George Hamilton.

Hinterland to celebrate sports writing with two-day festival

The highly successful Hinterland festival, which takes place over the last weekend in June each year in Kells, is branching out to celebrate great sports writing in a brand-new festival. 

Hinterland presents 'Tailteann: A celebration of sport and sports writing', a two-day festival which will take place in Kells on the weekend of 1st and 2nd of December next.

Taking part will be will some legendary names in terms of sports broadcasting and journalism as well as active and retired elite sportspeople from the world of Gaelic games, rugby, soccer, motorsport, rowing, cycling and eventing.

Among an impressive and diverse line up are RTE sports broadcaster George Hamilton, who will be reflecting on four decades behind the microphone; award-winning journalist Paul Kimmage on the joys of ghost-writing; Ireland’s foremost sports historian Paul Rouse; motorsport icon Rosemary Smith; former world champion rowers Sinead and Sam Lynch; and members of the Irish Women’s Hockey Team.

Also making an appearance is the Meath Chronicle's sports correspondent Jimmy Geoghegan, who will be looking back over some of the memorable interviews in his career as a regional sports journalist. 

Through the Hay/Kells, Hinterland, and Gallipoli100 festivals, the town of Kells has shown its ability to attract great Irish and overseas writers (Germaine Greer, Jung Chang, Colm Toibin, Jeremy Paxman, Jeanette Winterson, Brian Eno, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry) since the inception of Hay/Kells 2013.

This is described as a truly unique event with the chance for fans of both sport and sports writing to enjoy interviews, discussions and talks on Irish sport.

Tickets for Hinterland presents Tailteann: A celebration of sport and sports writing are now available online at www.hinterland.ie