Magheramorne Literary Festival

About

Taking place from Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 March 2026, the inaugural Magheramorne Literary Festival, kindly supported by Larne Port, will bring outstanding writers from across the UK and Ireland to the historic setting of Magheramorne Estate.

The newly launched festival presents a weekend of "In Conversation" events, bringing together novelists, non-fiction writers, journalists, photographers and historians whose work is shaping contemporary cultural and political debate. Spanning fiction, memoir, history, photography and public life, the programme is curated by award-winning author and broadcaster Stephen Walker.

Saturday highlights include historian Andrew Lownie, in conversation with broadcaster Donna Traynor, discussing his headline-making bestseller Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. Packed with extraordinary revelations, Entitled is the first joint biography of the now former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, and offers an explosive investigation into royal power, privilege and accountability.

Later that evening, one of Ireland's most trusted broadcasters, Miriam O'Callaghan, reflects on her memoir Miriam: Life, Work, Everything, exploring life in the public eye, from landmark political moments to personal challenges, resilience and reinvention.

On Sunday, former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon joins festival curator Stephen Walker to discuss her candid and widely acclaimed memoir Frankly. From her working-class upbringing to becoming Scotland's longest-serving First Minister, Sturgeon reflects on power, leadership and the personal cost of life at the very centre of politics.

That evening, crime writing takes centre stage with internationally acclaimed novelist Adrian McKinty in conversation with writer and screenwriter Colin Bateman. Known for his award-winning DI Sean Duffy series and the international bestseller The Chain, McKinty joins Bateman, author of Divorcing Jack and creator of Murphy's Law, to explore crime writing through humour, humanity and lived experience.

The festival concludes with bestselling author and screenwriter Jo Spain and BAFTA-winning screenwriter and producer Declan Lawn, in conversation with Brian McGilloway. Spain, one of Ireland's most successful crime writers, is the author of thirteen bestselling novels and the writer and co-producer of hit TV series Harry Wild and BBC drama Mix Tape. Lawn is the co-creator of Blue Lights, one of the most acclaimed television dramas of recent years, alongside earlier work including The Salisbury Poisonings and Rogue Agent.

Across the weekend, the programme also features acclaimed writers including David Park, Jan Carson and Wendy Erskine whose debut novel, The Benefactors, has become a literary sensation and has been awarded Waterstones Irish Book of the Year in 2025.

Set within the manor house and grounds of Magheramorne Estate, guests will experience award-winning hospitality, a pop-up café from Jane's Kitchen, and the opportunity for restorative overnight stays, allowing them to enjoy the programme at an unhurried pace at one of Northern Ireland's most exclusive addresses.