Yes, you read that right, Rock n’Roll royalty will be talking at Borris house on the weekend of Jun 5th to 7th. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd will be on stage with his wife Polly Samson to talk to Andrew O’Hagan about ‘lyrics and their creative relationship’. The other names that jump off the list are Ian McEwan and Michael Cunningham, but the Irish contingent Neil Jordan, Tommy Tiernan, Michael Harding and many others should keep you entertained.

This is a wide ranging festival that lets you brush shoulders with the great and the good. Not to be missed.

Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas. –  June 5th – 7th

The festival, sponsored by Irish whiskey Writers Tears, will welcome over 60 speakers during the weekend, which will include David Gilmour, Ian McEwan, Polly Samson, Shane Hegarty, Olivia O’Leary, Sinéad Gleeson, Neil Jordan, Anthony Sattin, Anne Enright, Ben Anderson, Giles Duley, Nick Davies, Tommy Tiernan, Michael Harding, Mary Costello, Anthony Lloyd, Michael Cunningham, Joanne O’Riordan, Andrew O’Hagan, Kevin Barry, Rob Doyle, Lisa Hannigan, AC Grayling, Donal Lunny, Colin Barrett, Olly Lambert, Aoife Duffin, Belinda McKeon and many more of the finest clocks ticking today.

Historians include Roy Foster, Victoria Glendinning, Selena Hastings, Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Myles Dungan, Diarmaid Ferriter, and Antony Beevor.

The festival will also showcase the work of eight leading architectural practices in the form of eight purpose-built hotel rooms on the grounds of Borris House. Highlights of the weekend include:

‘Lost for Words’ – Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and writer Polly Samson – in their first public interview together – talk to Andrew O’Hagan about lyrics and their creative relationship.

A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing – Actress Aoife Duffin performs ‘unplugged’ the exceptional stage adaptation of Eimear McBride’s novel, created by Corn Exchange Theatre. Director Annie Ryan introduces.

Ian McEwan‘s writing career spans almost 40 years. He discusses his life and work – including his latest novel, The Children Act – with Sinead Gleeson.

Navan comedian-provocateur Tommy Tiernan comes head to head with Limerick story-smith Kevin Barry to provide some answers to questions no one has thought to ask.

Nick Davies (The Guardian) and Fintan O’Toole (The Irish Times) discuss phone hacking scandals and undermining independent investigative journalism.

‘Hanging With The Elephant’ author Michael Harding (fresh from his stage role as The Bull McCabe) and AC Grayling (philosopher and controversial humanist) in conversation about everything and nothing.

The escalating trade in hostages. Veteran journalist Antony Lloyd, kidnapped in Syria, and Vice correspondent Ben Anderson talk to Fergal Keane about ISIS tactics of kidnapping and execution.

Laureate for Irish Fiction Anne Enright is addicted to the truth of things, the gaps in the human heart and how to fill them. She chats to broadcaster and writer Rosie Boycott.

www.festivalofwritingandideas.com for tickets.