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seasonal · Friday 25 September 2026 · Various 
Write By The Sea Literary Festival
At Kilmore Quay · Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
At Kilmore Quay · Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
Write By The Sea is a boutique literary festival that draws accomplished Irish and international authors to a working fishing village on the south Wexford coast. Running across a full weekend in late September, it makes a strong case for being one of the most enjoyable small-scale literary weekends in the country - the scale is human, the setting is genuinely striking, and the programme rewards anyone who loves books and conversation in equal measure. It suits readers and writers alike, whether that is someone deep into a debut manuscript or a person who simply loves spending time with the people who write the books they read.
The festival runs from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Stella Maris Centre in Kilmore Quay, overlooking the harbour. The weekend mixes readings, author talks, one-to-one conversations, and writing workshops - a format that keeps things moving without feeling rushed. The emphasis is on writers talking honestly about their work and process rather than polished set-piece performances, which tends to produce more interesting conversations. Writers featured span fiction, poetry, and non-fiction; the 2026 programme is due to be announced in July. The festival also runs an annual writing competition, with cash prizes of €500 per category and a weekend pass to the festival for each winner.
Kilmore Quay sits about 20 km south of Wexford town. By car, take the N25 from Wexford, pass through Kilrane and Killinick, then turn left onto the R739 signposted for Kilmore Quay. Free parking is available beside the harbour and behind the playground area just west of the marina. Wexford Bus operates regular services between Wexford railway station and Kilmore Quay - around six runs Monday to Saturday and three on Sunday - which makes it a practical day trip if you are arriving by rail from Dublin or Rosslare.
The village itself is worth arriving early for. Thatched cottages line the harbour street, there are a few good pubs and cafés, and the Saltee Islands - a bird sanctuary with over 220 recorded species - sit just five kilometres offshore, with ferries running daily from the harbour in fine weather. There is more to see in Kilmore Quay and across Co. Wexford.
Heading to Kilmore Quay in Kilmore Quay? Wexford has plenty more to see. Read the Kilmore Quay area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.