JUNG CHANG was born in Sichuan Province, China in 1952. During the Cultural Revolution she worked as a peasant, a “barefoot” doctor, a steelworker, and an electrician before becoming an English-language student at Sichuan University. She left China for Britain in 1978 and obtained a PhD in Linguistics in 1982 at the University of York – the first person from Communist China to receive a doctorate from a British university. She is the author of Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (1991), which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into more than 40 languages. She has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to literature and to history. She lives in London.

Carlo Gébler was born in Dublin in 1954 and lives outside Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. He is a writer, novelist and occasional broadcaster, most recently Escape from the Maze, a ten-part series for BBC R4 about the 1983 IRA escape from the Maze Prison, which he wrote and presented. His memoir A Cold Eye: Notes from a Shared Island 1989 – 2024 was published in September 2024. He is currently preparing Ecstasy, Uncertainty & Folly, an anthology of his later mother Edna O’Brien’s non-fiction with Lee Brackstone. He teaches at the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing at Trinity College, Dublin, HMP Hydebank and Loughan House Open Prison. He is a member of Aosdána and a patron of the Ballyscullion Park Book Festival.

A prolific journalist with a fortnightly column in Britain’s The Spectator, Lionel Shriver has written an essay collection, a story collection and sixteen novels, including Mania, Should We Stay or Should We Go, The Mandibles, and We Need to Talk About Kevin (a 2011 film starring Tilda Swinton). Her work has been translated into 35 languages. Her latest novel A Better Life, focused on immigration, is out in early 2026.

Stephen Walker has covered the politics of Northern Ireland for over thirty five years. He worked as a lobby correspondent at Westminster, an investigative reporter with BBC Spotlight and is a former political correspondent with BBC Northern Ireland. The author of five highly acclaimed books, his latest work is David Trimble : Peacemaker which is a biography of the former First Minister and Nobel Laureate. In 2023 he wrote John Hume: The Persuader, a bestselling biography of the former SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate. Stephen lives in County Down.

Martin Doyle is Books Editor of The Irish Times since 2019, having served as assistant literary editor since 2013. He has been a journalist for 35 years, at The Irish Times, The Times in London, and The Irish Post, where he served as Editor. He edited A History of The Irish Post in 2000 and in 2023 published Dirty Linen: The Troubles in My Home Place (Merrion Press), which was shortlisted for Irish Nonfiction Book of the Year.

Dr Martina Devlin is an author and newspaper columnist. She has written nine novels, two non - fiction books, a short story collection and two plays. Her latest novel, Charlotte , focuses on Charlotte Brontë ’ s Irish connections. Other novels include Edith about the Irish R.M. co - author Edith Somerville; and The House Where It Happened about the 1711 Islandmagee witchcraft trial, which led to a plaque erected to commemorate those wrongly convicted. https://martinadevlin.ie/

Charlotte Blease, originally from Belfast, is a philosopher, and health researcher at Uppsala University, Sweden, and spent five years at Harvard Medical School. Her critically acclaimed book, Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives, will be launched by the Taoiseach in Dublin in November 2025.

Rob has co-written two books of poetry and compiled four anthologies. He has written on medicine, science and travel for the broadsheet and medical press and contributed to the BBC. He has a PhD in medicine from Cambridge University.

Kathy Clugston is a freelance broadcaster. She has been hosting the world's longest-running gardening programme Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4 since 2019. She also presents Sunday Club and The Ticket on BBC Radio Ulster.

Andrew Heyn was a UK diplomat for over 30 years. He served as British Consul-General (a post with senior Ambassadorial rank) in Hong Kong from 2016-20 and British Ambassador to Myanmar from 2009-13. He also served as Deputy British Ambassador in Dublin from 2005-09. He has written for the Financial Times and the Guardian and is a regular public speaker and media expert commentator on UK, European and Asian affairs as well as wider foreign policy issues. He was awarded an CMG in 2020 and an OBE in 2013. He is an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford and an Honorary Professor of Practice at Queens University, Belfast.

James Murphy is a Northern Irish crime fiction author best known for his Farset Investigations detective series and the Dr. Carolyn Harkin series of psychological thrillers. He also hosts the podcast, A Life of Crime (Writing) with James Murphy and is the Crime Writers Association Master Convenor (Ireland) & NI Library Champion.

Shauna Lawless is an avid reader of the mythology, folklore, and history of Ireland. Her love for all these things inspired her to write Gael Song, a historical fantasy series chronicling some of the most turbulent wars of medieval Ireland. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, was nominated for best debut at the British Fantasy Awards. Shauna has also been awarded the Chrysalis Award by the European Science Fiction Society. She lives in Northern Ireland with her family, and when she is not with them, you can find her writing her stories or curled up with a good book.

Emma Heatherington is an Irish Times bestselling novelist known for her heartwarming contemporary fiction and emotionally rich storytelling. Born in Donaghmore, County Tyrone, her books, including The Legacy of Lucy Harte and This Christmas have been translated into many languages. Her work often explores love, loss, and second chances.

Lyndsy Spence is a bestselling author, including The Mistress of Mayfair: Men, Money and the Marriage of Doris Delevingne, The Mitford Girls’ Guide to Life, and The Grit in the Pearl: The Scandalous Life of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. She also wrote The Flower Girl – a short film directed by Emmy award winner, Nick Nanton. The screen rights of her book, Cast a Diva: The Hidden Life of Maria Callas, has been made into an Oscar nominated film with Angelina Jolie starring as Maria Callas. Her most recent book is Where Madness Lies: The Double Life of Vivien Leigh. https://about.me/lyndsyspence

Adrian Tinniswood OBE FSA is the author of twenty books on social and architectural history, including Noble Ambitions: The Fall and Rise of the Post-War Country House; and The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars, a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. The Verneys: a True Story of Love, War and Madness in Seventeenth-Century England was shortlisted for the BBC/Samuel Johnson Prize. He is currently Professor of British Cultural History at the University of Buckingham and Adjunct Professor of History at Maynooth University. He and his wife Helen live in the West of Ireland.

Forest Issac Jones is an award-winning author of non-fiction and essays, specializing in the study of the US Civil Rights Movement and Northern Ireland. Jones has won awards from Writer’s Digest and his essay about African Americans at D-Day was published in 2024 by WWII History Magazine.

Madeleine Keane is the Literary Editor of the Sunday Independent. She has written and broadcast on books and publishing, regularly judges literary awards and present at arts festivals and events. Madeleine is a lecturer at UCD and the Irish Writer’s Centre as well as Chair of Children's Books Ireland.

Anne Stewart is Senior Curator of Art at the Ulster Museum, National Museums NI. She has curated many exhibitions, including James Stewart by Pompeo Batoni, An Irishman on the Grand Tour and major retrospectives of Sir John Lavery, William Scott and Willie Doherty. Her publications include Visions, A Celebration of Irish Art from the Ulster Museum (2010). She has made notable acquisitions including L’allée au bois by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), the first French Impressionist painting to enter a public collection in Northern Ireland, and a Nativity by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481- 1536) the first Renaissance painting in the collection.

Rebecca Brownlie is the photographer and storyteller behind Abandoned NI, a project born from her deep fascination with Ireland’s forgotten places and the stories they hold. Her journey has taken her from crumbling cottages to once grand estates, leading to two acclaimed books, Abandoned Ireland: Volume 1 and Volume 2 and the BBC documentary Abandoned Ulster. Through her work, she strives to give these places a voice before they fade from memory, reminding us that even in decay, there is beauty, history, and meaning worth preserving.

Neil is a Historic Garden Consultant & Plantsman with wide experience of gardening and garden history. He has been a gardener all his life and particularly enjoys botanical travel, seeing plants in their native habitat. His work takes him all over Ireland.

Harvest the Light is a vibrant collection of prose, poetry and photography created by eleven writers who meet regularly in Teac Mallon in Meigh, South Armagh. The anthology shines a light on the people, places, and landscapes of Oriel, southeast Ulster, and the foothills of Slieve Gullion, weaving together humour, memory, nostalgia and reflection. The Wordsmiths – Brigid Brady, Eileen Beamish, Liz McMonagle, Mairead Breen, Marcella McBride, Matt McEvoy, Mary Cunningham, Paddy Creedon, Patrick Murray, Rosemary Tumilty, and Sinead Mitchell– are supported by fellow writer Rosaleen Farrell. To date, they have raised £3,000 for P.I.P.S. Hope & Support and Pieta, two leading suicide prevention charities.

Alec Marsh is an award-winning journalist and author. He began his career as a newspaper journalist, starting as a district reporter at the Western Morning News in north Cornwall before moving to the Daily Telegraph in London as a graduate trainee. He then worked on a variety of Fleet Street titles over the next decade before moving to magazines and then becoming editor of Spear’s. He now writes for The Spectator, mainly online, about life, culture and society, for the Daily Telegraph on business and for Engelsberg Ideas on literary matters. He also edits the magazine of the Richard III Society and presents The Ricardian Podcast. To date Alec has had five novels published: four in his Drabble and Harris thriller series set against the backdrop and politics of the 1930s, and most recently a fifth, Cut and Run, which is a crime novel set during the First World War.

Is the son of Jessica Mitford (1917–1996), author, journalist, and activist, one of the famous Mitford Sisters, who will bring a rare and personal insight into the lives of this extraordinary family. With stories drawn from his own experiences, Ben offers a unique perspective on the personalities, passions, and quirks that made the Mitfords so fascinating. At our festival, he will be in conversation with Lyndsy Spence, author of a celebrated book on the Mitford Sisters, for a lively and engaging session that blends personal recollections with literary and historical insights — a must-see for anyone captivated by this remarkable family.

Thomas is an archaeologist and author whose work explores early human activity and ancient landscapes in Ireland. He has written extensively on archaeological discoveries and heritage, including Early Man on the Bann, which examines evidence of some of Ireland’s earliest inhabitants. **Thomas has recently joined the research team investigating the Iron Age bog body found in Ballymacombs More, near Ballyscullion House — a discovery of international interest and literary resonance through Seamus Heaney’s bog body poems.

Led by Northern Irish harpist Eileen Beamish, is an enchanting musical experience that weaves together traditional Celtic harp and flute with imaginative, evocative soundscapes. Eileen’s pure, gentle harp playing and thoughtful arrangements have delighted audiences across Ireland and the UK, making her performances a highlight at concerts, festivals and special events. In addition to her work as a musician, Eileen brings a unique blend of artistry and wellbeing to her work, creating moments of peace, reflection and emotional connection through music. She performs alongside flute player David Williams, with whom she has collaborated for over two decades, bringing audiences a deeply moving fusion of sound rooted in Celtic tradition.

Is the author of The Earl Bishop and, alongside Peter McMullan, has created stunning virtual reconstructions of the Bishop’s Palaces at Downhill and Ballyscullion. Combining meticulous research with innovative digital storytelling, he brings Northern Ireland’s rich history vividly to life for readers and audiences alike.

Is the owner of Ballyscullion Park, a beautiful historic estate in Northern Ireland. With a deep passion for heritage and hospitality, Richard and his wife Rosalind (Festival Director) opens the estate for cultural events, weddings, and festivals, and also gives talks and guided tours of the house to groups. He is dedicated to sharing the beauty and history of Ballyscullion Park, creating memorable experiences for visitors and festival-goers alike.

Is a poet and spoken-word artist whose work fuses vivid imagery, emotional depth, and performance. Known for his engaging readings and multimedia presentations, Gary brings his poems to life on stage, creating an immersive experience that resonates with audiences. His work explores personal experience, social observation, and the beauty of everyday moments, inviting listeners to see the world through a fresh, thoughtful lens. Gary has performed widely at literary events and festivals, captivating audiences with his distinctive voice and heartfelt storytelling.

Paul is an architectural historian, writer and reviewer. He has contributed to many journals and writes a monthly ‘Life and Times’column in the Ulster Tatler. His two major monographs (published by Ulster Architectural Heritage) are on Young & Mackenzie, 1850 -1960, and the short-lived but lively Victorian architect WJ Barre.

Malachi O'Doherty is author of a dozen books, covering memoir, travel, cultural analysis and the history of the Troubles. He has written one novel and several short stories and was awarded a PhD in Creative Writing by Queen's University Belfast. He was also granted a Major Artist Award by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Dr O'Doherty is a frequent commentator on several radio and television programmes and writes weekly columns for The Belfast Telegraph and the Irish Post

Heidi Edmundson grew up in Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coast. She studied medicine in Dundee, Scotland, and has worked as a doctor since 1994, predominantly for the NHS. She currently lives in London where she has been a consultant in Emergency Medicine for over fifteen years. She is passionate about building positive workplace cultures and has developed a number of initiatives using fun and creativity to facilitate staff wellbeing. During the pandemic, she discovered that having a daily writing practice helped her manage the stressful situation. Her debut novel, Darkness in the City of Light, was published in 2024. In 2025, her memoir, Belly Full, an account of a personal health crisis, presented a candid view of what it is really like to work on the front line of the nation’s health emergency, and gave a powerful perspective on the broader issues facing the NHS.

On January 16, 2010, the gifted young fly-half and one of Ireland’s brightest prospects suffered a devastating eye injury while playing for University College Dublin, leaving him blind in one eye and forcing him into early retirement. Determined not to give up, McKinley moved to Italy, rebuilt his life as a coach, and relentlessly pursued a return to the game. After years of research, specialist goggles, and challenging World Rugby’s doubts, he achieved the unthinkable. On November 11, 2017, he became the first visually impaired player to compete in a Test match, representing Italy against Fiji. In Second Sight, McKinley shares the story of his extraordinary comeback, his fight for acceptance, and how rugby helped him find peace with his injury before his final retirement in March 2021. Ian now lives in NI where he coaches rugby, commentates for Virgin Media and Premier Sports, works for Vision Sports Ireland and is a keynote speaker. On Sunday, Ian will take part in a conversation about trauma and memoir with Jung Chang and Carlo Gébler, moderated by Martina Devlin.

Bethany Joy Dawson is the author of My Father’s House (Liberties Press, 2013). She holds an MPhil in Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin and lives in the wilds of Sligo, Ireland, with her family. She has spent the past decade home-educating her three children, but now has the opportunity to write full-time.

Patrick Kealey is an accomplished actor, theatre director, and storyteller. Bogboy is his debut novel, drawing inspiration from Ireland’s rich history, and the timeless struggles of the young seeking to understand themselves in a rapidly changing world. It is a true story in everything but the detail.scing elit.