|
Our fate is inextricably linked
to the environment.
We must stop seeing ourselves as somehow
above or separate from it
Pierre Rabhi
Dear public, dear
friends,
Thanks to your
unwavering support, the Franco-Irish Literary Festival
has continued year-on-year to make its mark in Dublin.
Having reached the age of 21 – some of our French
friends may not know that this is considered a milestone
birthday in Ireland – the Festival enters a new decade
with confidence, and we warmly invite you all to join us
at our 2020 event.
Since its
foundation, the
Alliance Française Dublin
and the
French Embassy have
jointly organised the Festival in pursuit of the same
objective: to develop and strengthen links between
Ireland and France. The Festival thus offers the public
an opportunity to discover contemporary Irish and French
literature, and provides a showcase for the authors
taking part. It also fosters the creation of links
between all those involved in the literary sector in the
broader sense, including writers, publishers and
translators.
Continuing the
tradition of encounters and exchanges, the 2020 edition
will offer the chance to engage in a convivial setting,
with Irish and French-speaking authors in the form of
round tables, discussions and readings, scheduled over
the course of two days. You will also be able to have
your books signed and speak to the writers in person.
This year,
discussions will focus on new ecological and
environmental approaches in literature. Together we will
reflect on the climate emergency and its dramatic
consequences for the most vulnerable populations, a
society more conscious of animal rights and the
increasingly rapid disappearance of biodiversity
threatening the survival of humankind. These themes,
alongside others which – at first glance – may seem less
directly related, will be addressed by the Irish and
French-speaking writers invited to participate. These
exchanges will feed into the reflections being
undertaken not just collectively but by each and every
one of us, in a context of growing awareness and
resistance, but also denial and surprisingly retrograde
steps taken by some of those in power.
We owe the success
of the Festival and its development over the last twenty
years to the writers, artists and loyal public who have
made it all possible, as well as the many partners and
sponsors who support us and whose wonderful generosity
we gratefully acknowledge. We wish to thank the
Arts Council,
Foras na Gaeilge,
Literature Ireland,
DCU,
Maynooth University,
Trinity College,
UCD,
University of Limerick, and a number of
French and Irish businesses, with very special mentions
to the French laboratories
Servier Monde and to
Dublin Castle, whose support has been unwavering
since the very first year of our event. We are also
grateful to the press and media of all kinds who promote
this Festival, which has become such a cultural
highlight in
Dublin, UNESCO City of Literature.
We look forward to
seeing you all on 3, 4 and 5 April! |
