Now that Kinsale Arts Week is over for another year all that remains is to say a big thank you to all of our loyal supporters.

To all of the artists who participated, to the volunteers who gave their time, to sponsors, funders and friends and everyone who came from Kinsale and further afield to enjoy the many events we say thank you - thank you for adding to the energy and atmosphere of what has been an incredibly successful festival.

We hope to see you all again in 2009 but keep an eye open as KAW will be holding a number of events throughout the year.

Until then, enjoy the rest of summer 2008. See you all next year.

Unfortunately due to unforseen circumstances the Sally Vicars conversation on Sunday 20th has been cancelled. We are offering a full refund to anyone who has already perchased tickets and are extremely sorry for the inconveince.

The wait is over and now it`s here. Kinsale Arts Week opens today and nine action packed days are ahead of us. For those of you who have not yet booked your tickets don`t be dissapointed - Book Now.

See you there!

Kinsale Arts Week is delighted to announce the addition of two of Irelands most esteemed literary figures to the Neil Jordan panel discussion at the Trident Hotel on Saturday 12th July at 12.30pm.

Novelist, playwright and poet, Dermot Healy has won the Hennessy Award (1974 and 1976), the Tom Gallon Award (1983), and the Encore Award (1995), he is a member of Aosdána. Also a member of Aosdána, Aidan Higgins has written short stories, travel pieces, radio drama and novels. His novels include Langrishe Go Down which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Irish Academy of Letters Award and Balcony of Europe which was short-listed for the Booker Prize.

Dermot Healy and Aidan Higgins will join with Steve McDonagh (Publisher, Brandon Books) and Neil Jordan himself in an exploration of the literary career of Jordan. Known to most for his ground-breaking film direction Neil Jordan is also an established writer. He has published four novels, The Past (1979), The Dream of a Beast (1983), Sunrise with Sea Monster (1994) and Shade (2004). He set up The Irish Writers` Cooperative in 1974 and went on to win The Guardian Fiction Prize for his book of short stories Night in Tunisia in 1979.

* Please note that in a change from the programme Stephen Woolley will be unable to attend.

Doireann Ni Bhrian, well-known RTE presenter, narrator and independant Radio Producer will be in Kinsale on Sun 13th July at 6pm in the Friary Space where she will be in coversation with Baroness Julia Neuberger.

Best known for her affiliation with RTE Radio 1, Ni Bhriain was a long-running reporter on the radio current affairs programme Women Today. Currently, Doireann Ni Bhriain is based in Dublin, working in arts management; she also producus radio programmes. Recent work includes Planning Our Cities, a 6 part radio series on urban planning for RTE Radio One, and two documentaries for RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta: Ce Leifidh Mo Leabhar` and `Taisce Cheoil Duchais Eireann`.

Baroness Neuberger is a rabbi, social reformer and member of the House of Lords. She was Britain`s second female rabbi and the first to have her own synagogue. She was created a Life Peer in 2004. A former Fellow of Harvard Medical School, Baroness Neuberger was Bloomberg Professor of Divinity at Harvard University for the Spring Semester 2006. She is currently a Trustee of the British Council and also of the Booker Prize Foundation. She is the author of several books on Judaism, women, and healthcare ethics and on caring for dying people. Her most recent book is Not Dead Yet - a manifesto for old age.