublin and grew up in London. She holds a degree in Philosophy and Literature from Sussex University and is a freelance Creative Director and Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She is the author of The Morrigan and Brigid.

© Nick Bradshaw

Eilish Fisher lives in a small coastal town in Co. Wicklow with her husband andson. Eilish received both a Words Ireland mentorship and a full Literary BursaryAward from the Arts Council of Ireland.

Dave Rudden is the author of multiple award-winning series for adults and young people, including Knights of the Borrowed Dark and Tales of Darkisle, as well as extensive work for stage and screen. His new fantasy trilogy for adults, the Sunday Times-bestselling Sister Wake, draws heavily on Irish mythology and rebellion history, and has been called a ‘brilliant, rebellious scream of a novel’ by R.S. Garcia and ‘a politically charged epic’ by the Irish Times.

© Richard Mills

Jo Kerrigan was born and bred in Cork, where she took her first two degrees at UCC before moving to the UK to continue her academic work. After a distinguished career there, including winning the Oxbow Prize for medieval history at Oxford, she returned to her roots to apply her research skills to Ireland’s undiscovered past. A specialist in ancient crafts and folklore, she now devotes herself to exploring how everyday life was lived long ago. Jo and her husband Richard live in West Cork, surrounded by books and cameras, cats and dogs. Previous books include Old Ways, Old Secrets; Follow the Old Road; Brehon Laws; Stories From the Sea; and All The Way By The Grand Canal. Jo is a regular guest as the folklore expert on RTE Radio’s Oliver Callan show, and her latest book Irish Fairy Forts was in the Bestseller Charts for nearly 20 weeks.

Venue accessibility information

​Please note we may be capturing imagery at this event for use on our social media and website.

To hear first about future Dublin Book Festival, events sign up to our newsletter here.