Wholesome Ballyscullion Park Book Festival to return for a second year

After the success of last year’s book festival at Ballyscullion Park, Bellaghy, the Book Festival is set to return for another jam packed weekend.

The festival will take place over two days from Saturday, May 10 to Sunday, May 11. 

There will be a celebration of writing, music and art in the heart of Seamus Heaney country.

The line up for this year’s festival has been announced with highlights for this year including internationally renowned author Louis de Bernières, 2023 Sky Portrait Artist of the Decade Gareth Reid as well as award-winning novelist and journalist Martina Devlin. Festival goers will get a chance to meet and greet with established and up and coming authors alike. 

Held in the picturesque surroundings of Ballyscullion Park near Bellaghy in the Mid-Ulster district the event will bring together readers, writers and art lovers for an unforgettable weekend of cultural delights.

Some of the authors who will be attending the event include Dr Sophia Hillan Author of May, Lou and Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland, Dr Roy Foster Emeritus Professor of History at Oxford and cultural commentator, Carlo Gébler  author, playwright and teacher, Ramita Navai, multi award-winning journalist, documentary maker and author, Lyndsy Spence author, historian and screenwriter and founder of The Mitford Society, Owen O’Neill award-winning writer of stage and screen and stand-up comedian, John Goodall historian, author, and Architectural Editor of Country Life magazine, Dr Heidi Edmundson Portrush-born novelist and Emergency Medicine consultant in London; Dr Caroline Campbell Director of the National Gallery of Ireland.

There will also be panel discussions on topical issues, in association with Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, and the Irrawaddy Literary Festival.

On Sunday, May 11 from 1pm, families are invited to a range of special events including storytelling and book readings, with writing workshops in association with the Seamus Heaney HomePlace. The Event is suitable for children from 5 years old plus book free tickets for under 18s.

This year, the festival is proud to announce a charity partnership with NI Hospice. A percentage of profits from ticket sales will be made to NI Hospice, and a representative will be on hand at the festival to talk about the care provided by the hospice. Ballyscullion Park is part of the Loughinsholin Tourism Cluster, which aims to develop and promote a range of authentic, sustainable visitor experiences, a sense of place as well as a commitment to preserve and promote the generations of rich heritage and traditions found in the region of mid-Ulster. The cluster is supported by Invest Northern Ireland through its Collaborative Growth Programme.

Speaking to the County Derry Post Rosalind Mulholland Festival Director said: “We are delighted to reveal the programme for this year’s festival. It is a privilege to host such a wide range of incredibly gifted writers across the festival weekend. From internationally renowned authors, playwrights and artists, it is shaping up to be an unforgettable two days. We also hope the festival will attract visitors from near and far as well as showcase our beautiful region as a must visit NI destination.”

Reflecting on the development of the festival and what the audience can expect over the weekend Rosalind said: “Last year was our inaugural festival. It was very successful and everyone that came enjoyed the day enormously.  This year we have more speakers, venues and we are more international. People have a lot to look forward to during the festival weekend including talks and workshops like last year but we also have food vans and craft stalls this year. This year we have also linked up with Bellaghy Bawn who will provide their educational outreach in the form of a poetry workshop for children. Our finale will see a performance by ‘Rock Choir’. They are a community choir who sing wonderful uplifting songs. Most of the authors are Irish or have an Irish background. The authors will be available to meet and sign books for those attending the festival. Following on from last year we had authors approaching us to come which is great. From the first one nobody knew who we were and what we were doing and whether it would work or not but because it was such a success the authors seemed very interested to come along and talk. We can only hope it will develop further into the future. 

“Everything will be taking place outside in the walled garden. It is currently the only country house festival in Northern Ireland. We have the infrastructure and a beautiful venue here to be able to hold the festival which is great. I studied English literature at university and the festival is something that I have been wanting to do for many years. We were lucky to receive funding from Invest NI which we are very thankful for. There will be four talks running concurrently so it will be a matter of choosing which one you would like to go to. It will be like a box of delicious chocolates and you must pick your favourite.”

Rosalind said her favourite part of the experience is “getting to see the smile on people’s faces when they come and enjoy the day”. 

She said: “It's great seeing people come out of talks saying it was amazing and they can’t wait for the next one. It is very pleasing when you get to see other people enjoying the experience of the festival.”

Concluding, Rosalind shared her favourite book of the event. 

“I would say ‘Charlotte’ by Martina Devlin would be my recommendation. The fiction novel follows Charlotte Bronte on her honeymoon in Ireland with her husband Arthur Bell, a reserved yet passionate Irishman.”

For further details, festival newsletter and updates visit ballyscullionpark.com/book-festival-2025/