The Stinging Fly’s 2026 Annual Lecture

Roisin Kiberd is the author of The Most Normal Woman (August 2026, Tramp Press) and The Disconnect (2021, Serpent’s Tail). She teaches creative writing at the University of Galway, and has been a contributing editor and non-fiction editor with The Stinging Fly.

The Stinging Fly’s Annual Lecture series began as an initiative between Words Ireland and Bray Literary Festival in 2018. Each year since then, The Stinging Fly has commissioned a writer to reflect upon their experience of the writing life and the development of their creative practice. Previous lectures, which are all available to read on The Stinging Fly’s website, have been delivered by Sean O’Reilly and Jan Carson (2018), Mia Gallagher (2019), Paul Lynch (2020), Kevin Power (2022), Evelyn Conlon (2023), Anne Haverty (2024), and Sarah Moss (2025).

The Stinging Fly is a literary magazine, a book publisher, an education provider, and an online platform. A registered charity, our mission is to seek out, nurture, publish and promote the very best new writing, steadfastly supporting and championing writers as they work towards a sustainable practice.

The lecture will begin at 6.30pm, with refreshments to follow. Advance booking is essential as places are limited.